Notes From Susie co-author Mark Edwards explores the sustaining power of hymn texts in his session at the Alleluia Conference held at Baylor University in July of this year. Using as example his personal journey with his wife, Susie, through her two-year battle with cancer, Mark ponders and rejoices over the way their faith was buoyed by hymns, old and new.
Video: Mark speaks to Choral Festival attendees in Jacksonville, Florida, Part II
Please enjoy this video, the second of a two-part series, recorded live at the Inspire! National Choral Festival. It features excerpts from Mark Edwards' personal reflections on Notes from Susie: Choosing Gratitude in Life's Low Places. In Part Two, Mark shares the strength and support he and his wife drew from hymns of faith during their journey with terminal illness. The Festival took place in Jacksonville, Florida, in April, earlier this year.
Video: Mark speaks to Choral Festival attendees in Jacksonville, Florida, Part I
Please enjoy this video, the first of a two-part series, recorded live at the Inspire! National Choral Festival. It features excerpts from Mark Edwards' personal reflections on Notes from Susie: Choosing Gratitude in Life's Low Places. In Part One, Mark shares the story of his life with Susie, his wife whom he called "Honey", and their journey with terminal illness. The Festival took place in Jacksonville, Florida, in April, earlier this year.
Reaction to Mark Edwards' Presentation:
Mark Edwards has been a model of ministry in my life for years. His mind, his music, his worship leadership and philosophy, and his overall ministry have helped to shape who I am and what I do. A special strength of his life and work has always been the implementation of hymns. These time-tested expressions of faith are integral to Mark’s effectiveness as a mentor, minister and friend.
It was not surprising, then, that his use of hymn texts was so incredibly significant in his presentation of NOTES FROM SUSIE. I recently heard this presentation in Florida, to a room filled with hymn lovers and singers. I noted that my response was similar to the tears and nods of appreciation from across the room as Mark shared the story and resultant impact of the journey he and his beloved Susie had travelled during the months following her cancer diagnosis. His words of wisdom about gratitude, his four pillars of description of God’s provision, and his use of so many poignant and powerful hymn texts (recited from memory!) were all incredible aspects to the presentation.
I heartily recommend NOTES FROM SUSIE to you. The book itself, of course, coupled with Mark’s potent, effective presentation about its process and impact, are highly inspirational. I was encouraged in the faith and found my spirit both soothed and strengthened.
Billy Orton, Minister of Music and Worship
First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL
Encouragement and a "Sweet Amen of Peace" Unto All
I'm encouraged. A series of experiences the past couple of weeks, and as recently as worship this morning, lifts my outlook a bit.
Like you, I am dead tired of all the us vs. them, me vs. you, this vs. the other that seems to permeate every corner of our culture these days. The election year political debate has only risen the expectation that this shall be the new normal. We can't seem to get on with much main business, show much positive progress in the world, or make any headway on serious issues around us because we're wasting our time and energies fighting the other side. And the more talk there is about people at odds with others, the more at odds we seem to become.
But of late I'm encouraged. Here's why.
The first day of school in metro Nashville, some snafu in the central office resulted in school buses never showing up to pick up probably hundreds of students. The local evening news selected school mom Sarah Galloway to bear witness to the impact on her family of three bus-riding boys. She reported their inconvenience, but rather than throwing the school administration under the bus (that never showed up), she quickly praised her boys' teachers, principals, and those doing their best to fix the problem. Her testimony and photo even appeared in the local newspaper the next day. I was never more proud of a FBC Nashville "child, then teenager" and now a responsible adult in all my life. Sarah gets it!
One early morning last week I happened to do my walk with Dr. Cynthia Croom, the Executive Director of the Metro Action Commission who was telling me about her side job -- a non-profit that encouraged and equips African-American women in leadership positions to intentionally reach out to women of different cultures and religions in an attempt to understand them and hopefully build community with them for everyone's good.
