Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Yesterday?



There is a Community Presbyterian Church on 100 East in American Fork. See the above photo. It's cute, and pretty at the same time and I like it because it adds to our small town feel. It's also semi-famous. It's the church used in the filming of Footloose starring Kevin Bacon. I'm surprised you didn't recognize it.

One of my favorite things about this building is that it has a bell tower and it chimes the hour. So if I'm lucky enough to be in the general vicinity on the hour or half hour I get to hear it chime. One quiet, summer day I even heard it from my house five or so blocks away. Also at certain times of day it chimes out whole hymns. I love this. I have always felt that music is the path of least resistance for the spirit and have been lucky enough to hear a hymn or two chime through the neighborhood bearing peaceful feelings and stirring thoughts of Christ. I have yet to figure out when or why it plays whole songs. But when I hear it, it's always a nice surprise.

Yesterday, while I was strapping the kids into the car after a quick trip to the post office I heard the bells chiming away. It was sometime between noon and 1pm so I was confused until I realized it was a song coming from the church and not the time. So I listened for a few seconds to try to catch the tune... To my surprise it was the tune of Yesterday by the Beatles. What? I'm a fan of the Beatles, and have been since I was about 13, but come on.

I know the Beatles sometimes hid secret messages in their music. Does this one have some hidden gospel message I never noticed? Since when does a church bear testimony through music of the truthfulness of John, Paul, George and Ringo? I know there were apostles named John and Paul. I think there is a Saint George. Do Presbyterians believe in Saints? Ringo?-- I got nothin'.

I've been thinking about it since I heard the bells toll and I am at a loss. Has anyone heard of this before? Am I over reacting?

5 comments:

Becky said...

I love that little church too! And I love the bells. I've never heard it play Yeterday. Weird. I don't think that song has a gospel undertone or overtone. Interesting. I do love that song...maybe the bell player loves that song. Do you think that church has a person bell player or there is some sort of automatic bell player?I know BYU has people bell players in the bell tower...but I think they can also make it play automatically. Nice post. Very thought provoking.

Kathy said...

Just a pretty thoughtful song. Maybe there was a funeral and it was someone's favorite song? We could make up a whole story about this... Grandpa Busath once told me the Beatles had some really beautiful songs - melodies, lyrics - I think it surprised him he liked them, or that such different messages could come from one band.

Holley said...

I love those quaint churches too! We have a bell tower on one of our buildings here on Elon's campus. It's digital and you can program it to play all sorts of different songs. I 've heard everything from "I Heard the Bells" to Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." I love the sweet sounds of bells, but hearing a "Church" bell play soft-rock classics? I don't think so.

You need to come to North Carolina we have tons of those old quaint churches.

The Breakwell Family said...

Hey Julie! Just thought I would drop you a little note to say that I hope that all is well with you! Hope the new year is going well for you so far! Take Care.

Jeanna said...

Yesterday....all my troubles seemed so far away....now it looks as though they're here to stay....oh I believe in yesterday....

Maybe its a political statement?

Wait, wait! Repentance maybe?

No, I got nothin either.