St. Paul's Chapel

Preparing for the conference next week, I came across this essay by Donald Schell (co-founder of St. Greg's, SF) about the recent "Music that Makes Community" conference at St. Paul's Chapel, Manhattan. St. Paul's has become a 9/11 shrine site that attracts many pilgrims, and the response of the place to this ministry is remarkable. Here's a quote from Donald's essay...

Last week that’s where twenty of us, clergy and church music leaders from around the country were making music, specifically developing a practice of the most traditional and modern kind of church music – singing we learn by ear and by heart, singing without books. All day our workshop sessions, our worship and even our mid-day meal was at the center of a swirling sea of people, all of America, the world. When we were singing we could feel the music touch them (and sometimes we forgot they were there and lost ourselves in music-making and praise). Sometimes we saw curiosity, joy or even healing on people’s faces. It came in swells, both for us and in their response. Sometimes they walked with their backs to us, continuing their quiet murmur of background conversation as they surveyed the 9/11 displays and the story of workers and a city who turned the terrorist attack into a sign of mutual support and courage. Then a piece of sacred song, something hearty or haunting, maybe some improvised bluesy jazz on a text from the Bible, or even our laughter at a shared discovery, something drew their attention and they were with us in church – both the community of people and the place of worship. So it went all day, hundreds of people an hour and flashes of grace and glory as our little group joined our Public Work to Trinity’s. (source)

This notion of church as holy place of calm in the midst of swirling and sometimes confused pilgrims is a compelling manifestation of a usually invisible dynamic. I think it's an image for our age's version of urban ministry. Part of what really impresses me about what St. Paul's Chapel is doing right now is this thing about developing unique liturgical expressions that are relevant to their exact circumstances. I'm anxious to learn more about this musical style that is emerging there.

Wow, next week is going to be mind blowing. I can't wait to spend four days talking liturgy and leadership with some people that have real wisdom and experience. It's going to be fantastic!

-t