Beth Syverson, our former Director of Music Ministries, left quite a heritage and legacy at this church from her 22 years with us. She started as our accompanist, growing into the Music Director, then Choir Director positions and then finally the Director of Music Ministries. She told me once that she didn’t “get” Unitarian Universalism until she went to her first yearly conference of UU Music Directors and Musicians. There her colleagues taught her to connect the music with the themes of the service and to also help the choir members and the congregation understand the importance, history, spirituality and communality of the songs. But they also taught her that music was more than just for Sunday morning. She learned the power of music to inspire justice and the power of music to soothe the aching soul. And in doing so, she created ministries here at this church, from the choir taking care of one another, to singing at the bedside of those who were ill, encouraging singers and musicians to share their gifts and expand them, and by leading chants at marches and demonstrations. Part of her legacy for us is teaching us the power of music to move the world and ourselves, and we are forever blessed by it.
As we look now to hire a new Director of Music Ministries, we want that heritage, that legacy, to continue. The new person may or may not have that perspective right off – she didn’t! We do require that they go to the annual conference, but I also, with your help, will be coaching them to be a Director of Music Ministries, moving us ever deeper into relationship with our best selves and one another.
With love,
Rev. Sian
Rev. Sian Wiltshire is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's minister. Please feel free to reach out and say hello! She can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302).