Holy Spirit Episcopal Church

At Holy Spirit the Parish Choir consistently sings with feeling and understanding and excellent musicianship that far surpasses their numbers or even their individual musical gifts. They are truly an example of the sum being greater than the parts and of what can happen when people truly sacrifice themselves to a greater goal. The are also a great example of what can happen when we let God "have his way" with us -- we can transcend our human limits and -- not to be too dramatic -- approach the gates of heaven.

Our greatest musical challenge this year has been the consistent use of Anglican chant for the Psalms in the Rite II services.This has not been a choral tradition at Holy Spirit, but as is their way, the choir has risen to the challenge and is becoming quite adept at this historic style of worship music.

In August the children came for a week of Summer Camp.Together with KariAnn Lessner we planned a week of music, crafts, and games focusing on the Saints -- who they were and who they are.At the end of the week we visited a residential facility for mentally handicapped adults where we sang for them -- and with them -- and played some games including a truly riotous round of bingo.It was fun and moving to see the kids discover that saints come in all sorts of people.

In September, the Houston Tidelanders returned for their annual fall concert here at Holy Spirit.An audience of more than 250 people enjoyed their typically stellar and entertaining program.We will have them again in the fall.

This fall, for All Saints Sunday, we made a significant step toward a feeling of one community here at Holy Spirit.On that day we combined for a single service incorporating both traditional services, the contemporary service and school Sunday all in one big celebration.We had a genuinely integrated worship service -- the best of blended worship -- in which we were able to demonstrate that traditional musicians and contemporary musicians are NOT natural born enemies, but rather in ministry together using different sets of tools.We will collaborate in the future several times each year as we keep our respective styles of worship authentic and excellent but not antagonistic.