Hello, and welcome back to the blog for the new season!
I took the title of this entry from Pastor David's qualified greeting to us this morning. After a couple days of a Nor'Easter--chilly, damp, and dark--it does seem silly to proclaim it a beautiful day. A valuable day, perhaps....a good day, perhaps, but calling it beautiful would be untruthful.
It's time to begin doing things that help make this time of year easier to bear:
Exchange the window screens for storm windows to reduce drafts and save on your energy bill.
Find your gloves from last year and have them at the ready! (if you still have a matching pair; I found exactly one matching pair among 9 gloves).
Think about what you enjoy about winter--Christmas lights, turtlenecks, corduroy pants, snow, no yard work--and focus on enjoying those things.
Plan for spring; it will be here before you know it! Where do you want to plant bulbs?
Make other fun plans. I get a huge kick out of something like taking a half day off work and visit the art museum.
Get your flu shot if you can find one!
Do whatever you need to do to feel alive. (For me it's singing--among many other things).
Finally, keep coming to church! Where else will you connect so effectively with a Christian community that offers unconditional support, and needs your support in return? If we never experienced the chilly and dark seasons, spring and summer would not be so enjoyable. In the same way, if you are a "fair weather" churchgoer, you will not experience all the richness of involvement.
Among the exciting new things this year are the screens up front that add a visual dimension to worship, new members and baptism for a new baby this morning, and new repertoire for the choir.
Elaine and I remarked this morning that we have both been singing the new choral benediction response to ourselves all week, an upbeat syncopated hymn: "May you run and not be weary, may your heart be filled with song; May the love of God continue to give you hope and keep you strong. And may you run and not be weary. May your life be filled with joy (filled with joy)! And may the road you travel always lead you home." What a gift that is when you need a little burst of encouragement during the week!
This morning we were treated to a very special offertory piece "Wonderful Words" sung by Frantz, Kathy, Sally, and Elaine. The harmonies and blend on this traditional favorite hymn were perfect. Thanks, guys, for putting it together so well and for a great hymn choice!
Our Christmas cantata will be presented Sunday, December 13. Called "Time Enough for Joy" by Allen H. Simon, it is a fresh contemporary look at the Christmas season, and is full of surprises!
Stay tuned for more from the choir at St. Luke's in the coming months!!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Spring Mix
Once again time to get an entry on the books before the month is out! Just to mention the noteworthy events that occurred at St. Luke this month I'll title this post "Spring Mix." (That's also what I just had for lunch, mixed with candied pecans, crumbled blue cheese, onions, and thinly sliced granny smith apples....but I digress).
The choir was very busy this month singing Handel, especially on Easter. This past week we enjoyed a rendition of Handel's The Trumpet Shall Sound sung by George Myers, accompanied on trumpet (actually, I think that was a cornet) by Thomas Hooey. Very inspiring. I hope everybody could see past the slide projector screen to see George! Our Maundy Thursday service April 9 was also very moving. Marcia sang a very moving rendition of Samuel Barber's "Crucifixion" during communion. As a postlude Paul performed "Gethsemane" in a darkened sanctuary. Then on Easter Sunday we had a large number of you come us jubilant volunteer singers to help us out on the "Hallelujah" Chorus! What a great feeling that was--Handel choruses were definitely meant to be sung in large groups!
We welcomed Lynn to the choir--it's great to have a new member in the soprano section. We especially enjoy how well her red sneakers stand out with the robe!
We had the annual choir brunch at Sue and Jim's house the first Sunday in April. Afterwards some of us saw Sally Newport sing in the concert The Majesty and Glory of the Resurrection by the Community Outreach Choir from Asbury United Methodist Church in Norristown. Director Andrew Monath played the whole concert for his mother over his cell phone. It was a great concert, with wonderful singing and a live orchestra!
On Saturday, April 18, after a perfect, sunny spring day, Paul and I attended the American Guild of Organists recital of Organ and Instruments at St. Luke at 7:30 pm. Several local church organists and instrumental soloists rounded out a delightful program! Our favorites were Clyde and Ray doing two selections for organ and flute.
