Over the past few weeks, the Covenant Choir at UUCG has been practicing the anthem, “Everybody Rejoice!” from the musical “The Wiz” for the Easter Sunday/Earth Day and Flower Ceremony service. This year we have an interesting blend of faith traditions and holidays to celebrate and practice joy with for this service.
For anyone not familiar with this musical, it is a retelling of the “Wizard of Oz” from artists from the Motown era. “Everybody Rejoice” comes immediately after the wicked witch of the West meets her demise. Despite that dark element in the story, the song that follows speaks of
celebrating a “brand new day.” The lyrics ask and then proclaim:
Can you feel it? It’s a brand new day!
Singing of the dark days ending reminds me of how it felt to realize that not only did I survive a worldwide pandemic, but that I grew and changed for the better in the
process. As difficult and isolating as that time was for me, I came out of it realizing just
how resilient I can be and how great my community of support is.
That is definitely a reason to rejoice!
~Jen Garrison
Jen,
I love how your reflection focuses on the positive effect of the pandemic in realizing how resilient you can be and how great your community support is.
Peggy