Yesterday was Easter. I played trumpet for the 6:30 AM sunrise service. The choir and the handbells performed for the 8:30 and 10:30 AM services. By the end of it we were exhausted. My wife is our church's music director and we have all been preparing for this day for weeks. The choir did a cantata accompanied by a few instrumentalists. The week leading up to Easter was FILLED with rehearsals and working on final details. It's a lot of work, but when you look out into the congregation and see how the music was affecting people, you can only sum it with one word - inspiring! Some were crying, others were smiling. Music is SO powerful! Our pastor believes that music can convey the message of Easter better than any sermon. Judging from the responses yesterday, he may be right. It is such an awesome feeling to know that music can touch the soul so deaply. While we recieved MANY compliments afterwards about how good the music was, it's not an ego thing. God's spirit was clearly present yesterday. Even I was moved to tears several times, knowing how He was using me/us in such a powerful way. Praise the Lord!