Trinity Lutheran asking the impossible

December 22, 2011

by Mike Weland Trinity Lutheran Church pastor Bruce Barth asked me a stupid question today. "Can you sing?" Um ... I played trumpet from first grade on, my Mom made me go out in the boonies daily to practice. I learned music, I read notes ... by the seventh grade I was sixth chair in band. But my band teacher said I had the talent to take over first chair ... given a few more years. I envisioned a career in music. I wanted to be a rock singer. But I learned in the eighth grade, from people with ears, that while my trumpet playing was fair and my music knowledge was admirable, my voice was about as good as the alley cats out on the back fence, running from all the shoes people throw. I learned to shut up ... mostly. My wife tolerates my singing, and I've learned to sing despite all the pillows she wraps her head in. "You don't have to volunteer," he said. Pastor Barth is a wise man. "Could you let men know I'm looking?" I'm not any of them, but some men are able to carry a tune in a bushel basket all the way to home, market and beyond. In fact, some men actually like to sing, and people like to listen to them! I've even heard that there are guys who have no qualms about standing up in front of people and letting their voices soar to the heavens, and that there are people who hear them who don't cringe. Men Singing is an opportunity for friendship and fellowhip, and the first rehearsal takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church. You can find out more by calling Pastor Barth at (208) 290-7027. If you see me there, I'm just taking pictures.