FAPC

Today’s service at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian was a perfect homecoming. It was music Sunday and celebrated each stage of the annual calendar with one or two verses from seasonal hymns. From “O Come Emmanuel” to “Glory Glory Glory” it was a morning of greatest hits. Two great highlights, one exhilarating and one bittersweet. The Good Friday hymn was “Were You There”. It’s a lovely hymn with a greater-than-usual range and a lovely slow burn. More personally, it is the hymn that my sister and I most closely connect with my mom Dee. Dee loved to sing, however her enthusiasm was not matched with vocal control. Pops had perfect pitch, Mom had maximum energy and “Were You There” brought out her cacophonous worst, to the point of incredible humor that made the naturally somber Good Friday a light-hearted affair — first as we waiting in anticipation as the song got closer and closer, and then the joy of standing next to Dee in her full throated celebration. The second treat of the FAPC return, came soon after when out-of-nowhere in the elevated choir loft a brass section stood up to kick off the Easter magnificence of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”. It’s the best song of the year and the acoustics of FAPC tore it up.