Warm Memories

Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down so much, I find myself remembering the kinds of pleasurable activities that once seemed so usual to our choir. One, in particular, was our weekend visit to Philadelphia in October 2019. There we connected with the Old First Reformed United Church of Christ, pastored by Michael Caine, with whom I had worked years ago at the East Harlem Church of the Living Hope. This was the second bus trip we had made to Old First.

After dropping off our belongings, the choir and our other guests had an opportunity to leisurely walk through downtown Philadelphia and find all kinds of interesting foods, including the famous Philly cheesesteak. After that, we visited Philadelphia’s African American Museum before returning to Old First where church members provided a potluck dinner. Later, various families hosted us overnight in their homes, and we returned to sing the next morning after rehearsing with Old First’s Director of Music, Holly Phares. There was yet another meal together where we were able to get to know members of Old First even better before returning home with gratitude for the hospitality shown us in the City of Brotherly Love.

Such events have been suspended for now, and I sometimes wonder what has happened at Old First and in Philadelphia’s downtown. But I look forward to the time when we can arrange to venture out of East Harlem to sing again and make new friends!