Minister’s Column

On Friday last week, I traveled to Ohio to attend “Hal-a-palooza” at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent. The event celebrated the retirement of Hal Walker after 25 years serving that congregation as Music Director.
 
I was delighted to be back in Kent, not too far from where I lived in Ohio for many years. I hadn’t been to their church since they completed a renovation (Hal-a-palooza was in the new space) and I hadn’t seen the people there since before the pandemic—including Kathy and Hal.
 
Kathy, Hal and I sang as a trio for several years. We came together while singing in the Summer Institute choir which Hal was directing; he led the trio and wrote most of the songs. We recorded an album together and performed dozens of concerts, mostly in UU spaces. The harmony and connection among the three of us was among the best musical experiences I’ve ever had. Hal has been sick for several years now, suffering from a rare disease that forced him into early retirement from his position at the UU church. In the planning leading up to Hal-a-palooza we weren’t sure if he would have the energy to be there and to sing. Thankfully he was, and it was delightful to see Hal and to hear him sing again.
 
These were some of the highlights of the evening for me:

• The Music Director Pro Tem, Katie Grigg-Miller, singing her own composition:

           There’s only love around you
           There’s only Peace within you
           There’s only light above you…

• The evening’s Master of Ceremonies Matt Watroba—a musician of both Michigan and Ohio—leading the audience in a song by David Tamulevich:

           Ours is a simple faith, life is a short embrace
           Heaven is in this place, every day…

• Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer reflecting on her ten years collaborating with Hal as Minister and Music Director, inspiring one another and leading beautiful worship together.

• Hal singing a duet with daughter Hallie (who has grown up to be an actress and singer), one of Hal’s songs:

           Shine on by the moon, let the little angels shine on with you,
           Write a brighter tune so we can sing it all the way home.

• And Hal singing a solo rendition of the traditional hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing while playing magically on a steel hand drum:

           …Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
           Mount of Thy redeeming love.
 
Long live music. Long live friendship. Long live sacred community.
 
PRAYER:
May the UU Church of Kent be blessed: their new building, their new minister, the music director to come who will follow in the footsteps of Hal Walker.
May the joy of singing and making music, and of enjoying and being moved by music, be known by all.
May good health come to Hal and to all who suffer from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Amen.
 
Rev. Andrew Frantz
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