This past Sunday morning at Brentwood UMC, senior pastor Davis Chappell is in the middle of a sermon series entitled, "Counter Cultural." This week's installment was basically that we need to grow up, quit acting like babies, get along, be spiritual people, and live lives that look more like Christ our sure foundation than the carnal Corinthians in the early church. Then later downtown at FBC, student minister Tim Wildsmith preached a fine sermon about actually doing justice rather than only talking about it, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
So I'm encouraged to see and hear some "counter-culture" sticking its head up. Oh sure, wars, rumors of war, and political rhetoric still are with us and will be, but we can all make some difference and have some positive impact as we walk our pilgrim journey.
I told Sarah the other day her testimony reminded me of a line in the second stanza of "Lead On, O King Eternal" --
"...for not with swords' loud clashing or roll of stirring drums, [but] with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly Kingdom comes."
A "sweet amen of peace" unto all.
- Mark
An Update from Mark Edwards
Returning from a week in Texas a couple weeks ago last Sunday night, I mentioned having made a couple of unexpected connections during the week. Here's the first:
Having led music at Second Baptist Church in Memphis July 17, my flight to Texas for the Baylor Alleluia Conference was out of Memphis rather than Nashville... but not until 6:50 p.m., Sunday evening. We were through with church before high noon and what does one do in near 100 degree Memphis for the next 5-6 hours when hotel check-out is 12 o'clock?
My cell phone had died, so I found a Verizon store who put a charge on my phone while I walked across the street for lunch. (Never mind that I had gone through those motions of charging the phone all night at the hotel.) I honestly can't remember what I did the first half of the afternoon other than find a place to change from my Sunday clothes and drive to the outskirts of the airport to watch a few FedEx planes take off. But apparently Sunday is not a busy cargo day, so that didn't last long. Oh well, I found the long-term parking spot, gathered up my gear, and headed to the airport. Thinking to myself, "It's already 3:30, so we'll be boarding in only three hours." WRONG!
As is my custom, I check my luggage rather than carry it on so I use the wait time to get in a walk. Security lines almost nil and having a pre-pass, I walked right through security. Now, it's barely 4:00, so I strike out on my walk. I've seen every inch of every concourse at the Memphis terminal at least four times. About halfway through the third lap, I noticed the monitor that reports my 6:50 Southwest flight is now 7:25. Oh good, another 35 minutes to kill.
Some two hours into the wait, and being somewhat of a wood-worker, a handsome wall display of finished slats of various kinds of wood caught my eye so I stopped to have a closer look. Having nothing better to do and plenty of time, I read the labels, compared grains, and was conducting a fairly thorough inspection when I became aware that someone had walked up beside me to do the same thing. After a bit, she said, "Hmmh, they don't have any madrone?"
"Did you say madrone? I've never heard of that."
"Yeah, we have it in Texas."
“Texas? I grew up in Texas and have never heard of madrone. Where in Texas?”
“Comfort. It’s in the Hill Country.”
“Comfort? I got married in Kerrville (19 miles away).”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding. What is madrone?”
She began to describe madrone as her son, entering Baylor this fall, walked on toward our gate.
“So do you live in Comfort?”
“No, we live in San Antonio.”
“I grew up just south of San Antonio. Have you lived there all your life?”
“No, I used to live here.”
It turns out that Karen is the daughter of the late Bob Troutman, once pastor of Prescott Memorial Baptist Church in Memphis in the 60s. He was one of only two white Baptist pastors who participated in the march of the sanitation workers during the height of the civil rights movement in Memphis that led to the death of Martin Luther King. The other white Baptist pastor was Brooks Ramsey, who was then pastor of Second Baptist Church where I had led music that morning. She and her son had been in Memphis that weekend for centennial celebration of Prescott Memorial Baptist Church which has now merged with Shady Grove Presbyterian Church. (Somewhere along the line, Prescott had called a woman – Nancy Sehested – as pastor at which time they were disfellowshipped by the Shelby Baptist Association.)
