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01/21/2009
7:15pm
The Inauguration Day Prayer Service, January 20, 2009 at 8:45am
Reverend Luis León greets the Obama's as they arrive at St. John's
My story begins January 20 at 4:00am, the time I awoke and readied myself for the Inauguration Day Prayer Service to be held at St. John's Episcopal Church later that morning. I had barely slept a wink, I was so excited. When I arrived at the metro station, to my amazement, there were already hundreds of people there. I smiled and thought, "I can't wait to see the National Mall later today"(When I purchased my fare card the night before, there were already at least a hundred people waiting in line to do the same).
I arrived at McPherson Square metro station at approximately 7:00am and walked one block to 16th and I Streets in time to check-in and receive my special security pass. I entered the parish house and told the secret service agent who approached the door that I was there to sing. He gently directed me back outside as I had somehow managed to get in without going through the metal detectors first! Once properly inspected, I joined the choir members who were gathering upstairs to rehearse the musical selections one last time. The rehearsal was very spirited, we were ready, ebullient as we got into our robes and went downstairs to the sanctuary.
As the fourteen of us stood there at the entrance to the sanctuary, I had such a feeling of peace and contentment, butterflies too, the church seemed especially bright with the morning sun shining through the stained glass window panes. We filed in two-by-two, past the Bidens who were seated to the far right in the front row. I was immediately aware that the space reserved for the Obama's was empty. We were briefly seated, only to be summoned a moment later by music director, Benjamin Hutto, to rise and sing our opening piece, a hymn set to a Kenyan melody, "Give Thanks Unto the Lord." Still no President.
When we finished singing, I tried to inconspicuously scan the room for any sign of the President and his wife. Many celebrity and political notables were in attendance, including Oprah Winfrey and Stedman, Adrian Fenty, Mayor of DC, Leon Panetta, CIA Director-designate, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, Timothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary-designate, and Episcopal Bishop, Gene Robinson, to name a few. The Obama's? Not there. Ben lifted his hands to conduct our second selection, Eric Whitacre's, "faith, hope, life, love," from Three Songs of Faith. The poem by e. e. cummings reads: faith, hope, life, love. . . dream, joy, truth, soul; so the entire piece contains only these eight words.
When we sang the word "love" tears sprang to my eyes, so much love was palpable in that room! Whitacre sets the word "joy" boldly and broadly. As the word formed in my mouth, I imbued it with the joy I felt, and my own personal joy was further lifted by the joy evoked by the musical setting and the joyous way we all sang together, creating this beautiful charge and recharge of emotion. By the time we reached the end of the song and closed to the final "L" of the word "soul," my whole being was buzzing and tingling, my heart was thumping in my chest and ears. I looked up and noticed that Jill Biden was visibly moved by the rendition. She exchanged glances with her son, Beau, while the Vice President simply nodded his head approvingly.
Only a few minutes had passed since the service had started, but it felt like we'd been waiting for an eternity, when the man of the hour, President Barack Obama, finally arrived. As he and Michelle entered the room, everyone spontaneously applauded. They were seated at the front next to the Biden's, and then we all rose to sing the opening hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past." I managed to read ahead while we sang the verses so I could look up from the music and take in as much as possible. He was like a prince robed in light, his full countenance was so radiant.
Reverend Dr. Luis León, St. John's Rector, began by welcoming both congregants and guests. He briefly discussed the history of St. John's, telling a few anecdotal stories about past Presidents that had worshiped at the church, and then turned his gaze to President Obama and said what an honor and pleasure it was to have him and his wife there. The invocation was then given by Bishop Charles E. Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ, Inc., Los Angeles, who asked that God bless the Obama's so that, "they may finish these next two terms in office." After the laughter subsided, he finished the invocation, and the choir sang our third and final anthem, "This Little Light of Mine," arranged by Moses Hogan. The choir was fully warmed up and totally "on" for this piece, and while Ben was admittedly more worried about pulling off the Hogan than the Whitacre, once we successfully established the right atmosphere with the rhythmic feel of the opening bars, it just sang itself. When we reached the first ending and returned to the head of the second verse, I saw Ben really give himself over to the moment, he looked like he was just so enjoying the music and the choir responded in turn. We received an email from him today in which he wrote,
Thanks and congratulations for your extraordinary singing yesterday at the Inauguration Day Prayer Service at St. John’s. It was a real joy for me to work with you to prepare and present the music for that service, which was such a poignant and appropriate way for us all to begin that historic day. I do not think you could have sung with more fervor, beauty or expressiveness, and, considering the talent pool in the choir, that is saying a lot. -Ben Hutto
The service was truly special. Distinguished church leaders from all faiths and from all over the nation participated. Just before the sermon, gospel artist, Yolanda Adams, sang "Open Up My Heart." She held the congregation in rapt attention, it was an unforgettable performance. She must have gotten the memo because, like Michelle Obama, she wore a stunning dress suit in a sunny shade of yellow. However, unlike Michelle who already stands at 5'11" without heels, Yolanda wore a pair of spiky heeled gold strappy shoes, the likes I had never seen at St. John's! They may not have been sensible, but they sure were pert-ty!
The next man who stood to speak, Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, charged with introducing the keynote speaker, Bishop T. D. Jakes, Senior Pastor, The Potters House, Dallas, gave the most effusive glowing introduction I have EVER heard. Caldwell is truly a wordsmith, and the Bishop did not disappoint. His sermon drew upon lessons from the reading, Daniel 3:19-28. He talked about the difficult times ahead for the country and our new President, assuring us that we may be "entering the fire," but we won't be burned, because God is with us. At the close of the sermon, final blessings were offered and the Obama's stood to leave as the choir led the congregation in the final hymn, "God of Grace and God of Glory." I watched President Obama help his mother in-law with her coat, and he and Michelle turned down the aisle, shaking hands with everyone as they made their way out of the church. He was so reverent and gracious, so seemingly unaware that he was the center of all our attention.
As I returned to the choir room, I saw the same secret service agent who I'd met earlier that morning, and he said, "I'm so glad you made it!" "Me, too!" We laughed. Me, too.
God speed Mr. President, the world awaits!
The President and First Lady leaving St. John's
At the Washington Monument watching the swearing in ceremony
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