18 June 2013
The Hand of the Lord is always in His work. Yesterday proved again that this is true. What a blessing it is to see Heavenly Father’s hand in His work, as we surely did!
More than a month ago I attended the annual stake high priest quorum meeting. Branch president, David Calderwood, invited me to accompany him on Sunday evening. We road in his sports car to Hall’s Corner, (Milwaukee suburb) where the Milwaukee South Stake Center is located. President Bruner, the stake president, spoke at length about the Tabernacle Choir coming to Milwaukee. He emphasized that the purpose of their coming was to increase missionary work. He told us that we should buy tickets, then, pray to know the right persons to invite. He said, “If you don’t have the money to buy tickets, then, pray to know how to have the money.” I was touched by his bold counsel.
When I came home I shared with Vicki what the stake president had counseled. We agreed that we should be obedient. I went on line and ordered 4 tickets. They were about $45 each. For us, this was a significant amount. Following this, we began praying to know who we should invite to accompany us. After a week or more had passed, we decided to invite hermana Cecilia Roman, a recent baptism in the branch. She has a non-member friend that we asked her to invite to accompany us. After a week or so Cecilia said her friend would be out of the state at the time of the concert. So we began praying for direction on who else to invite. We finally settled on inviting Father Mike Newman, a fellow volunteer at the Shalom Food Pantry whom we have become acquainted with. Fr. Mike is a retired Catholic priest who lives at St. Marks rectory in Kenosha.
Fr. Mike accepted our invitation. Neither he nor Cecilia knew much about the Choir. We e-mailed a link to Fr. Mike from the Choir’s website regarding the 2003 Midwest Tour. It has samples of their performances, and people sharing their experiences in attending previous tour concerts. Fr. Mike became more excited about going. We gave Cecilia a CD of the Choir. She also became more excited.
Sunday, June 16, the day before the concert, Cecilia reluctantly told us she did not think she would be able to go. Her daughter would likely have to work on Monday evening, making it necessary for Cecilia to take care of the two grandchildren. We asked her to let us know if she couldn’t go, so we could try to find someone else to use the ticket. Cecilia texted about 8:30 Sunday night, saying she would not be going with us, and apologized.
Vicki and I immediately began thinking of who we might invite in Cecilia’s place. We made a list and decided to ask Heavenly Father what we should do. We slept on the dilemma. In the morning we had thought of Barb, the director of the Shalom Food Pantry, where we volunteer. Then the thought came to call Fr. Mike and explain to him what had happened, asking him who we should invite. We did so. One of his first suggestions was Barb. Vicki and I went to the Pantry to see Barb. It was about 10 AM. We told her about the concert and explained that Fr. Mike was going with us. She became very excited about the Choir and the opportunity to hear them in person. But then she explained that she had a meeting scheduled Monday evening that she could not miss. How she wished she could go.
At that point, we called Fr. Mike back and explained to him that since he knew so many more people than we did, we would like to put it in his hands to invite someone to use the extra ticket. He agreed to do it, and to let us know how things progressed. We continued to pray that Fr. Mike would be guided to someone who would be blessed by going with us.
A couple of hours later he called to say that he had talked to several people. He related that each one he had talked to spoke very enthusiastically about being able to hear the Choir, but they all had previous commitments Monday night. He said he had talked to John, a close friend who is now in his eighties, and who has had a funeral home business for decades in Kenosha. John very definitely wanted to go, but was up north at his cottage, but thought he could be back by 5 pm. Our plan was to be on the road by 6 pm. So we said John would be great, and let it go at that. At about 4:30 pm Fr.Mike called again to say that John would not be back in time to accompany us. He explained that a lady named Teresa Setter, who was the director of music at St. Mary’s Parrish, and a friend of his had come to his mind. He had invited Teresa and she excitedly accepted. She was very familiar with the Choir, loved their music, and could not believe she would actually be having the opportunity to hear it in person. Vicki and I felt good that we finally had two guests to accompany us.
We went by to pick up Fr. Mike just before 6 pm. Teresa was waiting to meet us at St. Mary’s church when we arrived. Finally, we were off to Milwaukee for the concert. Both our guests are long-time residents of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee. They knew much of the history of the area and delighted us with accounts of happenings and landmarks that we knew nothing of before. Our 45 minute drive was very pleasant and without incident. I had gone to Mapquest for driving directions to the Milwaukee Theater. We had them examine them and they said they could navigate us there much more directly, and they did.
