On Tuesday afternoon, we changed from our more casual Khaki and dress shirt attire into our tuxedos for an evening concert that was the most spiritual event of the week for me. Our wonderful day filled with a tour of New Orleans and a very hospitable staff at Ferncrest Manor in the afternoon culminated with a Labyrinth and Organ concert, a weekly affair at Trinity. After our chorus had warmed up, our host, a Juilliard-trained organist proceeded to transform the sanctuary for the service. The chancel became a large cloth on the floor covered with the painting of a labyrinth, outlined with lights, and candles in and around the labyrinth. As we sang the a capella portion of our repertoire from the balcony, interspersed with strong organ pieces, parishioners would make their way to the front of the church, walk through the labyrinth, pausing for prayer and reflection.
While merely singing in the beautiful sanctuary that we were in would have been incredible in itself, members of the chorus took the opportunity to worship in the space following our portion of the service. Many members of the Men’s Chorus walked the labyrinth, with others kneeling at the front of the sanctuary to pray, and still others sitting in pews taking in the sights and sounds of a wonderful space. As noted in a previous post, we did indulge ourselves in a lovely dinner following the service, but nothing that night was to overshadow the experience of walking and singing at Trinity Episcopal Church. Many thanks are in order for the people that made this rejuvenating and awe-inspiring experience possible!
Rehearsing in the Sanctuary at Trinity
A beautiful sanctuary before being transformed into a labyrinth.
Surrounded by lovely stained glass at Trinity
Our view from the balcony.
The labyrinth ready for the service.
Checking out some of the beautiful homes surrounding the church.