The first two weeks of August were very musical because the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint held summer music camp. For some of their workshops, they left their downtown location, walked over to First Presbyterian Church on North Fourth Avenue, and pulled out their flutes, clarinets, violins, violas, and other instruments to practice. A small orchestra formed in the sanctuary and worked on musical arrangements. The director was very patient as these students honed their skills through this camp experience.

Music wafted down the hallway to my office door. I noticed at the beginning of the camp that some of the notes were rather out of tune. They stopped a lot and went back to fix rough spots. Repetition helped, and they broke into sectionals to focus on each instrument’s specific part. One day the flutes gathered just outside my door. Their adult workshop leader gave words of guidance and encouragement. “Good job, now let’s turn the page and begin here. One, two, three, one-ready-play … alright, that was better … one more time …” After these sectionals, the varied instruments came together, and a complete song filled the building.

Although Music Conservatory of Sandpoint isn’t a church group, there are many parallels. Like a church, an orchestra is made of individuals, but really it plays as one, like a body with many parts, all members of one another. The church is a body with Christ as the head. There are a variety of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit who gives them.

Like a church with pastors, elders, and deacons, the music camp leaders were very encouraging, trained, and competent in their musical disciplines, and they help a new generation learn the skills. The director looks at the full score and can see all the parts and how they interrelate. They have the melody, harmonies, and back up parts flowing in them as they wave the baton. They can point out what is needed to play a piece of music, train others in what to listen for through a musical ear and share compliments when that gets achieved.

Like spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, study, and service, musicians practice daily. Posture, breath control, embouchure, fingering, all these techniques combine in unique ways depending on what the instrument is. There are elements of trust involved as each group gives focus to what’s needed for practice to the benefit of the whole.

Eventually, the parts come together, and the entire group plays in a way that isn’t possible without coming together. Like a church, small groups take on specific focus, but worship unites the celebration of God’s Presence. Like a body, one part isn’t more important than another part, for all are needed and included.

First Presbyterian Church is glad to be a community in the community. The members, friends, and leadership of the church hope the young musicians felt welcome in this old building with stained glass windows and wooden pews. Built in 1906, the now air-conditioned sanctuary has wonderful acoustics for music. Orchestral sounds fill the space in lovely ways. We are fortunate to have such a space to share and are pleased the music camp had fun in a safe, structured environment that allowed for creative expression.

Now the camp is over and yet the music plays on. The students take the skills they learned and apply them in their lives. Even though the hallway is quiet now, I have an orchestra song playing in the back of my mind as I go about my day. The community is graced with trained musicians to share the arts in a variety of ways.

Although camp concludes, life lessons continue, and one generation blesses another. Thank you, Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, for your hard work and dedication. Thank you, churches, for the ministry of hospitality and other ways the larger community is held, healed, and strengthened through the love of Jesus shared with the world.

Living as one body with many parts takes practice, many wrong notes along way, tuning issues, and yet somehow, a joyful noise to the Lord is revealed and lifted as one.

Andy Kennaly is pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Sandpoint. He can be reached at www.fpcsandpoint.org.