Father’s Day
This Sunday is Father’s Day and it has me remembering the influential male figures in my life. Besides my own father, I have been blessed to have had several important mentors who have shaped me into the man I am today. Some were teachers. Others were neighbors. Several were men I met through the church who taught me lessons about spiritual maturity and listening.
I was fortunate to know both of my grandfathers, as well as a great-grandfather. My Grandad Otho, who was my father’s grandfather, taught me about laughter, character, and resilience. He was a very kind man, who in his early 20s had been blinded in a train accident. He loved to talk on his CB radio and drink an ice-cold beer. My Grandad Homer, for whom I am named, was the “fun” grandparent. He was a savvy businessman. He taught me communication skills and how to have an ease with people. He also taught me about class and charm.
My mother’s father, who we called Pop-Pop, served as a bomber in the Air Force during World War II. As a child, he would tell my sisters and me stories about the war, which we found exciting. When I was a teenager, I learned that he had bombed Dresden, his fatherland, and those scars of trauma were ones he carried with him for life.
My Pop-Pop was the tougher grandparent. He was raised in Doylestown, PA. He was the first in his family to graduate from any kind of college. While raising six children, he built a successful career in sales in the crane and hoist industry. He retired at 52 and spent the next 25 years of his life playing golf and overseeing his own time.
In my youth, my mom’s parents lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas, so when we would see them, my Pop-Pop would often make it a point to impart some little piece of life truth to me. One of those gems of wisdom I heard him repeat nearly every time I saw him was this, “Homer, always remember the three most important words. Please and Thank You.”
I have never forgotten that piece of advice. This May, the Emmanuel Choir said, “Thank you!” to three members of our choir that retired in the past year, Steve Bouser, Peter Helgesen, and Allen Williams. We also honored our choral secretary, Laura House, who remains part of the choir family in her administrative role, but retired from the loft a few years ago. A celebratory party was held at the home of Bill and Sara MacAdam, and each retiree was presented with the gift of a hand-painted icon from Sofia, Bulgaria.
Peter Helgesen received an icon of St. Dunstan, a patron of bellringers, musicians, blacksmiths, and more. The icon also recognizes Peter’s attendance at St. Dunstan’s Choir School in Providence, RI, where Peter sang as a boy soprano. Steve Bouser received an icon of his namesake, St. Stephen. Laura House received an icon of the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia, and Allen received an icon of Christ the Teacher.
On the last Sunday of May, The Red Door Ringers honored Bill Patton, who retired from the handbell choir at the end of the programmatic year. Bill began ringing in the handbell choir with his wife Kris and children, under the direction of Johnny Bradburn. Twenty years later, he hung up his gloves. A celebration of Bill’s ministry was held at Gus and Terry Anne Sam’s home. In honor of his service, Bill was presented with a “silent” handbell, that is, one without the playing mechanism. Bill played the E4 and F4 bells, and was appropriately presented with an F4 bell, inscribed as follows, “In Celebration of William Murray Patton, Faithful Musician and Friend, The Red Door Ringers, 2006-2026.”
Thank you Peter, Steve, Allen, Laura, and Bill for your service to Emmanuel. Thank you for your gifts offered over many years to our community. Thank you for giving me the privilege of working with you in the preparation and offering of our liturgies. Thank you to our hosts the MacAdams and the Sams. Most especially, thanks be to God for knitting us together in His will.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
P.S. Three of our choristers will be at the Royal School of Church Music Carolina Course this coming week. If you want to give thanks to them, and experience some of the best choral music offered in the Southeast this summer, please consider joining us at Duke Chapel next Sunday, June 28th for the 11 A.M. Eucharist and/or 4 P.M. Choral Evensong. If you’ve always wondered what an RSCM summer course is all about, I invite you to view the documentary, Sacred Sound, made in 2015 about the Carolina Course. The film has just been made available to the public without charge on YouTube. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/McB_aj1oDSM?si=SFbuSFPaIJe4J_j2