An Easter Rehearsal

April 4, 2021

An Easter Rehearsal

I know my feet are prone to slip, unsure,
     So I play it again: Alleluia. 
And I know my hands may strike without measure,
     So I play it once more: Alleluia. 
But, worst, I know my heart is yet impure,
     So I pray it again:
          Alleluia, Amen.

The organist and choristers know well
     The rehearsed rejoicing of that spontaneous swell,
For rhythms help to raise a practiced praise, 
     And so we once more play
     And once more pray:
          Alleluia, Alleluia, again—
          Alleluia, Alleluia,
               Amen.

- R. McLaren, Easter 2021

Although my soul craved to spend Holy Saturday in solemn silence, I spent much of it practicing the pedal lines of Easter hymns, which are notoriously tricky. Over and over again, I played an “Alleluia” refrain, attempting to wrangle my feet and fingers into coordinated submission. And I was frustrated with each repetition, with each phrase of praise. This exhausting practice time, though, became a life-giving moment in itself, reminding me that praise is practiced; to be people of praise is not always to feel giddy with happiness but, rather, to engage the rhythms of rejoicing provided through the Spiritual disciplines, which I believe includes music-making.

Like playing a hymn on the organ, rejoicing requires rehearsal; often, joyful emotions and affections follow only after we have repeated a refrain (like a musical technique) regularly enough for it to become ingrained in our hearts, minds, and bodies.

The stained glass at my church is a source of constant wonder and delight. Thank God for dappled things!

Posted by:

Ryanne_JM

Hello and welcome! I don’t love that I my name is also my website because I always thought that being a writer was about muttering to myself in the artistic anonymity of a dark corner, but here we are in this year of our Lord 2023. So who am I? Instagram wanted me to select “what” I am and gave me a set of limited options: artist, writer, blogger, or musician. The reality, though, is that I am a human person, not an internet personality. I am not a “what” but a “who,” with an eclectic and evolving set of passions. Just when you think you know what to expect from me, I’ll probably surprise you. (Getting used to articles on worship music? SURPRISE: spooky short story! Expecting another theological sonnet? SURPRISE: a random musing on my fascination with Bigfoot.) I’m going to organize my website so that it is easy to navigate and simple to find the content that you find the most interesting. However, because I am a collaborative pianist, worship director, pastor’s wife, speaker, and writer of all genres, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon writing that falls beyond your usual reading material…and that’s okay. I’m so glad you’re here, and I look forward to sharing my work with you!

One response to “An Easter Rehearsal”

Ryanne

April 18, 2022 at 1:42 pm

Reblogged this on A Bookish Charm and commented:

When Easter Sunday choruses fade, we must continue to rejoice. Christian joy is a practiced art. Like well-rehearsed music, it should be in our muscle memory—our natural disposition in times of gladness and sorrow.

LikeLike

Reply