The following is a true story that took place at Holy Family in
North Java.
A person from out of town wrote in his journal
that he wanted to start taking chances with strangers. Jerry wrote that he came
to attend the 10am Sunday Mass and felt the call to sing in the choir. He got
off the kneeler in his pew and walked to the front of the church and said, “Do
you need another person to sing?” He remembered that there was a ten second
pause. Then someone in the choir said, “Yes.”
Jerry thought to himself what did he have to
lose. Nothing. The choir could have said come next week and audition, or there
is not much room up here and we are pretty crammed in on this side of the
sanctuary. But “no” he honestly opened himself up to the group and they
welcomed him like he had been a family member all his life. Jerry wrote: “What
a great community!”
Then someone asked him: “Are you any good at
singing?” He said, “I’m OK.” The choir member responded: “We are all OK too!
Here stand in the back, it is better if you are not up front.”
Jerry recalled that the members of the choir
helped him with the music, which books to use and the page location of the hymns. They even had “kleenex”
and he admitted that he cried after the “Penance Service.” Someone gave him the
prayers for the penance service. The blessing that took place for each person in
the church was most healing for hm. No one missed a beat, he wrote. They (choir)
were awesome! Signed Jerry Rzatkiewicz
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who are searching for a
faith community where they feel the warmth and love of Jesus. The secret to our
growing parish is “warmth.” Our choir said “yes” to Jerry and let him know that
he was welcomed and appreciated for his willingness to share his voice and sing
the praises of the Lord.
