Sunday, December 7, 2008

Monday's Memories

This weeks memory has to do with this building.



Maybe you will remember it from this post, last week. It's the tree that was missing from the building. It was a beautiful floss silk tree that was causing severe damage to the foundation of the Mission. The whole thing caused quite the controversy. To cut or not to cut??? However, I'm glad they saved the structure and not the tree!!

Many Christmases ago, a group of sisters from my church joined the San Luis Obispo Handel Oratorio Choir. We began practice in September, to sing Handel's Messiah at the Mission San Luis Obispo Tolusa. I love the music of the Messiah. Taken straight out of scripture, the words set to beautiful music tell the story of the life of Christ.




No one sings the Messiah quite like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!! Our choir tried and it is one of my most cherished memories. I'm not an accomplished singer by any means, and felt way out of my league singing this music.


The beautiful doors of the Mission.


Singing in the choir helped to open the doors of friendship to me. As we carpooled together to practices I became close to those Sisters as we traveled. One of them is no longer with us, and one is unable to sing anymore. We shared a special bond.



The inside of this chapel is beautiful. Our choir sang up near the altar. We also had a small orchestra that performed with us. Singing in this centuries old building was such a delight. My favorite part of the evening was this part:

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. "


Then the trumpet player began his beautiful music from out of nowhere up in this balcony.

"The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."

I still get chills thinking about it today. It was interesting to watch the people try to figure out where that beautiful trumpet music was coming from back behind them. The Spirit was so strong that December night, in this beautiful Catholic church, the religion of my ancestors. It was wonderful place to sing about the life of that little baby Jesus, born so many years ago.
We will all be changed incorruptible because of Him and His life!


2 comments:

Aprilyn said...

That is such a beautiful place. I love the music of The Messiah too. It really is what Christmas is all about.

Katie said...

I remember going to hear you sing! I love Handels' Messiah!

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