Relieved, sad, and worn out

Well, all of the hard work and practice leading up to the Easter Cantata is finally over. We performed "AMEN" this morning during the Easter Sunday Worship service. I am relieved, sad, and worn out now that it's over. As I placed the cantata book into my choir bag after the service, it was like I was putting away an old friend. This cantata had a special meaning to me on so many levels. I dedicated the cantata in the memory of Mrs. Dockery. I thought of her many times today while at church. I missed her terribly but I knew she was having a much better Easter than I was. She is actually with the one that we were singing about! But, I was still sad as I turned to the front page of my book and saw her name written there. This was also the first "real" cantata that I had taught our choir. Always before it was just song selections that I had picked out and threw together, stuff that they already knew on some level. AMEN was pretty difficult for a choir such as ours. I was very proud of our members and how much they worked on this and put forth such effort. They are such a great group of people.

There was a nice turnout for the choir, not so much for the entire church. Many empty seats this morning. Things just aren't like they used to be when on Easter Sunday morning the church house would be packed full. I can remember services where you were lucky to get a seat. This morning you had your choice.

The low church attendance didn't effect the effort that we put into our cantata. I believe each and every choir member put forth 100%. I thought the sound was excellent. We only had a couple of small hiccups through the entire 30-minute performance. I brought the choir in 2-beats too early on one song and Barbara accidentally turned 2-pages instead of one during one of our songs. We kept going right along and didn't miss a beat.

Our opening song was the title song, AMEN. After we finished, everyone in the church began clapping. I'm not sure if it was because it was so good or because they thought we were finished. If it was the latter, they were in for a surprise. It is a pretty long cantata. If you actually listened to the words and the spoken parts in between numbers, you will hear about the entire life of Jesus, topped off with a salute to his power and majesty. I think my very favorite number is "Why Should He Love Me So?" It is so beautiful and so true. I cry nearly every time we sing it. I'll try to get the whole thing uploaded soon and post a link to listen. Songs include:

AMEN…...........Wonderful Words Of Life............Let The Song Go Round The Earth..............Why Should He Love Me So?......Alas and Did My Savior Bleed / My Faith Looks Up To Thee.....................Crown Him / All Hail King Jesus....AMEN (Reprise)

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Our loss is Heaven's gain

I'm still in shock after receiving the phone call this morning, informing me that Mrs. Dockery had passed away. She had been sick for several months, though most people probably would never know it. Her throat had been bothering her since sometime before Christmas last year. Every time I saw her, I would ask her how she was doing. She was always honest to tell me that she wasn't feeling well and she told me that she didn't ever think that her throat was going to be the same. She said she had been praying about it for a long time.

About 3-weeks ago, Mrs. Dockery said that she was feeling some better and her throat was finally getting back to almost normal. She seemed really happy about it and I could hear her sweet little soprano voice blending in with the choir. She always sat beside my wife in the choir loft. She would discuss the music with her and laugh about me changing the song selections at the last moment. I knew that I could always depend on her to be there whenever we had choir practice, as long as she wasn't too sick to attend. I know she came many times despite not feeling well.

Last week we got word that Mrs. Dockery, as well as a few other church members, had come down with the flu. This past Wednesday evening during worship service, I looked out across the congregation and noticed that she wasn't there. "Poor Mrs. Dockery," I thought to myself. "She must be pretty bad off to miss." Later on as I took prayer requests, I mentioned for people to remember her in prayer. I had no way of knowing that I would never see her alive again.

Mrs. Dockery was one of those sweet little ladies that loved everybody. She was like a grandmother to everyone that knew her. Always kind, caring, and spiritual. She had very strong convictions and was very well spoken when talking about things of the Lord. She was in charge of the church prayer chain and she agonized over it daily. She had such a desire to make it flow smoothly and just 3-weeks ago had taken it upon herself to re-vamp the prayer chain to try and overcome some snags that were in it. She stood before the church and talked about how important the prayer chain was and how she wanted it to benefit people's lives. She spoke with such compassion. I admired her immensely, but shamefully never told her.

Mrs. Margaret Dockery will be missed tremendously at our church. I know tomorrow I will look down at her empty choir seat with great sadness. But, I have comfort knowing that she has taken her rightful place in her brand new seat in Heaven's choir where she no longer has to worry about throat problems or sickness and pain. I don't know who Heaven's choir director is but whoever it is, they just gained treasure in Mrs. Dockery.

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Margaret Dockery
DOCKERY, MARGARET - age 83 of Knoxville died Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the family home. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church. Preceded in death by husband, Clyde Dockery and sister, Ada Long. Survivors: son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Janice Dockery; grandson, Paul Dockery and wife, Jennifer, all of Dunlap, TN; sister, Edna Watts; special friends, Joe and Charlotte McCollough, all of Knoxville; nieces and nephews. Funeral service 8 p.m. Monday at Stevens Chapel. Family and friends will meet at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at Highland Memorial Park for a 10 a.m. committal service and entombment. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Monday at Stevens Mortuary, Oglewood Avenue at North Broadway. Mrs. Dockery's guest book is available at Legacy.com.

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