We ventured down toward our gate and arriving noticed that our 6:50, 7:25 flight was now 7:55. UGH. But, it did provide time for the three of us to eat a bite and for me to learn more about her father. Preparing for the anniversary trip that weekend, Karen had gone through a box of her father's papers, sermons, writings, et cetera, in her attic which blessed her again. I asked her if any of the history of those two pastors had been written and she didn't know. So if any history buffs out there know anything about that, I'd like to hear from you. Seems like it would make a wonderful doctoral project for someone.
Karen said they sang the hymn below at their anniversary event that morning. It’s a civil rights hymn:
Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
What a delight to have that kind of serendipitous experience along the way. Stay tuned for another.
- Mark
An Update from Mark Edwards
I took a short day trip today northward to Bowling Green, KY, to have lunch with our long-time friend, Gomer. Gomer and his family were members of FBC Nashville from 1959 until several years ago when they thought it wise to live nearer to their oldest daughter, Connie. Younger daughter Nancy was in her first year at Belmont University when we came to Nashville in 1977, so we've known them nearly forty years. Honey and I went to visit Gomer almost two years ago at his still-developing retirement community, and he lives in the same comfortable, attractive villa. He and I have at least two things in common - we both lost our wives too soon, and we both miss them every day. This Sunday would have been Honey's and my 46th wedding anniversary, and today, Gomer reminded me that he and Marie were married just shy of 70 years.
Gomer is amazing. He'll soon be 94, he lives alone, drives a perky Honda Fit, and meets Connie at FBC Bowling Green every Sunday. He walks slower than in days gone by and only occasionally uses a cane - not today. He keeps his mind sharp by working two crossword puzzles every day and reads one or two books on his Kindle every week... and it's working because he is still one sharp dude, I'm tellin' ya. He pulls out his iPhone and swipes, punches, and pecks the thing like a teenager.
Gomer was always a good churchman in Nashville and certainly stays up-to-date with goings on at his current steeple. He told me about the new Pastor, and we talked about the interim Minister of Music and the search for the permanent person.
As we drove out of his community en route to lunch, he pointed out some of the new construction in his village, specifically the clubhouse.
"Are they including a racquetball court, Gomer?"
"No, and I'm glad they're not because I would be tempted, and I don't need that."
I think I remember that Gomer was a noonday regular at the Y only a couple blocks from "the Board" (now Lifeway) where he worked almost a whole career. He was a reputed racquetball player.
I drove, and he navigated us several miles to downtown and narrated various points of interest while looking ahead and directing me into correct lanes of traffic in plenty of time to make necessary turns en route to the restaurant. I was impressed. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Steamers, an almost new seafood spot. We talked mostly about his coming to and working at "the Board," but only because I kept asking.
Back in his living room, I noticed a digital keyboard in his second bedroom, and before I left, he wanted me to play it a bit.
"Gomer, I had NO idea you play the piano."
"Yeah, I got this thing some time back. We had another one, but I wanted one with weighted keys."
I sat down and played, "God Leads Us Along," which was already on the music rack. He sat in the computer desk chair and sang along.
"That was Marie's favorite, and it was sung at her service."
Many times, Honey and I remarked to one another and celebrated together the host of good, good people we were blessed to know, love, and learn from during the forty years of ministry in three loving, supportive, and nurturing churches. Gomer and Marie Lesch were in that crowd, and he's still blazing the trail for some of us.
Thanks, Gomer... and thank you, God.
In shady, green pastures so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.
Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.
Okay, sing the refrain with me --
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
some through fire, but all through the blood;
some through the great sorrow, but God gives a song
in the night season and all the day long.
God Leads Us Along - Words: G.A. Young
An Update from Mark Edwards
Mid-afternoon today I returned from a fast almost nine days away -- a combination of work and play. The work part was leading three sessions at Baylor's annual Alleluia Church Music Conference -- two related to the Notes from Susie book and one pinch-hit conducting a reading session of some Celebrating Grace music. That event is always fun because I'm always able to re-connect with friends from afar, and this year there was a good crop of them.
