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Handbell Pages |
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I Corinthians 12:12-31 (a Bell Ringer's Interpretation)
by Christopher Saraga as posted to the handbell -L, June 1997 used with permission
"The ensemble is a unit, though it is made up of many ringers; and though all its ringers are many, they form one ensemble: a body of bells. So it is with our Master Bell Ringer - our Lord, Jesus Christ. For we were all called into one ensemble by one Spirit - whether musically inclined or not, rhythmically gifted or not.
Now the ensemble is not made up of one ringer, but of many. If the G4 ringer should say, 'Because I am not the C7 ringer, I do not belong to the ensemble,' it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the ensemble. And if the C5 ringer should say, 'Because I am not the A5 ringer, I do not belong to the ensemble,' it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the ensemble. If the whole ensemble were the D5 ringer, where would the bass foundation of the G4 ringer be? If the whole ensemble were the G4 ringer, where would the brilliant, mellifluous, and melodious sounds of the C6 ringer be? But in fact, God has arranged the ringers in the ensemble, every one of them, just as he wants them to be. If they were all one part, where would the ensemble be? As it is, there are many parts, but one ensemble.
The E6 cannot say to the D6, 'I don't need you!' And the C7 cannot say to the G4, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the ensemble that seem weaker are indispensable, and the parts we think less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unprepared and unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable and prepared parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the parts of the ensemble and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the ensemble, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the ensemble of our Master Bell Ringer - our Lord, Jesus Christ, and each of you is a part of it. Our Master Ringer has appointed directors, low and high bell ringers, middle bell ringers, experts in weaving, masters of martellato, practitioners of precise plucking, righteous ringers of rhythm, and marvels with mallets. Are all directors? Are all low ringers? Are all high ringers? Have all mastered the art of martellato? Do all weave? But eagerly desire the greater skills."