“It’s a great privilege to report to work every morning in the lobby of my own brain, and punch the elevator button that reads Invisible Universe of Ideas.”
– Dessa Darling

I spent some time with two communities this weekend. My friend performed in a community theater play, which I saw Saturday night, and my a cappella group sang at a new (for us) church on Sunday morning.

So.

Here I was in two very different spaces for two very different events — except they weren’t.

Yes, one was a theater production and the other a worship service, so the content was different (OK, a lot different *smile*), but how each of these communities operated struck me as similar.

At some point, a group of people came together and agreed to support a common purpose and each other. Equally important, a smaller group agreed to fashion and hold a space in which a larger community could gather.

The roots of community are fundamentally the same, no matter the community.

…

Take the theater show.

Some of the cast members were professional performers — actors and singers — but others were people invited to join the community who had never acted or sung in public before. Adults and children, first-timers and veterans.

Add the audience who chose to attend and — poof — magic happens. Proud parents, curious friends and interested neighbors all become a part of the community for a time.

The community grows and expands like ripples on the surface of a lake.

…

Then there was the worship service.

Spices was invited to perform at Valley Presbyterian because we had met Minister Richard when we sang at a backyard birthday party last summer.

(More ripples widening and intesecting.)

He greeted us warmly and shared his excitement and appreciation for what we would contribute. We took a brief tour of the church, found our name and picture in the church bulletin and then made our way to the kitchen for coffee.  (I believe food and drink are very important to community building. *grin*)

I met their music director who, I discovered after the service, is a music theory instructor at McNally Smith (my alma mater).

(ripple, ripple)

During the service, the congregants celebrated Minister Richard’s 25th ordination anniversary with a surprise slide show presentation. Many folks wiped away tears at its conclusion. I was touched to witness the intimate and improvised moment.

We sang at several points throughout the sermon and our songs interwove with and enlivened the message of his sermon.

Through community, many vibrant and diverse experiences come to life.

…

(If you hadn’t noticed *wink*) I’m geeked about communities.

The gifts members share with each other and what we learn about ourselves when we step into a circle. People from enormously different backgrounds share experiences and come to care for each other.

I love watching people connect and go outside themselves, stretch in new directions and reach out to others.

To me, being invited to participate or allowed to bear witness as the members of community celebrate, grieve, sing, dance, laugh, cry, attempt and grow is heady stuff.

…

Community creates connections and generates excitement. It spurs opportunities for expanding our experiences and widening our worldviews.

Most important, the support of a community allows us to shine.

…

I invite you to come join the Songtaneous singing community at the Wild Rice Festival this Saturday (in Roseville). See the events page for the details.

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
– Plato

…

This explains why I fell so hard and fast for all those singers I met in Italy (not to mention those “Change Chorus” ladies *smile*).

Speaking of playing, come sing with me at the Wild Rice Festival next Saturday Sept 18. I’ll host two Songtaneous sing-alongs.

(Did I mention there’s a pancake breakfast? *smile*)