Reflections on a Pilgrimage

My heart is full after traveling with and spending ten days in residency with eighty-one people from St. John the Divine, forty-six of which were members of the choir (20 choristers and 26 adults). Together we sang five evensongs and three choral Eucharists.

Daily rituals are formative and are reflective of who we are as God’s people and what is important to us. In a choral residency, one experiences ritual in a deep, profound way. Together as a choir, we experienced the ritual of gathering first thing in the morning for a devotional and rehearsal; the ritual of gathering in the Quire (pews facing each other in front of the high altar in which the choir and worship leaders sit) for a pre-evensong rehearsal; the ritual of gathering for prayer with the dean prior to and after each liturgy, and the ritual of continuing the daily prayer that has occurred in the cathedral for 800 years in our singing of evensong. How awe-inspiring it is to have been a part of the cloud of witnesses that has gone before us.

Throughout the week, it was inspiring to see each of the singers being formed as one body with one purpose: to lead worship and prayer. It is particularly exciting to watch the growth and excitement of our youngest choristers. It was a joy to attend the final Sunday Eucharist and Evensong of the season sung by the regular Salisbury choir. The sermon to the Salisbury choristers was inspiring, as the dean reminded them (and us who attended) the importance of their work as a choir. The work of the choir is done together, is serious, and is beautiful. We were all so moved by the message of the homily. I remember a comment from one of the adult singers after that service. She was moved to tears. “That is exactly what we do and what it is all about. That is our work.”

A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place which can lead to transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. Our residency was in fact a pilgrimage, a journey we traveled and experienced together as a group – a transformational time that we bring back with us.

It was a particular joy watching the choristers grow and take their work and role as worship leaders seriously; and a special joy to witness them celebrate and make lasting bonds with other choristers over the course of the residency.

There are few groups within the church that are together as much as the choir. Our adults rehearse weekly and sing two services.  That alone is a weekly twelve-hour commitment. Additionally, there are monthly evensongs, concerts, and special services around Holy Week and Christmas. In our burgeoning chorister program, we are developing young musicians with skills they can utilize for life and more importantly, we are raising up the next generation of worship leaders equipped to continue our Anglican choral tradition.

I’m grateful to our rector Leigh Spruill for his support and for his coordination of a parallel pilgrimage. It speaks volumes of our being part of the same family and common ministry that is SJD. I’m also grateful to all those who generously supported this endeavor financially, and I’m especially grateful for the support and buy-in of our chorister families. It was so good to have them with us to share the experience and vision of our developing chorister program.

Moreover, I especially want to give a shout-out to Anna Teagarden. Her vision and passion were essential to the residency. She has built a vibrant program in a short period of time, and I look forward to our ministry together in future years.

I headed my reflections as “thoughts on a pilgrimage.” A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place which can lead to transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. Our residency was in fact a pilgrimage, a journey we traveled and experienced together as a group – a transformational time that we bring back with us.

Bach always signed his compositions “soli Deo gloria.” To the glory of God. Likewise, we have adopted the motto taken from the Psalms "non nobis Domine" which translates “not to us, O Lord, but to thy name give the glory.” This is our primary calling as the people of God and especially of our musicians.