We arrived at the Theater in downtown Milwaukee before 7 pm, and parked in the structure behind the Theater. We made our way into the Theater with the multitude of excited people who had also come to enjoy the Choir. Our seats were in the balcony, just off center and perhaps 6 rows up. It was a perfect place from which to enjoy the performance. The Choir and Orchestra were already in their places on stage. The entire stage was filled with people.
At the appointed moment, Mack Wilberg, Choir director, walked on stage, took the director’s podium. The concert was underway. The Choir performed two beautiful Welsh hymns. At the conclusion of the second one, Teresa said, “I think I am in heaven!” As the program continued through the evening, both of our guests were filled with joy at listening to the Choir live. Repeatedly they expressed their wonder and appreciation for being present. The program came to a close with the Choir singing “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Then came a standing ovation. The director returned to the stage for the encore, “God Bless America.” Then came the second encore. The announcer explained that it was a tradition for the Choir to invite a local, well-known and loved person to direct the final encore. As he introduced the guest conductor, Archbishop Jerome Listecki, he came on stage, baton in hand, stopped before going on the podium and crossed himself. A huge smile came to his face as he stepped up and began to direct, “This Land is Your Land.” It was obvious that the Archbishop was enjoying himself. He was dressed in his formal habit, with his little red cap on his head. Several times he had to grab the hat to keep it from slipping off as he conducted. He conducted the Choir and Orchestra with great enthusiasm.
When the Archbishop was announced, Fr. Mike and Teresa were stunned. Their mouths dropped open and they gasped, “Archbishop Listecki here? To direct the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?” Then they seemed to relax and thoroughly enjoy it. At the conclusion of the number the Archbishop stepped off the podium, grinning, knelt on one knee and crossed himself again. Obviously his prayer had been answered. Our guests, over and over, expressed their wonder at what they had just seen.
As we descended to the lobby we found the Archbishop there greeting people. It was apparent that he was still enjoying himself. Both Fr. Mike and Teresa knew the Archbishop personally. We had them pose together and took their picture. Fr. Mike was so excited. He said, “Wait until I show that picture to my colleagues.” What a marvelous, unexpected conclusion to an amazing evening with the wonderful Choir.
Kyle Vincent, son of our dear friends from Parowan, is a member of the Choir. We had e-mailed with the Vincents and they with Kyle to try to arrange for us to meet him in front of the Theater after the concert. So we waited there for nearly 20 minutes without seeing any of the Choir members appear. What we didn’t realize was that the Choir members were all changing into their street clothes and preparing to board the 11 buses that would take them to their hotel. Finally we decided that we would not be able to meet Kyle. We began to go to the parking structure behind the theater. As we turned the corner of the theater and walked down the sidewalk, the choir members were coming from the back of the theater out to the front where their buses were awaiting them. All wore nametags. We watched for Kyle but did not see him.
About half way through the block I observed a couple walking with the Choir members, and said to myself, “that is my cousin.” As we met, he recognized me as well and we shook hands and embraced. It was Elder & Sister Craig Cardon of the Seventy. I am afraid my, “Well, hello my cousin,” was probably not the appropriate greeting to be used with a member of the Seventy. But it was what it was. They explained that they were on assignment from the Brethren to accompany the Choir on this tour. We introduced them to our guests and visited for a few minutes before going our separate ways. It was a sweet “family moment” for me. In retrospect, I am a bit embarrassed that I was not more formal in greeting them. They were very warm and kind and acted like all was as it should be. However, I feel I owe him an apology for being too familiar in that setting.
As we were leaving downtown Milwaukee, Teresa insisted we stop at Leon’s, a long time Milwaukee tradition. Their frozen custard is always in high demand. We each enjoyed the butter pecan cones and visited as we started the drive home.
As we drove back to Kenosha, the opportunity presented itself for me to explain many things regarding the LDS Church. A Restoration discussion was shared with our friends. After explaining what the Book of Mormon is and its role in the Church, I offered to give a copy to Fr. Mike. He did not respond, so I said I certainly did not want to in any way jeopardize his position at the rectory where he lives. Teresa just laughed. We all did. Teresa told us that her choir is going to be singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic” on Sunday, June 30th for the 9:00 am mass. She invited Vicki and me to attend with her. We accepted her invite. It has been a while since we attended mass.
While we arrived home very late Monday evening and were both very tired, we rejoiced in the fact that Heavenly Father had answered our prayers. It was His hand that was in the process of inviting the right people to the concert. Truly these two were supposed to be there.
How grateful we are to be His servants.
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