Milestone In Music

Musical Offering: Celebrating music ministry of organist Squyres, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norse dedicates new organ

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

NORSE – At Our Savior's Lutheran Church at Norse the worship music represents the heartbeat of the church’s spirituality. Patsy Erickson Squyres and the church organ and piano gave been an integral part of the services for the past 65 years.

The congregation honored Squyres for her music ministry last Sunday, and Pastor Ryan Pederson dedicated the church’s new digital pipe organ in her name. A plaque on the new instrument commemorates this historic day for the church and Squyres contributions.

“Just as Miriam enriched the celebration of the People of Israel after they crossed the sea, so Patsy has and continues to lead us at Our Savior’s in our worship,” the congregation’s thank you note said when Squyres was presented with framed “Then and Now” photos. They feel blessed to have such a gifted and dedicated musician accompanying their worship services.

And while 65 years is a long time, 82-year-old Squyres has no intention of retiring from her music ministry.

Putting the 65 years into perspective, when Squyres started playing the church organ, she was a junior at Clifton High School and still a student of music teacher Mrs. R.O. Bass, Dwight Eisenhower is president, Alaska and Hawaii were added to the United States, Walt Disney released Sleeping Beauty and Mattel’s first Barbie Doll made her appearance, Cuba announced Fidel Castro as Premier, nylon pantyhose appeared on the open market for the first time.

And since, so many things have shaped the world, like passing of the Civil Rights Act, the assassination of Martin Luther King, President John F. Kennedy and Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy, the moon landing, the end of the Vietnam War, Nixon’s resignation after Watergate, the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961, and the end of the Cold War in 1985 thanks to Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev and H.W. Bush, the increased popularity of personal computers, the start of the internet and the development of smart phones initiate our present Information Age, the birth of Amazon.com, Google and Facebook, 9/11, and the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzing the entire world.

With all those changes in the world, Squyres still had a landline until last year. Never too old to learn though, her new smartphone opened up the world of texting to her and now it’s her preferred way to reach out to her oldest and dearest friend Joyce Symank. The two women were baptized on the same day at Our Savior Lutheran’s, they were confirmed together in their church, sang in the choir together and graduated from Clifton High School together.

“We go way back, and had many great times all through the years,” Symank said of her lasting friendship with Squyres. “We call each other ‘Sis,’ because we are – by choice, not by birth.”

Symank admires her friend for her energy, that she is a loving, caring always interested in others and encourages people. Squyres energetic nature serves her church in other ways too, as a former deacon, as the Smorgasbord Chairman. In the annual unique Smorgasbord dinners, the church cherishes its Norwegian roots and it serves as a major fundraiser.

A plethora of dishes and desserts covered the work tops in the fellowship hall kitchen for the many guests to enjoy after the service. As guest of honor Squyres did not have to contribute her excellent cooking skills this day though. Over the delicious and copious lunch, people had time to visit and remember the past 65 years.

While their mother was very musical and could play by ear, Squyres’ “baby” brother Fred admits to not being musical at all. His interests lay with baseball and fishing. During the animated conversations with table guests he recalled stumbling upon a rattlesnake on day in the cotton field when they were young, and that his sister had the county’s first Mustang in 1965 – white with a red interior. He mentioned her love of laughter, that she is a determined and hard worker. Other adjectives heard describing the church’s dedicated organist were “ray of sunshine” and remarkable.”

“What a great, wonderful and glorious day this is.” soft-spoken Squyres said in her speech thanking those present for the honor and appreciation bestowed upon her, her smile and joy as bright as the flowers gifted her on this special day. She went on, not to talk about herself, but to thank all that made the day possible, especially Bishop Erik K.J. Gronberg for being present.

Reverend Gronberg PhD was elected by the Northern-Texas Northern Louisiana Synod/Mission Area of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in April 2016, the youngest bishop of the ECLA. He was reelected in 2022 for a six-year term. The geographical area of this synod includes Northern Louisiana including Shreveport; Northern Texas generally North of a line from Marshall, Longview, Tyler, Rosebud, Bartlett (Temple area), Killeen, San Angelo, Midland/Odessa; and also Durant, Oklahoma, and Clovis, New Mexico. As of January 2019, there are approximately 21,000 members in the 105 worshiping communities in the synod.

“Thank you Patsy for the joy you bring to the church sermons,” Bishop Gronberg said. “Pastors come and go, but the organist remains.”

Through all the years, Squyres outlasted several organs, and her music accompanied countless worship services, weddings, funerals, family reunions and other special events including the King of Norway’s visit to the church. Since its inception, the church welcomed 14 pastors starting with Rev. J.K. Rystad. Squyres played music in the church for nine of them. As far as he knows, Bishop Gronberg stated that Squyres holds the record for the longest tenure of any organist within the church.

During the celebratory service, Bill Bane – the organ’s builder – performed a several special arrangements, while Squyres took behind the keys in the hymns supporting the liturgy, the prelude.

The Johan Sebastian Bach’s beautiful Baroque “Joy of Mans’ Desiring,” unfolded beautifully in the church filled with friends, family and well-wishers. The new organ allowed Bane to add bells and an oboe to the piece. Originally composed for choir cantata, the piece is often played as an instrumental at weddings; and some people might know it from the popular British period television series “Downton Abbey,” and it is featured in several movies.

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring” is duly touted as one of Bach’s most enduring creations. The piece is considered the principal mainstay of almost all of Bach’s works. The prelude lacks any violent emotion or dynamism and helps the performer and listener to attain a more contemplative frame of mind.

Its text “Blest am I, that I have Jesus! O, how tightly I cling to him, so that he delights my heart when I am sick and sad. I have Jesus, who loves me and gives himself to me as my own; ah, therefore I will not let go of Jesus, even if my heart is breaking.”

The theme of “Jesus Loves Me” came back in the sermon hymn and Bishop Gronberg’s sermon, which focused finding peace in our busy, busy lives and going back to the essence of God’s presence, that he is faithful and that he cares, even in the direst of times.

Founded in 1869, Our Savior's Lutheran Church part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at Norse, and the congregation prides their Norwegian heritage.

Nestled among the rolling hills and pastures, dotted with Live Oaks west of Clifton, Our Savior’s Lutheran has provided a spiritual community for multiple generations. And Squyres in her turn provided many musical additions to the Sunday sermons and provided piano lessons to many generations of Bosque County youth. Her music is her legacy and her lifelong ministry.

Additionally, her love of music and the hope to bring more music to the public, and to encourage practicing music drove Squyres to be one of the founding members of the Bosque County Music Association at the Bosque Arts Center together with friends Donna Stevens and Martha Erickson. The BCMA brings recitals, chorale and musical concerts to the BAC third floor auditorium, bringing appreciation, joy and solace to many.