They Felt the Spirit and Said So

Trinity Transforms Quaint Dutch Village Into Community of Gospel Praise

Joyce Garrett directs Trinity Choir in last appearance of 2014 European Tour.

MONNICKENDAM, The Netherlands—Trinity Choir’s 2014 European Tour officially ended in this charming hamlet in the Dutch province of North Holland. And for just a few hours, St. Nicholas and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church sounded very much like Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia . . . with an accent, of course.

“We want more, we want more, we want more!” villagers and visitors chanted as director Joyce Garrett and accompanist Melvin Bryant Jr. followed the 54-member ensemble down the center aisle and, eventually, outside to the front of the church to greet the grateful flock.

The reaction has been the same throughout the tour after Alfred Street’s expressive soloists and power-packed sopranos, altos, tenors and basses delivered soulful rendition of hymns, spirituals and gospel favorites. The worshippers, observers and tourists came to their feet, clapped their hands displaying wide, appreciative smiles. Tears flooded some eyes; other folks shook their heads in quiet acknowledgement of the inspiration received.

It started September 22 at Eglise La Madeleine in Paris; continued September 25 at Sint Salvator Cathedral in Bruges, Belgium, and concluded September 28 in Monnickendam, a 20-minute drive from Amsterdam.  (The final concert was streamed live on the Internet by PIM, a local media enterprise, and will be available for purchase on DVD in mid-October.)

But few in the audiences will ever know or understand how much time, effort and thought went into planning, practicing and performing the 16-piece repertoire.

“I had to consider the flow, the key signature and how much my singers could effectively retain during a busy travel schedule,” says Ms. Garrett, the choir’s director and minister of music at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. “That means thinking about what the audience sees and hears.”

Ms. Garrett says she began compiling the repertoire months ago while choir members were learning songs to render at regular church services. Once those were learned, she added pieces with varied genre, color, texture and pitch. And with the dynamic pianism of Mr. Bryant, who provided steady tempo, color and a joyous gospel bounce, there was nothing left to shout but Hallelujah!

Director Garrett's interview with PIM-TV will reportedly be
included in the DVD. It was conducted during intermission. 

DVD AVAILABLE IN MID-OCTOBER: PIM-TV Director Willejan Buter says DVDs of Trinity's Monnickendam concert will be available for sale in mid-October. Price: $15 Euros/$18 USD plus shipping and handling. To order, write info@omroep-pim.nl and request the number of copies you desire. Willejan says you will be sent a PayPal link to complete the transaction.

Willejan Buter (top) with assistant Tom. Equipment used in creating live Internet
stream and DVD included 4 cameras, 8 mics, light banks, switcher, audio board.

Will Europe Turn Me Into a Cycling Psycho?

Trinity's Tour Makes It Plain: I Gotta Do Better!

BRUGES: Bikers follow the paths pedestrians must cross.

The place is rife with bikers. In Paris, they compete with buses and cabs for road dominance. In Bruges, Belgium, crossing a bike path can be more dangerous than crossing Times Square against the light. And in Amsterdam, so many people pedal, bikes stacked in parking lots resemble recycling centers. I could say cycling creates a gnarly environment. But that's not true.

Cycling creates a challenging environment because you have to look out for yet another class of commuters. Moreover, these "psycho cyclers" (my description) aren't crazy at all. Using bikes makes perfect sense in light of space-challenged streets, high fuel prices and overall health perks. I'm seeing every kind of biker possible--from youngsters flying down the street racing buses to seniors pedaling through their errands to parents ferrying children on seats affixed to the back wheel.

Many bikes have baskets and saddle bags to carry purses, books, packages, whatever. And since they're used for everyday transportation, no one seems concerned if they're spanking new or dingy antique. I guess the glitz is saved for hotshot race events.

I saw tangles of bikes everywhere we visited.    

Anyway, I'm blessed to witness this mania (which is really normal behavior for Europe) because I started riding my old Peugeot mountain bike. I decided to get it refurbished rather than buy a new one.  I love the heavy frame and the brand. I'm riding because I need every biking benefit cited by the experts, including better cardiovascular, more strength and flexibility, and stress reduction. Leave it to a loving God to point out my need in a unique way. I came to Europe for the music but I'll be leaving inspired not only by Trinity's musical witness but by cycling.

Fact is, I need to do better about my health and diet. I could blame it on the rich foods and breads, etc., we're consuming on the trip but the truth is the choir tour is only for a week. I've been needing to change my dietary ways for a long time. That means more exercise and more control over what I eat and drink.

Bottom line: I'm hoping that hopping around Paris, taking a side trip to London, and then moving on with the group to Bruges and Amsterdam will instill a new sense of urgency. When I get back to the U.S.,  I'll probably add some type of carry apparatus to my bike so I can use it more naturally in everyday life--shopping, pharmacy, the post office.  Maybe soon,  I'll be a cycling psycho too.

Senior biker rides by Trinity Choir members taking in the town square before a concert.

Talk to your doctor first, then if it's okay glean some inspiration from these articles about the benefits of biking . . . 

• 7 Reasons to Start Bike Riding--Women's Health Magazine
• 10 Reasons to Get on a Bike--Men's Fitness
• Time to Take Up Bike Riding--Prevention.com