I hardly ever check my Twitter feed, but this headline caught my eye: Madison Church Organist Retiring After Years at the Same Campus Area Church. Of course, I knew the article was about our long-time organist friend, Bruce Bengtson, and his long tenure at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, WI. Click the link for the complete story.

We first met Bruce at a conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, way back in the early stages of the organization—maybe about 1987.

A few years later my husband, Carl, decided to spend part of his sabbatical in Madison, WI, where he stayed for several days with Bruce in his apartment.

Carl returned with many of Bruce’s settings of Gospel Acclamations which the church used for many years.

Over the years we have seen Bruce many times at ALCM conferences and at AGO conventions, and several times quite by accident in Leipzig, Germany! In addition he has often come to Hawaii on numerous occasions, frequently visiting after Christmas with his sister and brother-in-law who I think have a timeshare here.

What is truly remarkable, however, is Bruce’s long tenure in a single church position, an exceedingly rare feat given the often precarious position church musicians find themselves in these days. It’s a two-way street, though, as not only is Bruce exceptional but so is the Luther Memorial congregation. I remember touring his church’s facilities with a slight bit of jealousy—so much space (!) —something Hawaii churches are always lacking, plus fine instruments to boot!

And something our former business partner, Peter Hallock, said when Carl Crosier retired from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu: (something to the effect of) a church musician has a greater chance of being fired than going the distance to retirement.

Anyway, I am so happy for my friend, Bruce, and wish him much joy in his retirement.