Reflections On Jonathan and His Work

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

This Sunday we say our formal “goodbyes” to Jonathan Palant as Minister of Music at Kessler Park. As we’ve noted previously, Jonathan is currently our longest tenured staff person, and it truly is the end of an era.

I put “goodbye” in quotes because I think many of us understand we’ll still continue to be connected to Jonathan and his incredible musical gifts even after he’s formally left us. Some of us will see him at Credo concerts and rehearsals, others at Dallas Street Choir.

But it is right for us to pause at the end of this era and mark the time.

In the weeks before I got to Kessler Park as pastor, a few of the folks I already knew from non-Methodist Dallas connections called me up. One of those was David Dunnigan who raved about Jonathan and gleefully told the story of Jonathan’s hiring to come on our staff. He was not the only member to express their gratitude and pride at having Jonathan on our staff. KPUMC folks have been proud to have Dr. Palant on our staff team for his entire tenure.

It was an edgy hire, to be sure. Openly gay and “openly Jewish” would likely have been excluding factors in many other churches, but Kessler Park loved these parts of Jonathan, just as they could also appreciate his incredible gifts and talents as a music minister.

My own sense of Jonathan is that he is better at coaxing great performances out of singers than just about any other choral conductor I have ever seen. That is his great gift. He has an ear for just what a choir needs to hear and the sensitivity to communicate what needs saying, in just the way it can really be heard.

We have truly been blessed by his week-to-week conducting of our sanctuary choir, and by the skillful way he wrangled guest musicians on “high holy days.”

The most common response I have heard to Jonathan’s leaving has been something like, “He’s such a busy guy. I don’t know how he lasted this long…”

And it’s true. Until after Sunday, Jonathan has been working four jobs every week. That’s a lot of driving, scheduling and planning for a father of two wonderful kids. So I know you’ll celebrate the fact that he *should* have a bit more time for the family.

There is a big Sunday planned with lots of music and some folks making a special effort to join us as well. We’ll have a potluck in Fellowship Hall afterwards to celebrate. So please do be sure to join us for this special day.

There is one final blessing I have received that I know most of you have not, and it has to do with where I (and the choir) are usually situated while Jonathan Palant is conducting.

The final blessing I get from Jonathan is: watching his face as he works.

Just check out the picture here and see this moment of joy.
This is how I shall remember him.

No, not every moment was this way.

But enough of them were. Because Jonathan enjoys the work…enjoys the music…and loves the people. And it shows in everything he does.

I have been blessed by the enjoyment of Jonathan’s enjoyment of his ministry with us.

Jonathan, from our shared history comes this blessing most often used in your tradition:

“May you be blessed in your coming in and your going out.”

God’s speed, friend.

Eric Folkerth