The Recovering Choir Director

Chanted Evening Prayer had a competing event that occurred right after it last night—a “praise music” “Evensong” event that featured a praise ‘n’ worship knock-off of “La Bamba”, the Dameans’ “He Has Anointed Me”, David Haas‘ “Now It Is Evening” and “All the Ends of the Earth”, a few other musical tidbits, two guitars, and improvised prayer that included a lot of pauses and as many utterances of the interjection “just” as the name “Christ”. This was an event that recognized the volunteer efforts of many of our parish’s students. As the director of liturgical music, I was informed of it on Sunday.

The psalms, canticles and readings for Evening Prayer last night (Tuesday, Week I) were at least as appropriate for a service meant to honor our volunteers, which disappoints me even more that such an event was even planned. Would I have let it happen if I were informed? Probably. But I would have shown them the texts for Evening Prayer to fully contrast the campfire stuff.

Yet again, I’m tempted to become a clanging cymbal, so I’ll stop now.