I was able to go back for an "Exercising Your Faith" meeting Monday night after 7 months away, and it was very uplifting and worthwhile. You women out there, if you want some great fellowship and relaxation this is the place for you!
We had directory photos taken the week after Easter, and are looking forward to being included in our first St. Luke directory!! The way I looked in bright light on a Tuesday evening after work, no matter how hard I thought I tried, was slightly disappointing; but my husband looked so good in the church photos that I made sure we ordered the wallets :)
SACRED MUSIC QUIZ QUESTION: This topic came up in discussion during the choir brunch:
What is the meaning of the following line of the second verse to the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing?"
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,interposed his precious blood.
An excellent answer can be found here: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1812
The choir was very busy this month singing Handel, especially on Easter. This past week we enjoyed a rendition of Handel's The Trumpet Shall Sound sung by George Myers, accompanied on trumpet (actually, I think that was a cornet) by Thomas Hooey. Very inspiring. I hope everybody could see past the slide projector screen to see George! Our Maundy Thursday service April 9 was also very moving. Marcia sang a very moving rendition of Samuel Barber's "Crucifixion" during communion. As a postlude Paul performed "Gethsemane" in a darkened sanctuary. Then on Easter Sunday we had a large number of you come us jubilant volunteer singers to help us out on the "Hallelujah" Chorus! What a great feeling that was--Handel choruses were definitely meant to be sung in large groups!
We welcomed Lynn to the choir--it's great to have a new member in the soprano section. We especially enjoy how well her red sneakers stand out with the robe!
We had the annual choir brunch at Sue and Jim's house the first Sunday in April. Afterwards some of us saw Sally Newport sing in the concert The Majesty and Glory of the Resurrection by the Community Outreach Choir from Asbury United Methodist Church in Norristown. Director Andrew Monath played the whole concert for his mother over his cell phone. It was a great concert, with wonderful singing and a live orchestra!
On Saturday, April 18, after a perfect, sunny spring day, Paul and I attended the American Guild of Organists recital of Organ and Instruments at St. Luke at 7:30 pm. Several local church organists and instrumental soloists rounded out a delightful program! Our favorites were Clyde and Ray doing two selections for organ and flute.
I was able to go back for an "Exercising Your Faith" meeting Monday night after 7 months away, and it was very uplifting and worthwhile. You women out there, if you want some great fellowship and relaxation this is the place for you!
We had directory photos taken the week after Easter, and are looking forward to being included in our first St. Luke directory!! The way I looked in bright light on a Tuesday evening after work, no matter how hard I thought I tried, was slightly disappointing; but my husband looked so good in the church photos that I made sure we ordered the wallets :)
SACRED MUSIC QUIZ QUESTION: This topic came up in discussion during the choir brunch:
What is the meaning of the following line of the second verse to the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing?"
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,interposed his precious blood.
An excellent answer can be found here: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1812
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Choir Needs More Singers!
Hello--It's been a busy time and I've barely made an entry this month--just coming in under the wire. Paul and I left right after church Sunday for a little getaway to Lambertville, NJ to celebrate our first anniversary. It was indescribably relaxing to just put everything else out of our minds and know that for Sunday to Monday there was nothing more important we could do than celebrate our relationship.
But what of St. Luke choir? Well, I won't beat around the bush. The choir membership is at an ebb and we are hoping to recruit more singers! With Franz out for work commitments and Hazel and Jim out for health reasons, we have fewer voices at the moment to round out the parts. If you've ever considered singing in the choir, please come try it out now! And it's not just men; women, we need you, too!
Top Ten Reasons to Join St. Luke's Choir:
10. Bond with a wonderful group of fun and caring people--we have a lot of laughs.
9. Learn great music from auspicious musical scholar and academician Dr. Clyde Shive
8. George Myers' pitchpipe humming, almost inaudibly, in the narthex to give us the pitch (no, we don't just magically find the notes!)
7. 8:30 am on Sunday really isn't all that early once you get used to it. Coffee is allowed, too.
6. Psalm 92, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 98, and Psalm 100 all tell use to sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
5. Learning to gracefully navigate the carpeted stairs wearing an oversized robe while carrying a folder and hymnal and singing harmony---these are skills you can be proud of!
