Sunday morning started out a little rough with chaos attempting to regain a hold. A light ice storm, forgotten class notes, and a late arrival to church slightly rattled my feeling about how this day was going. But we came back around to harmony that evening when we attended the Roanoke Choir's "Lessons and Carols" at St. Andrew's Basilica. When the organist began to play the Prelude, there was nowhere else left for our thoughts to go other than on this glorious, auditory spectacle. The deep notes on the organ reverberated throughout the basilica and into our bones. The strong voices of the choir soared up to the vaulted ceiling and back down again, creating an ethereal sound. Bible readings of prophecy and fulfillment alternated with the music and brought our thoughts into focus. The song offerings were joyous and filled with hope. I had to fight back tears at the beauty of it all. Oh I do hope this is what Heaven sounds like!
PS. The choir sang all the verses for every song. We don't often sing or hear them all. The audience was invited to sing along to some of the favorite Christmas hymns. I can't say I ever sang the last verse of, "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel". It was especially beautiful:
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
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