Tag: organist

• Jean: One of My Heroes

  I met Jean Gunnulson 17 years ago. I had just agreed to be a substitute organist at the Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church, and we were having our first music planning meeting. Four of us gathered together at 9:00 one morning in the church office – Pastor Dave, Cathy, Jean and myself. The first thing I learned…

  Marian

  December 13, 2016

  Life’s Challenges, Music, Reflections

  Allen organ, Borning Cry, Children’s clothing, church organist, floppy disk, hymn selection, Indian Reservation, inspiring people, Jean Gunnulson, midi, music planning meeting, Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church, organist, substitute organist

• The Misfit Funeral Organist – Part 2

  “When in doubt, leave it out.” That was the advice of the soloist for the funeral last week. She teaches music at some college in Minnesota. I took her advice to heart. For her solo, Mendelssohn’s “O Rest in the Lord,” I learned the piano accompaniment just fine, and I didn’t need to leave anything…

  Marian

  June 17, 2014

  Music, Reflections

  funeral, funeral music, God’s love, God-given gifts, Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, Leave it out, life challenges, listening for God, misfit, misfit funeral organist, Oakwood Village, organist, reflections, spirituality, tracker organ, When in doubt

• Funerals and the Misfit Organist

  That’s me. The misfit funeral organist. I’m not sure which order the words should be in. They’re all nouns linked together to convey one image – me as an organist who likes to play for funerals, even though I shouldn’t. I’m a misfit. I should avoid funerals, at all cost, just like my mom did.…

  Marian

  June 10, 2014

  Music, Reflections

  Aunt Edith, comfort, funeral, funeral music, funerals, Gary Kenseth, God’s love, Khalil Gibran, language of the spirit, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, misfit, organist, peacefulness, pre-service music, reflections, spirituality

• My Mom’s Wedding Ring

  I wore my mom’s wedding ring to church on Sunday. I sometimes wear the ring when I want to feel that Mom is especially close to me. Often that’s when I’m planning to play some extra special music on the piano or organ at church, and I know Mom would really enjoy listening to it.…

  Marian

  September 3, 2013

  God’s Love, Music, Reflections

  Be Still My Soul, Bill Gaither, church family, church music, coffee hour, East Koshkonong Lutheran Church, extended family, family of God, Finlandia, friends, God’s love, God-given gifts, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, In the Garden, life calling, Messiah Lutheran Church, mom, organist, pianist, reflections, Sibelius, the Family of God, wedding ring