Special talents bear creative gifts for churches

In visiting houses of worship week after week, I'm no longer surprised at the myriad ways in which members contribute freely to their congregations, although I continue to be awed by it.

The area we think of first, of course, is financial. And it's true that religious folks are extraordinarily generous with money for their churches.

They pay not only for the buildings in which they worship and the staffs that run them, but also for untold community enhancements - housing after-school programs for latch-key children; hosting "social clubs" for the emotionally handicapped; feeding and entertaining senior citizens; providing temporary shelter for homeless families; not to mention donating time and money to national and international mission work, particularly to help the most impoverished among us.

But sometimes the most appreciated contributions are even more personal. The person who faithfully cooks breakfast for the men's group once a month. The teenager who volunteers his time to mow the lawn all summer. The trustee who shows up every time there's a clog to unplug, a light bulb to change or a spot of painting to touch up.

I was reminded of the delightful reality of that great volunteer cadre last weekend at the dedication service for the new organ at Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke.

Many hands and many talents have gone into the acquisition, building and installation of the massive Fisk tracker organ. Even if it didn't play, it would be a magnificent addition to the architecture.

But it does play, as Christ Church's director of music, Thomas Baugh, demonstrated brilliantly last Sunday. A communitywide celebration is scheduled to be held next spring at which you'll get a chance to hear Baugh and other Roanoke Valley organists demonstrate the organ's magnificent voices.

Among the touches that made the organ truly this congregation's own, however, was a new hymn written just for it and them by a Christ Church member.

Michael Sitton's composition, called simply Christ Church Roanoke, was introduced formally at the service.

An example to follow

I met Michael in 1996 when he joined a lay theological study group I attended. Part of the process was the sharing of "spiritual autobiographies."

I was immediately impressed with Michael's thoughtful, pervasive devotion to his Christian faith - something he obviously tried to live out every day. He holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Illinois and served as professor of music at Hollins University before being named its acting vice president for academic affairs earlier this year. A pianist as well as a composer, he frequently plays with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

At his church, Michael served on the committee that chose the new organ, and had what was arguably an even tougher job as chairman of the committee that oversaw the wholesale renovation of the church's chancel to accommodate the new instrument.

That service has now culminated with the donation of an original work of art - a beautiful, five-stanza hymn celebrating the blessings of God's love. The choir, accompanied by Baugh, brought the song (which cannot be done justice here without the music) to life:

Here from the world, from work and home,

By country roads and crowded streets,

Our paths have brought us now to meet,

And, in communion with the saints,

God's love, God's love unites us in this place.

But while Michael is a talented musician who has composed a wonderful work of praise, what's really encouraging is that there is a sense in which his gift is just like those any of us can give.

All of us have some special contribution we can make to our religious communities, which in turn are indispensable contributors to our larger communities.

Thanks, Michael, for the reminder of how much our generosity with our God-given talents can mean.