Today is Ascension Day, also called The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which falls on the 40th day after Easter and commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is also the day that St. Andrew’s Priory School was founded on May 30, 1867, by Queen Emma, wife of King Kamehameha IV and Mother Priscilla Lydia Sellon of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Devonpart, England.

It was a personal celebration of sorts, because it was the first service that I’ve played since last August in which people were present and singing (socially distanced and with masks, of course!) Woo hoo! So when the opening hymn was “Hail thee, festival day,” I truly thought it was a day of celebration all around. I registered the 4-manual Aeolian-Skinner organ as though there was a full church, because I figured that everyone would be thrilled to hear the organ after such a long hiatus. The last time I played a service for the Priory was last July when I played for graduation.

Only the juniors and seniors were sitting in the pews, and the chamber choir had nine girls, widely separated in the chancel area between panels of plexiglass. Normally the entire school would have been in attendance. Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick preached the sermon. I have to admit, though, with all the student leaders, faculty and the bishop wearing masks, it was sometimes difficult to understand the spoken word.

In addition to the opening hymn, the only other piece of music I played was called “Priory Hymn,” composed by former Priory organist, Michael L. Markson. Michael was my immediate successor as Chapel Organist, and served the Priory from 1977-1984 (I was the Priory organist and choir accompanist from 1974-1977). I believe that the hymn has been sung every Ascension Day ever since Mike composed it. His original arrangement was for organ and brass, but because the band was not playing today, Gordon Tokishi, the band teacher, created a keyboard version from the original score.

Come, Christians, let us sing praise to Christ our King; This is a day of jubilee for He ascends in majesty. Thanks be to God. Alleluia.

Our Lord ascends on high to great shouts of joy; He takes his place at God’s right hand, a source of blessing to our land. Thanks be to God ….

Praise, praise our Lord in song, to him we belong; He came to set all people free, his love for us will ever be. Thanks be to God …

Praise to the Trinity, source of unity; let songs of holy joy be sung in every land by every tongue. Thanks be to God …

Long live the Priory! May it ever be a house of truth where sisters share Christ’s peace, his joy, his love, his care. Thanks be to God …