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Bells Will Ring!

Harris United Methodist Church held their Spring Concert this afternoon and I was one of the ringers in the Heavenly Handbells Choir.  We played two tunes, “Awesome God” and “All Glory, Laud & Honor.”  During the preconcert rehearsal we couldn’t get it together for some reason and sounded horrible.  Luckily during the concert itself both songs went off without a hitch.  I guess, if you’re only going to play the song correctly once, it is best to save it for the big show.

Amoeba couldn’t be at my concert.  While I was playing handbells he was sitting in an Indian Restaurant eating Tandoori Chicken with a bunch of his colleagues, and since the restaurant in question just happens to be in Houston, there was no popping over to have a listen.  I figured that the only friends I’d have at the concert would be the ones playing the other handbells, but it turns out I was wrong.

Thom popped in — despite the fact that he told me he was afraid the church would crumble when he stepped inside.  Many other people were participating in the hour long concert as well, but Thom said he was only staying long enough to listen to me play.   Here is a picture of Thom sitting on a church pew.  He is waving his hand and shaking his head because he didn’t want me recording evidence of this visit.

He was intrigued by the handbells and had lots of questions.  He was very surprised that as well as picking them up and ringing them, we left them on the table and struck them with mallets, which gave an entirely different sound.  In fact, he was very surprised, period, that a bunch of people could ring bells willy-nilly and have a recognizable song emerge.

I was quite surprised when Thom stayed for the entire concert.  He enjoyed the organ pieces and the piano piece, but I think his favorite parts were played by the two handbell choirs.  Just before he bugged-out I commented on how surprised – -and pleased  — I was that he stayed. I also pointed out that the building hadn’t collapsed — it didn’t even give a little shudder.  He said, “Yeah, well, don’t get any ideas.  I’m still a heathen and I’m staying that way!”

But you know, for a heathen, he does a great job of living by the golden rule.  Mahalo, Thom, for stopping by.  It meant a lot to me to have somebody in the audience listening.

(See Thom’s version of this story here.)

(No bus drivers were harmed in the making of this post.)

12 Comments

  2. I’m a heathen who’s been married to a Christian for nearly 32 years now. The strangest things can happen 🙂
    There’s an old tradition over here that if a dress rehearsal goes well, first night will be a disaster. So you got you handbell ringing about right with the practice.

    Anthony North’s last blog post..TONY ON COMMODITIES

  3. I am happy your concert went off well. I had no doubts you could do it. Very nice of Thom to stop by. I suspect his good deed was the reason he survived the church visit.

    Nessa’s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day

  4. I knEW you would play well! (I didn’t know all the other’s would play well too!!!) What a bonus! LOL! That was sooooo sweet of Thom to actually ENTER the church to come listen to you! WHAT a friend! I wish I could have been there too…

    Melli’s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day

  5. While reading this post I was humming “All Glory, Laud and Honor”…cool…I can still multi-task. 🙂
    I like my church a lot but I sure do miss the good old fashioned Psalter Hymnal.

    Shelly’s last blog post..More Ladies

  9. I didn’t know you played handbells! I would be so afraid of ringing in at the wrong time.

    I’m so glad Thom came! Thom, dear, heathens are the very people Christ loved and died for, 🙂 There’s always hope!

    Barbara H.’s last blog post..We have a graduate!

  10. Quilly…you were awesome…and I enjoyed it very much. I told so many people at work today. It was beautiful music and just uplifting really. No sour moods, no bickering, no ugliness…just pure delight. I was glad you asked me to go. Now I know you for sure aren’t a “ding” bat LOL

    Thom’s last blog post..The Walls Didn’t Come a Tumbling Down

  11. At least now I have an idea what a bell choir is. When you first mentioned it, I thought Bell was the NAME of that choir!!! I enjoyed your report as well as Thom’s version of the story. It’s a bit sad OC could not attend, and very sweet of Thom to come and listen to you! It pictures what kind of a guy he is, I think.

    Jientje’s last blog post..Ditched!

  12. I love handbells. Gorgeous photo. I’m so glad that Thom came and cheered you on and enjoyed himself – and that the church didn’t crumble. Sounds like a wonderful day.

    Raven’s last blog post..Piano Playing Cat

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