by Bill Pelham
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and
make music. Awake my soul! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”
- Psalm 57
One of my favorite duties at Christ the King Church was always the honor of ringing the bells – before, during, and after service. Whenever I had the chance, I volunteered to ring the bell during the Lord’s Prayer. For those in the congregation who have never had this experience first hand, one usually climbs to the very top of the bell tower and manually strikes the bell with its clapper.
Getting to the top of the bell tower is not always an easy task, particularly when it’s raining. But once in the loft – high above the trees and the street below, the world below somehow seems peaceful and calm. Maybe it’s just my wildly active imagination, one from my youth that reminds me of my childhood and the many hours I spent perched high in the big oak tree in my parent’s backyard – scanning the horizons as far as the eye could see.
While the horizon is far more limited atop our bell tower, there is a feeling of serenity that is truly magical. One can look out onto Rice Boulevard and the Village, and gaze down on the Parsonage and the intersection at Greenbriar. Traffic is usually light on Sunday mornings, and with the exception of an occasional jogger, the sidewalks are almost as empty as the streets. As one awaits the cue to ring the bell, they can often hear the muffled sound of the organ playing and the congregation singing just prior to communion. For me, the moment almost seems surreal – as if time has slowed to a pace more akin to that of my youth. I guess that is why it is so special in my heart.
In my travels around this great country - from Pinehurst to Philadelphia, and Boston to Charleston, I have always cherished the moments of surprise and happiness in hearing church bells chime during the middle of the day. The melodies are so soothing to the soul; and once again, the pace and importance of our daily lives seems to slow considerably. In that light, you can imagine how I wonder sometimes what those within earshot of our bells must think when they hear it sound seven times during the Lord’s Prayer, or even more so when we waken the neighborhood at midnight at Easter and Christmas. I’d like to think they feel like Henry Longfellow once did in 1863 when he wrote: “I heard the bells on Christmas day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat, of peace on earth, good will to men!”
Heavenly Father, embolden each of us, and this congregation, to “ring the bells” of our faith unashamedly, proclaiming our love for you and your son, Jesus Christ. Give all who are able to hear, the faith, the hope, and the comfort in knowing that your Grace and Mercy are as boundless as the heavens above us. Amen!