Fun amidst serious music

One of my fellow singers - a founding member, actually - in the music ministry I've joined has a rather strong flair for the dramatic. With quite a bit of experience in community theater, he serves as our staging director, and also maintains our website. As it happens, he's had a couple of speaking parts in the service in addition to a vocal lead. Well, in reassigning speaking assignments to the newer members at last week's rehearsal, I was given one of his. His absence from that rehearsal was a non-factor in the decision, but the group joked that I'd have to break the news to him. I replied, also in jest, that I was afraid of what might happen to my website bio.

So last Tuesday I sent him an e-mail explaining what we'd decided, and offering to switch assignments with him in the event we had misread his preference. But, "just in case," I told him I'd also saved him the trouble of revising my bio, and included one that I thought was a real hoot. He evidently agreed, replying that he'd be willing to sacrifice the part, but only on the condition that I stand up in front of the group and share my revised bio with them. I responded that I'd be willing to brave such a degrading experience to facilitate this humble work of grace in his life (not that I have any dramatic tendencies of my own, mind you).

So Monday night, early in rehearsal, I shared this with the group:
" . . . is a back-stabbing, glory-grasping Johnny-come-lately, unconcerned with the discord he sows - even within an established and revered organization - by his self-promotion. However noble and unselfish their loving labors, however close-knit the group, he soon unleashes his chaos, relentlessly pursuing his own agenda, wheedling his will, nefariously undermining the carefully nurtured harmony that preceded his arrival. An avid bicyclist, he never takes his turn at the front of the line. You'll easily spot this attention hog: the malicious villain will surely be front and center; should he fail at that, he'll be the one singing off-key!"

Somehow I forgot to include the adjective "scene-stealing," an unintended oversight.

So, the part I lead is the last Station. Near the end of rehearsal, as I finished reading, the entire group, with one breath, let out with a quiet, seemingly awestruck "Wow!" A couple of them dabbled at their eyes, as if I'd moved them to tears.

Apparently our staging director rearranges us for each parish to balance our optimal blend with high visibility for any parishioners within our group. So where do you suppose he put me for the service at our parish? In the middle of the front row, of course.