Thank you, congregation and Board, for allowing me to have my 10-week sabbatical. It was rich in self-discovery, renewal, and relaxation. I am happy to be back, making music live in Daniels Hall again + on Zoom for rehearsals and Sunday services.
While I was on my sabbatical, I attended seven other Sunday (Zoom) services from all different faith traditions. I "went" to a Hindu temple, a giant Jewish synagogue, a black church in LA, a new age non-denominational church, a contemporary Christian church, a Buddhist meditation service, and a Muslim prayer service. In each one I learned a bit about their religious beliefs and paid attention to the music. Some services truly fed me, and some were purely for research. Some services were easier than others to follow along on Zoom or YouTube. All in all, it made me happy to have a church where I don't have to "sort out" which parts of the service I don't believe in theologically, a church that has reliable online services with good sound quality on Zoom (thanks to Steve Morihiro), and one which gives us ample opportunity to create all kinds of musical experiences. We can draw from our Six Sources and beyond for our musical inspiration, which I love.
This is a great time for folks to jump into music-making if they aren't already involved. Our choir runs through mid-June and then is off for the summer. And we are always looking for instrumentalists and soloists. Contact me anytime and I'll find the perfect way to use your skills and talents.
I'm grateful for this church community!
Musically yours,
Beth Syverson, Director of Music Ministries
Beth Syverson was Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's Director of Music Ministries for 22 years.