Music Staff Announcement
Dear Trinity friends -
By chance or happy circumstance, I came across a YouTube video today that speaks to my current thoughts, of considering the gifts—and challenges—of change.
The video is a cover of the 1968 hit song, The Weight by The Band. It’s a song about the experiences of a traveler, as he arrives, travels around, and then leaves a town called Nazareth. It’s about people taking on, and sharing, each other’s burdens. And in this particular version, the music was created by musicians from around the world, part of a movement called Playing For Change which (per their website description), was “created to inspire and connect the world through music, born from the shared belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.”
A little more than a year ago, I introduced to you (via video and Constant Contact) Dent Davidson, who has served as Trinity’s interim music director since September 2020. At the time of that announcement, our world was still quite locked down because of the pandemic. We were many months away from an effective vaccine, and any gatherings that were taking place were happening outdoors, with limited numbers, with people masked and physically distanced. We were just beginning our outdoor labyrinth Eucharists at Trinity, and though we knew we couldn’t sing as we were accustomed to doing as part of our liturgy, still we longed to incorporate communal music in some form because we share the belief that “music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.”
Into this strange time came our musical traveler, Dent, who helped us find new ways to express ourselves musically that didn’t involve breathy exhalations (clapping and humming, bells and shakers, modified sign language.) As COVID restrictions were gradually lifted, more and more we rediscovered our voices, eventually being able to regather a choir and have congregational hymn singing indoors. It has been a year requiring adaptation and creativity, flexibility and change, and I’m grateful beyond measure to have traveled through this time with Dent. His musical leadership and upbeat collegiality have helped lighten the load of figuring out how to be the Church in uncertain, confounding, anxious times.
And there is still more change in store for us: Dent’s time with Trinity is coming to an end. You can read Dent’s message, below, about what is forthcoming for him and his family:
Dear Ones,
This note comes to you with some sadness, and also great joy and expectation for the future. I will be leaving Trinity and California after church on Sunday, September 19. It’s been a very difficult decision, but one that is absolutely clear after much prayer and discernment.
My husband, Jim Paddleford, has spent nearly a year in his new role as Chief of Staff at a well-known real estate company in Chicago. After nearly 37 years of my vocation coming first, in terms of where we lived, it’s important that now is “his turn.” Our beloved golden retrievers and I will be joining him in Chicago very soon. I have a wonderful opportunity to serve with a small congregation in the heart of “The Loop” in the city, Grace Place. They are small in number, and mighty in their passion for community justice and their love of Jesus. (Two passions I know well that are shared with Trinity!)
Spending the past year serving among you has been such a blessing in my life, even with the long commute to Santa Barbara from Palm Desert. (12,208 miles, approximately 430 hours!) Please know that every mile has been worth it. The drive gave me excellent time for prayer and thanksgiving for you! It’s been a joy to serve with a most excellent leadership team, each of whom I will miss dearly. We’ve spent most of the year learning how to do communal music without singing. It’s not been easy, but it’s been a fun challenge, and you’ve all been great sports in trying new things. My heart is filled with deep gratitude for the welcome and love you’ve shown me, for the ministry that has carried forward here (despite the ravages of pandemic), and for the wisdom and open-mindedness you’ve consistently exhibited. I pray that one day we will all be able to sing God’s praises at the top of our lungs, unmasked to show our smiles.
In the meantime, I wish you all grace and peace as you go forward. Rest assured of my prayers in you search for a new Minister of Choral and Congregational Music.
Keep a song in your hearts, and may God bless you all.
Faithfully,
Dent DavidsonGod is our silence when no songs are sung,
When ecstasy or sorrow stills the tongue.
Glorious the faith that silently obeys
Until we find again the voice of praise.
-- F. Pratt Green
On September 19, during the 10am service, we will offer Dent our blessings and pray him off on the next part of his life’s journey. If you’d like to make a gift in thanksgiving for Dent’s time with Trinity, please consider making a donation to Trinity’s music ministry to insure that our voices of praise may sing and play on!
Thank you, Dent, for this year you traveled with Trinity. Hallelujah! and God be with you always.
Gratefully,
Elizabeth+
Postscript: (or, in the words of President Bartlet on The West Wing, What’s next?)
As you’ve no doubt seen in the Friday Trinity Notes Newsletter, our search for the next Minister of Choral and Congregational Music is well underway. We’ve had several candidates apply, and the discernment team is reviewing resumes and cover letters before conducting initial interviews. Once the application window closes, in mid-September, we’ll invite finalist candidates to interview with the team further, and also take the choir through a rehearsal, so we can see and experience how they introduce, teach, and rehearse choral music. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the process through Trinity Notes.
With regard to the choir, which normally picks back up at the beginning of the program year, Dent Davidson and Tom Joyce will be in touch with choir members about how rehearsals and Sunday morning worship will work in this time before the new music director is in place.
And, finally, we haven’t forgotten about wanting to celebrate and thank our retiring Minister of Choral and Congregational Music, Grey Brothers, for his 30+ years of service to Trinity! I met with Grey today to start thinking through plans for that event, which will take place before Grey’s successor is in place. Look for more details in upcoming issues of the Trinity Notes (and in the meantime, you can generally find Grey and Carrie in one of the back few pews on the pulpit side of the church, at the 10am service. Welcome back from Mexico, Grey and Carrie!)
Still grateful,
Elizabeth+
The Rev. Elizabeth Molitors, Rector
