Today Michelle Williams (my violinist) and I have the priviledge of previewing our upcoming chamber recital in The Linschied's recidency. I know the Linschieds through Michelle; they go to the the English CMA church and have been serving in the music ministry together for the past couple years. A little background information about the Linschieds: Kyle (the host) holds a piano accompanying degree from the Eastman School of Music (the best music school in the nation) but is currently working for the FBI.. surprise, surprise.. [musicians break codes faster, i suppose.. haha..], and his wife Joannie holds a vocal performance degree from the University of Louisville, who is currently busy taking care of the 3 wonderful girls (with a new 7 month-old baby Lily).
Our host and hostess also invited 2 special guests for the evening: Pastor Doug Miller and his wife, Eddie. They used to be missionaries in Africa and France during the 60s-80s; their life experience in pastoring and their faithfulness in serving the Lord have always strengthen us as the body of Christ. Pastor Miller has been preaching in our Chinese CMA church for many years and he IS a Godly man that we really look up to. He has a been a great example to all of us. I have to admit that their appearance surprised me a bit.. hehehe... There's no doubt that Pastor Miller and his wife love music, and we also found out that Mrs. Miller used to be a music student as well.. what a revelation to us!
After a wonderful meal prepared by Joannie, we started the mini and private home concert previewing the music that Michelle and I will be playing for the recital next Saturday. Even though they were not intimating crowd of audience, the setting itself gave Michelle and I a taste of "performing it for real" experience. Not perfect... but it went extremely well. They really loved the selections of our pieces and seemed to enjoy every bit of it.
The wonderful evening didn't end there. By the audiences' request, Kyle played a solo piano piece by Rachmaninoff entitled Vocalise. It was beautiful... Joannie then joined his husband and sang a wonderful art song Roger Quilter and a hymn from an Episcopalian Hymn book. Ohh.. what a great couple! ;-)
As usual we love to hear Pastor Miller talk about his missionary experience and how he missed classical music when he served in the deep jungle of Africa. It was a great fellowship time for all of us since we all take part in music ministry and we share the same passion in music ministry. We get to share and exchange our thoughts on music in general, some of the issues faced by the evangelical churches' worship service these days, hymns vs contemporary worship songs, etc etc.
Somehow Pastor Miller stated his preference of having music that touches the spirit (not only to the emotion and soul). Since we're all so enthusiastic in this topic, Kyle turned on a recording of a choir singing an old hymn taken from the Episcopalian hymn book, accompanied by the grand pipe organ. The lyrics of the hymn are taken directly from John 6: 35-40, in which Jesus said "I'm the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty again... and I will raise him [those who believe in Him] up at the last day." Even though i was not familiar with the hymn, for some reason the tune, the lyrics, the arrangement, the choir, the organ piecered right into my heart. It sounded glorious and magnificent when it reached its climax stating that "... I will raise him up at the last day." Ohhhh my God... I can actually picture the moment when Christians are being brought up to the sky when Jesus comes for the 2nd time. I have to admit.. my eyes were wet at the end of that song. What a glorious day it will be. Can you imagine: those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will be raised to the sky.. all... all of them... AT THE SAME TIME! What a scene it would be...
What an edifying evening.. not only i get to perform portion of the recital, but I felt that my spirit is fed by God through music, 1 of God's greatest gifts for mankind. I'm not too worried about my recital anymore. It will take place next saturday and we know that just as any performance, mistakes will surely happen... but it is not my main concern anymore. My main focus is now placed in gloryfying God and celebrating the wonderful music that He's given us. You will 'see' God in music...
It is my prayer that God will continue to lead me and use me as His instruments to declare His glory and power. May we all continue to use the gift of music to spread the Good News until He comes for the 2nd time, so that all of us can rise together in the sky at the last day.
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