Sunny Notes: 12.10.25 - Music

Since arriving at BUF on October 1, I have held over 40 “Getting to Know You” meetings with small groups, committees, and individuals. In each meeting, I asked, “What brought you to BUF?” and “What do you love about BUF?” and “What are your particular interests at BUF?” Armed with my trusty laptop, I took notes—a lot of notes! 

As I met with you, listened to your stories and experiences, and collected information in my notes, a few key themes emerged. One of the top themes: The importance of music at BUF. So many of you shared just how much you love the music during our services, from our fantastic keyboard artists, to our incredibly talented members who share their various musical gifts, to the guest musicians who visit from time to time. Some of you arrived at BUF and felt compelled to join the choir immediately. Some of you identified choir as your primary point of connection in our community. 

And some of you identified music—whether you are performing or in the pews—as an integral part of your spirituality. I am not surprised. In his book, “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life,” Dr. Dacher Keltner (who inspired my last sermon on November 30) identifies music as one of the top ways we humans experience awe. He writes: 

It is a human universal to get the chills and tear up when moved by music. That is because we listen to music, philosopher Susan Sontag rightly observed, with our bodies...In our twenty-six-culture study, people often wrote that music brought them moments of clarity, of epiphany, of truth, of really knowing their place in the great scheme of life. 

This Sunday, December 14, offers up a wonderful opportunity to experience a bit of awe through music. Our creative and talented Choir Director, Ben Workman Smith, will be leading us in our bi-annual “All Music Sunday.” I look forward to attending my very first “All Music Sunday” at BUF and experiencing what Ben and our dedicated choir members have created for our community. I hope to see you there! 

— Sunny Joy McMillan, J.D., M.Div.