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Rob Wood's avatar

Holy, holy moments, words, candles, joys. Loved singing with you back in the day with Delcamp and others. My wife (for the first time) and I experienced Sunday L&C this year, zooming from NC to be guests 900 & 901, or so reported the usher. Thank you for your words that brought close memories from afar. 💒🎼

Courtenay Budd's avatar

Thank you, Rob. I'm forever grateful to you as well for your ministry, which got me through the pandemic.

Carole Duff's avatar

A favorite: your nephew's voice and gap-toothed smile.

Courtenay Budd's avatar

He is a treasure. Thank you, Carole. Merry Christmas!

Gerald Smith's avatar

Beautiful, Budd. Your very best.

I held Robbe’s candle at the west door while he directed that opening moment. I have seen that clenched jaw several times. He could be fierce. Then you all would move into the aisle and I would give him his candle. It was easy after that.

Courtenay Budd's avatar

The best! Thank you for this, dear Smith. May we lift our candles high.

Lauren McDonald's avatar

Absolutely lovely. Those services were magical. I don’t remember the differing note because I wasn’t that good a musician just how joyous it all was.

Courtenay Budd's avatar

I remember that joy, and sharing it with you, Lauren.

Lauren McDonald's avatar

And you singing the first verse of Once in Royal David's City - pure heaven!!

Ron Balthazor's avatar

Lovely moments of memory through the lens of Advent and All Saint's Chapel in confluence with today's truth, Courtenay. Thank you. I love the tonal train wreck of the Palestrina held in contrast with your nephew's lovely, pure voice.

Just yesterday I was at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta for confirmation of a dear friend (one of the anthems was the Rachmaninoff "Bogoroditse Dyevo", fabulous) so I still have incense in my nose and the words of truth from the wild prophet John ringing in my ears. Our Bishop, like you poem, asked us to consider our response to this miraculous encounter with God.

Courtenay Budd's avatar

There is nothing quite like Russian liturgical singing, is there? And that prophet John sure was a wild one! Thank you for all this, Ron.

Peggy Trubey's avatar

Loved this Becky. I half expected as we watched remotely on Sunday evening that you would come forward to sing a solo! How wonderful you get to experience Sewanee again through the eyes of your son. That little nephew singing 🥰

Courtenay Budd's avatar

It's all such a wonder. Peggy, do you know which tenor sang, "I look from afar!" this year? It was Jack, and he was outstanding!

Peggy Trubey's avatar

His grandmother said he was the cantor at the early service but not at the evening one. Which one did you go to? Jack and his mom, Jenny, are going with our church choir to England on the 26th where they’ll be singing evensong at St. Paul's for a number of days. Jenny’s in the choir when Todd and Janet were!

Beryl Rajnic's avatar

Your writing here is so beautiful and a good reminder of things that are very precious, especially to remember and focus on, in Advent!

Courtenay Budd's avatar

Thank you so much, dear Beryl.

Janisse Ray's avatar

Your connection to Sewanee and to your history there is a beautiful thing. I'm so glad you've kept that alive across these years.

Courtenay Budd's avatar

I'd almost let it dry up. So grateful for being seized--or inhaled--back. Thank you as always, Janisse.

Laura Brooks Rice's avatar

Love this

Courtenay Budd's avatar

Thank you, Laura. Merry Christmas!