On the day we dedicated our New Space, there was a detail that, in hindsight, was difficult to notice over the excitement of everything else going on that day. To be fair, it was happening outside, and while it was very loud, it wasn’t immediately apparent that I was ringing carillon bells that were playing from the top of our new peak.
Months ago, as the building was coming together, some of us were talking about how nice it would be to have bells ringing through the neighborhood. We’ve already committed to sharing our light, to being this beacon in our community and throughout the world; why not share it out loud, too?
So I got some quotes from companies that install bell systems. Sticker shock. There was no way we would be able to afford a new system and have it installed by the time our building was finished. I was sure it would be a project that needed to wait for another year. But then Art Hupp (member and architect) asked me, “What if we just install the speakers now? The lift is here and if we do it now, we won’t have to pay for an expensive lift later.”
My research into buying the right speakers led me to learn how the systems are engineered in general and then I just couldn’t leave it alone. I decided to have a surprise ready for our new building.
Several years ago my Granny left me a little bit of money. It wasn’t enough to do anything big. Not a down payment on a house and certainly not as much as the quotes from the carillon companies. I held onto it because I wanted to do something special with it and for fifteen years, I couldn’t decide.
With my newfound knowledge in how carillon systems are built and my small inheritance, I went about piecing together what we needed to make it all work. It took until the very last day before the dedication, but it was ready to go. When we dedicated the building on Sunday morning, I played the first phrase of “A Mighty Fortress” and the bells joined the cross and the light pouring out of our new building in telling the world that we are here.
The money from my Grandma made it possible for me to build the bell system, but I didn’t build the system for her (although it is hard to imagine a more Lutheran name than “the Georganna Kern Bargdill Carillon.”) I built it to lift up the mission of Lord of Life, to honor the extra efforts of our foreman, JT, and all the ways Art has taken our wild ideas and made them possible. It is a “thank you” for all the people who make our day-to-day operations possible with their generosity, and through whom we are able to share our gifts of time and treasure with the community.
With our new carillon, I can play the bells from the organ console, I can set the bell to chime at certain times of the day, play peals for weddings, or tolls for funerals. I love having this new tool to show the neighborhood we are here and on the rise.
Yours in Christ,
John Johns, Music Director