Rev. Abbey Tennis 
​Unitarian Universalist Minister
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In the midst of a world
For Rebecca Parker

by Carol Sams
Based on a text written by Rev. Dr. Rebecca A. Parker
For the 1996-1997 Starr King School for the Ministry course announcement


Please join in singing this piece, commissioned by Starr King students and alumni in honor of Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker's 25 years as president of Starr King School for the Ministry.

We will perform the piece at Starr King's commencement ceremony:

Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 7:00pm
UU Church of Berkeley
1 Lawson Road, Kensington CA 94707

Rehearsal schedule for commencement day
(rehearsals and performance held in the sanctuary of
 UU Church of Berkeley):
2:00-3:45pm - main rehearsal with full choir
6:15pm - final run-through
7:00pm - Commencement ceremony begins

Interested in singing? All are welcome!
Please become familiar with the music in advance of Tuesday's rehearsal, and RSVP if possible to abbey.tennis@gmail.com. 
Looking forward to singing together!
In the midst of a world sheet music.pdf
File Size: 119 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Downloadable in_a_midst_piano_accompianment.mp3
File Size: 5282 kb
File Type: mp3
Download File

Below are sound files for each individual choral part sung with the piano part. Please forgive the low quality and little errors! 
in_the_midst_-_soprano.m4a
File Size: 2738 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

in_the_midst_-_alto.m4a
File Size: 2739 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

in_the_midst_-tenor.m4a
File Size: 2683 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

in_the_midst_-bass.m4a
File Size: 2642 kb
File Type: m4a
Download File

PLEASE NOTE: 
We have been granted permission to make unlimited copies of this music for the Starr King commencement performance. 
If you are interested in performing this piece elsewhere, please be in contact with the composer, Carol Sams, for permissions and licensing. Her email address is kiasams at yahoo dot com
In the midst of a world text

In the midst of a world marked with tragedy and beauty, 
There must be, there must be those who bear witness.

There must be those who stand and who lead in freedom, 
with grace, with grace and power and strength.

There must be, there must be those who speak honestly in courage 
and see what must be seen of sorrow and outrage, 
or tenderness and wonder and love.

There must be, there must be those whose grief troubles the water
while their voices sing and speak of new life.

There must be those whose exuberance rises,
with lovely energy, rises with lovely energy and speaks to us of joy.

There must be those who are restless for respectful and loving amity,
whose presence here invites us to see ourselves without fear.

There must be those who gather with the congregation
and walk the simple path of love.

And there must be communities of people. 
Who seek to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,
who call on the soul-force to heal and bless.

In the midst of a world marked with tragedy and beauty, 
there must be, there must be those who bear witness.

There must be religious witness.
There must be religious witness.
There must be religious witness.
witness.
witness.
Picture





© 2016 by Reverend Abbey Tennis