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Bob Spry, a community servant/leader died recently, joining two other community pillars, Bob Carter and Dick Swanson, in our memories and among our saints this year. Spry’s service at St. John’s Catholic Church provoked many thoughts.
Most obviously, the sanctuary at St. John’s rivals Bethlehem Lutheran’s as the largest religious hall I have been in here in Grand Marais. More importantly. Father Steven Langenbrunner gave the kind of homily we likely all want—Bob Spry’s life as it showed the gospel life of service.
Former Mayor and school principal Mark Sandbo gave a heartfelt remembrance of his friend of 25 years, sharing the sad surprise that so fit a marathoner and athlete would succumb to lung issues. Sandbo thanked Spry’s wife, Millie, for asking him to speak, calling him crazy in the most loving way the congregation appreciated. He noted that despite his crowded schedule, Bob was always there for him— and all of us here. Bob’s obituary may be found at Robert (Bob) Spry – Cook County News Herald (cookcountynews-herald.com).
Honoring his service in the U.S. Air Force, an American Legion color guard followed the mass including gun salute, Taps, and presentation of an American flag to Millie.
The most startling find for a child of the 1940’s was the extent to which barriers between Catholics and Protestants have fallen. Mark Sandbo is a Scandinavian Lutheran but was our Rememberer. Numerous non-Catholic Lions, pickleballers, curlers, and others helped fill St. John’s. More, the St. John’s hymnal contains hymns we would not have seen in such a hymnal in the 1940’s and 50’s.
“How Great Thou Art” started as a Swedish Lutheran hymn later adopted by George Beverly Shea for Billy Graham’s Crusades.
“In the Garden” and “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” started life as in 19th century Protestant hymnals. The composer was inspired to devote himself to writing while attending a meeting by popular evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899). When Moody was dying in the hospital he told Thompson, “Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.” The Story Behind “Softly and Tenderly (Jesus Is Calling)” (thetabernaclechoir.org). “In The Garden” has a similar history. The song was first published in 1912 and popularized during the Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns of the early twentieth century by two members of his staff, Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher. In the Garden (1912 song) – Wikipedia. I doubt that either Moody or Sunday would have been welcome in a Catholic Church until recent years.
“I’ll Fly Away” began life as Spiritual sung by slaves, mostly Protestants. And “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton, an English slave trader who became an Anglican minister. For decades no one tune was consistently linked to “Amazing Grace,” until 1835, when an American Baptist, William Walker, published “The Southern Harmony” hymn book with a song, at the time, titled “New Britain.”
“On Eagles Wings” was composed by a devout Catholic in the late 1970’s. It has been sung at nearly every funeral I have attended, Catholic or Protestant in the last 20 years including ones at Mayflower Community Congregational Church, UCC in south Minneapolis. I have gladly heard son David, raised there, sing it many times at memorial and funeral services for all faiths.
To complete the circle of this reflection, Mayflower Church, UCC, is religious home to Marty Haugen, raised a Lutheran and perhaps the only Protestant whose compositions appear in Catholic hymnals. He has worked most of his career as a pastoral musician in Roman Catholic parishes and is currently composer in-residence for the Mayflower United Church of Christ in Minneapolis, where he contributes to worship when he is not on the road. www.reformedworship.org/article/december-2000/minister-word-through-music-interview-marty-haugen.
I am glad that barriers between religious groups are falling. Perhaps this reflection will contribute to that.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, mediator, and Judge, serving from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, He writes this column to learn about his new home area—and to indulge our curiosities and stir our thinking. Copyright Stephen C. Aldrich and News Herald, 2021
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