The play part was seeing some family and visiting with a few friends along the way as far south as San Antonio. I had a couple of interesting expected "coincidences" that I'll tell you about in the next few days.
The bookend Sundays on either side of the Baylor event, I led music at Second Baptist Church in Memphis where son Nathan paved a clear path for me to step in and enjoy the fruits of his bi-vocational labor as minister of music through the end of June. He even scripted the worship services through July so I led the hymns and anthems he chose. He chose well, and the choir sang well. 'Twas gratifying indeed to hear many in that congregation speak how much they appreciated Nathan's ministry and how much they now miss him, Corri, and kids. Attaboy, Nate!
Sitting in church this morning and again rolling along I-440 this afternoon, it occurred to me how blessed and thankful I am nearing age 69, to first be able to continue to "play" in the church music game and even greater, to have the opportunity to do so -- yet more of God's goodness and provision for me. I love music of the church and next Sunday I get to do some more of it with the best singing congregation and choir I know -- FBC Nashville. That's always a treat and I look forward to it.
It's good to be home now for a while. Gallivanting around as in recent days takes its toll on an old dude.
Here's a hymn we sang at Second this morning:
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing: in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Hymn of Promise – words by Natalie Sleeth
© 1986 Hope Publishing Company
Living Into Songs of Faith by Mark Edwards
It has been nearly nine years since I’ve had a weekly music-leading responsibility, but I still think about it quite a bit – not the weekly responsibility but the “stuff” of that role. Ministers of music (a term that dates me) are first of all minister to their congregation, but primarily utilize and specialize in things musical to express that ministry. The main tools of a church music leader are the hymns and songs they offer, teach, or sometimes impose on their choirs and the congregation gathered in worship.
I’ve about decided that the music leader can experience any piece of music and deliver it to his/her congregation on three levels. The first level is simply knowing the piece musically and mechanically. At this level the leader can say the all the words, sing the tune, and lead the song appropriately – basic but also “surface.”
Below that plane is a second level – understanding the piece. Here the leader will explore the breadth and depth of a song’s message, its theology, and its value in worship. She might ask questions such as “How does this piece edify the body of Christ?” or “Is music and text well-matched; does the music convey the text well or does it compete with it?” or “Is it singable and worth singing?” Seminary hymnology classes and helping build two hymnals in my ministry were rich, extended sessions in this second level.
The third and deepest level is for the leader to live into the song. For me, this is the great lesson learned and discovery made while Honey was sick and since her death sixteen months ago. Perhaps it took a dark night of the soul to awaken this level in me. But I’m thankful to be continuing to learn it because I experience songs of the faith – primarily the hymns – at a much deeper and more personal level than ever before. Hymns ancient and modern, and especially the Celebrating Grace Hymnal are like discovering a new book of Psalms.
I still lead music out and around these days – this summer most Sundays in three different spots. I won’t say I’m better at it than before, but now “living into it” likely makes me different at it. I try to engage the worshiping congregation at the “living” level.
Consider camping in a hymnal for a spell and work at living into what you find there. Here’s one you might begin with. It’s a hymn and a Psalm – the 84th . Read it aloud several times and claim a line or two for the day.
How lovely, God, how lovely is Your abiding place;
my soul is longing, fainting, to feast upon Your grace.
The sparrow finds a shelter, a place to build her nest;
and so Your temple calls us within its walls to rest.
In Your blest courts to worship, O God, a single day
is better than a thousand if I from You should stray.
I’d rather keep the entrance and claim You as my Lord,
than revel in the riches the ways of sin afford.
A sun and shield forever are You, O God most high;
You shower us with blessings; no good will You deny.
The saints, Your grace receiving, from strength to strength shall go,
and from their lives shall rivers of blessing overflow.
