INSTANT IN SEASON
When God opens the doors, the Three Angels' Chorale goes at a moment's notice.

“Music has a way of touching the heart in a way the spoken word never quite reaches,” said Pastor Garland Day, local Seventh-day Adventist minister.

On April 20, 2007, the Three Angels’ Chorale of Hartland College had the unexpected opportunity to sing on the steps of the Orange County Courthouse in memory of students and faculty killed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The service concluded with the tolling of the bells for each victim.

A similar memorial service was held the previous night at the Orange County High School. When someone asked where a choir could be found to sing the next day at the morning service on such short notice, Pastor Day replied, “Hartland College!”

“Where’s Hartland College?”

“They’re right in your backyard,” Pastor Day answered.

When Betsy Mayer, director of the Three Angels’ Chorale, received the call, she said, “Of course we'll come!”

Joe Ward, director of tourism for Orange County and event planner for the occasion, was very glad that the Three Angels’ Chorale could contribute to the memorial service. “It was great to see the participation from the local church communities. Everyone I know has the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre in their hearts, and that loss is difficult. The choir was absolutely a wonderful touch to have.”

When the service was over, students and staff distributed Glimpses of Glory, an issue of Last Generation magazine about heaven, to appreciative people who said, “The choir sounded so good! Where is Hartland College?” “That was lovely. Thank you so much for coming out.” The choir also received invitations from various pastors to sing at their respective churches.

“I saw a number of people wiping their eyes,” Pastor Day said. “It was a tremendous opportunity to witness, and at the same time be involved within the community. And we need to do more of that. Salt’s no good as long as it stays in the shaker. What it does best is to create thirst that only the Water of Life can quench.”

Just as the choir was leaving the courthouse, a gentleman from the crowd came running up with a big smile. Introducing himself as Steve Satterfield, he commented, “This was a wonderful event commemorating a horrible, unspeakable event. But it’s uplifting for the community to come together, and we appreciate your part in it. It was beautiful! I just came over to say ‘thanks.’ ”

We praise God for enabling the chorale to once more comfort hurting people by lifting their hearts to Him on the angel wings of heavenly music.