Ecumenical choir's harmony sounds in church and prison

Tom Smith believes that music can transform people.

He's seen it happen, and it has certainly transformed the ecumenical choir he conducts that is made up of members from his own parish, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fort Edward, where he is music director, and Zion Episcopal Church in Hudson Falls, United Methodist Church in Argyle and Argyle United Presbyterian Church.

The as-yet-unnamed group sometimes calls itself the "Augmented Choir," although that's more of a jest about their ecumenical nature than a real name, Mr. Smith admitted.

Introduction

The choir began when Mr. Smith -- then the organist at Zion and the Methodist church -- began to play at Saturday night vigil Masses at St. Joseph's.

There, he met Lois Lippincot-Pino, the chaplain at Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility, who asked if the choir would be available to sing for the inmates. He discussed the trip with members of the Episcopal and Methodist churches, who wanted to join the Catholics in visiting the prison.

"We enjoyed it very much, because he gave us a challenge to sing some difficult music," explained Bob Sharpe, a member of Argyle Methodist.

Musical bars

The choir members, who began singing together around 2003, have performed at Advent services around the county, sung at Christmas Masses and appeared at religious services in all three churches on New Year's Day.

The singers have also continued their music ministry in prisons. The first time they sang at Washington Correctional Facility, the choir was able to share a meal with the inmates. Another time, at Mt. McGregor, an inmate who was a pianist tickled the ivories while the choir sang.

The choir -- made up mostly of baby-boomers and senior citizens -- enjoys singing for the inmates, who are often far younger than they, Mr. Smith said.

Grace notes

"I don't know what it is, exactly. I don't want to say 'but for the grace of God,' but [there is] a feeling of identifying with those people that Christ was most interested in," Mr. Smith explained.

Mr. Sharpe found the experience of singing for the inmates "very meaningful. People who are incarcerated are sometimes forgotten, and we forget that they are people, too, and need guidance. It was very moving to perform and see the response."

Mr. Smith was affected by performing in the prisons on a deeper level: He joined the Residents Encounter Christ prison retreat ministry.

Major chord

Mr. Smith's career has been peppered with ecumenical thoughts about music; along with the Catholic churches, he has played at Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal and Lutheran churches, and served as a substitute for organists of all denominations.

"I am always pleasantly surprised to see hymns that resonate in Catholic churches also do in others and vice-versa," he said. "Music has done a great deal to bring people together. I've had the good fortune to be with people who loved music in all of these churches."

When the choir begins to sing the words and "allows the words to sink in," he added, "you recognize the commonality of all our endeavors. The music resonates. It speaks to everyone. I have always been enthused about the power of music to bring people together and to sound out common themes."

Encore

This year, Mr. Smith hopes to bring the choir to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Glens Falls for another Advent service, sing at a Holy Thursday service at Mt. McGregor and get more Washington County churches involved.

"When you break everything down, we all worship the same God," said Mr. Sharpe. "I think the love of Jesus has inspired us all to be able to reach out to others and not forget them. When we sing a song or a hymn or a piece of a religious work, you are not only singing. You're praying."

(Ecumenism doesn't stop with song in Fort Edward. For many years, St. Joseph's has also partnered with a Baptist church to sponsor a food pantry and a joint Thanksgiving service.)

(2/8/07) [[In-content Ad]]