this year's liturgical marathon

Through most of my 30s I was in one music ministry or another and did what I referred to as "the liturgical marathon"--Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and usually Easter Day as well. Lots of music, often things we hadn't done all year. It's wonderful though.

Last year, my first Easter as a Quaker, I went to meeting on Easter Sunday, sat in worship, and had a message to quote from and reflect on the last verse of "Lord of the Dance:"
"They cut me down and I leapt on high.
I am the light that will never never die.
I'll live in you if you live in me.
I am the Lord of the Dance said He."
I didn't even sing it (I still felt too awkward to sing a message. Next time I hope I'll have the guts).

This year, though, was another story. We were invited to a seder at friends' and celebrated (don't know if that's the proper Jewish term) "Sarah's Singing Seder," comprised mostly of music from the seder traditions. (Yes, Stasa, we had an orange on the Seder plate!) It was wonderful, including my vegetarian hostess' substitute for a shank bone: a picture of a sheep downloaded from the Internet.

Then three of us went to the church I recommended for a "cool Easter Vigil." It was indeed: a huge bonfire and wonderful music from the choir, cantors, pianist, organist, and assorted other musicians. The songs included some I've done in the past and loved: Christ, Be our Light; Halle, Halle (the best Alleluia ever written, IMHO), My Lord will Come Again, and We Come to Your Feast. It was wonderful in many ways, I felt comfortable there, but I realized "I don't belong here anymore." I love the music and liturgy, but I'm finding more and more that I'm a Quaker now.

Sunday, we went to our Quaker meeting. I opened and closed meeting again. "You seem to be divinely led" one of my fellow Quakers said to me. My instinctive emotional and verbal response was, "I guess my vocation to the priesthood has finally come to fruition." An amazing and beloved fulfillment of something I've felt called to since childhood. (As my husband likes to say, "Quakers didn't eliminate the clergy, they got rid of the laity.)

Happy Easter, a blessed Passover, and a wondrous spring to all!