How Lovely, God, How Lovely – words by Arlo D. Duba, 1984 © 1986 Hope Publishing Company
- Mark
Exclusive Excerpt: Mark Edwards
Whether you were a part of the original Facebook group or Susie and Mark's cancer journey is all new to you, Notes from Susie: Choosing Gratitude in Life’s Low Places offers something helpful to each reader. Combining additional material with the compiled and enriched Facebook posts written during Susie's illness, the book illuminates the Edwards' joys and struggles, all the while buoyed by recent and timeless hymns that assured them of God's presence.
As the final part of this blog series, we will highlight an exclusive excerpt from the Epilogue section of the book created by Mark Edwards to complete the story, add background, and lend future perspective to the reader:
It has been a few months since Honey died, and I continue to work through the grief process that, looking back, actually began soon after we received her diagnosis. Still, though, I catch myself trying to solve the unsolvable and unravel that which we will only "understand better by and by."
The last two years of her life were but a small slice of her otherwise beautiful and almost storybook sixty-three years, as well as our nearly forty-five years together. We were determined that this brief stretch would not define or detract us. We enjoyed recalling, reciting, and celebrating anew how God's goodness and mercy had, indeed, followed us all the days of both of our lives. We were both raised in good Christian homes; both navigated safely through high school; we found each other earlier on; we served three wonderful churches; Weslee and Nathan -- our children -- were/are wonderful; we have had good jobs, a stable home, enough money, good, good friends through the years, caring neighbors. The list is endless. Life has had its ups and its downs, its joys and sorrows, its curves and straightaways. But until March 2013 we had been pretty much spared serious challenges and difficulties that other couples and families face. By the grace of God, we were able to focus on and live in the light of all the joy and brightness that had characterized the vast majority of our days.
I am not ready to say that two years of painful cancer and ultimately Honey's death were God's plan, but I firmly believe that God is working good things in the lives of those of us left in the wake of her death. The opportunity to compile/write this book seems to be early evidence of God's "work for the good" for me. Reliving and scripting some of the story is emotional and even somewhat painful, but the greater portion is joyful and gratifying. We know not what lies ahead, so we are trying to trust the One who clearly does; frankly, there's some excitement in living expectantly even through the shadows.
My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation,
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails the new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul – how can I keep from singing?”
- Robert Lowry, 1869
- Mark Edwards
Video: Mark speaks to Choral Festival attendees in Jacksonville, Florida, Part I
Please enjoy this video, the first of a two-part series, recorded live at the Inspire! National Choral Festival. It features excerpts from Mark Edwards' personal reflections on Notes from Susie: Choosing Gratitude in Life's Low Places. In Part One, Mark shares the story of his life with Susie, his wife whom he called "Honey", and their journey with terminal illness. The Festival took place in Jacksonville, Florida, in April, earlier this year.
Reaction to Mark Edwards' Presentation:
Mark Edwards has been a model of ministry in my life for years. His mind, his music, his worship leadership and philosophy, and his overall ministry have helped to shape who I am and what I do. A special strength of his life and work has always been the implementation of hymns. These time-tested expressions of faith are integral to Mark’s effectiveness as a mentor, minister and friend.
It was not surprising, then, that his use of hymn texts was so incredibly significant in his presentation of NOTES FROM SUSIE. I recently heard this presentation in Florida, to a room filled with hymn lovers and singers. I noted that my response was similar to the tears and nods of appreciation from across the room as Mark shared the story and resultant impact of the journey he and his beloved Susie had travelled during the months following her cancer diagnosis. His words of wisdom about gratitude, his four pillars of description of God’s provision, and his use of so many poignant and powerful hymn texts (recited from memory!) were all incredible aspects to the presentation.
I heartily recommend NOTES FROM SUSIE to you. The book itself, of course, coupled with Mark’s potent, effective presentation about its process and impact, are highly inspirational. I was encouraged in the faith and found my spirit both soothed and strengthened.
Billy Orton, Minister of Music and Worship
First Baptist Church, Huntsville, AL