4. Pastor David can't see you when you doze off during the sermon (well, except he usually turns around and checks from time to time). Great view of children during Theme Talk.
3. You get to sing out of the spiral-bound version of the black hymn book. Haven't you always wanted to see all the parts written in there? Trust me--it's worth it!
2. Share your musical gifts and enjoy opportunities for creative expression in worship.
And the #1 Reason:
WE NEED YOU!
We sing one anthem per Sunday and do a special concert May 16 called the "Musicale". We rehearse in the choir room 8:30 am on Sunday. No need to come during the week. Please just show up and you will be warmly welcomed! We guarantee you will have a good time, so what are you waiting for? Join this week!
April is Handel month; we will be doing many works by this great composer, including selections from "Messiah" on Easter Sunday. More on that to come.
But what of St. Luke choir? Well, I won't beat around the bush. The choir membership is at an ebb and we are hoping to recruit more singers! With Franz out for work commitments and Hazel and Jim out for health reasons, we have fewer voices at the moment to round out the parts. If you've ever considered singing in the choir, please come try it out now! And it's not just men; women, we need you, too!
Top Ten Reasons to Join St. Luke's Choir:
10. Bond with a wonderful group of fun and caring people--we have a lot of laughs.
9. Learn great music from auspicious musical scholar and academician Dr. Clyde Shive
8. George Myers' pitchpipe humming, almost inaudibly, in the narthex to give us the pitch (no, we don't just magically find the notes!)
7. 8:30 am on Sunday really isn't all that early once you get used to it. Coffee is allowed, too.
6. Psalm 92, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 98, and Psalm 100 all tell use to sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
5. Learning to gracefully navigate the carpeted stairs wearing an oversized robe while carrying a folder and hymnal and singing harmony---these are skills you can be proud of!
4. Pastor David can't see you when you doze off during the sermon (well, except he usually turns around and checks from time to time). Great view of children during Theme Talk.
3. You get to sing out of the spiral-bound version of the black hymn book. Haven't you always wanted to see all the parts written in there? Trust me--it's worth it!
2. Share your musical gifts and enjoy opportunities for creative expression in worship.
And the #1 Reason:
WE NEED YOU!
We sing one anthem per Sunday and do a special concert May 16 called the "Musicale". We rehearse in the choir room 8:30 am on Sunday. No need to come during the week. Please just show up and you will be warmly welcomed! We guarantee you will have a good time, so what are you waiting for? Join this week!
April is Handel month; we will be doing many works by this great composer, including selections from "Messiah" on Easter Sunday. More on that to come.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Mendelssohn Month
We are now 3 weeks into February. This month is most notable as Black History Month. Dorothy has created a fascinating table of memorabilia in the hallway sharing black heritage.
For the St. Luke choir, however, Clyde has also dubbed this February as "Mendelssohn Month." Felix Mendelssohn was born in German on February 3, 1809, exactly 200 years ago (same year as Lincoln and Darwin). A talented and prolific composer of beautiful works for symphony and keyboard, Mendelssohn also wrote oratorio "St. Paul" and "Elijah." Our preludes, postludes, and anthems have all been by the composer, and even we soloists have taken it upon ourselves to select offertory music written by Mendelssohn.
There is so much lovely music to choose from, some that has made a very important impression at different times in my life. As a senior in high school, I played "Fingal's Cave (Hebrides Overture)" with the Pennsylvania State Orchestra (um, would it give my age away too much if I mentioned this was in 1982?). The piece evokes a cavern from the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland. It is hauntingly beautiful and has an awesome clarinet solo, through which I was very proud not to have "squeaked." At our wedding at St. Luke nearly one year ago, we used as our Recessional, as have countless other couples before us, Mendelssohn's "Incidental music from Midsummer Night's Dream."
Test your knowledge by taking a trivia quiz on Mendelssohn! http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/music/classical_music/mendelssohn.html (I scored a 7/10)
Thanks to our organist and choirmaster Dr. Clyde Shive for sharing his distinguished experience as a music scholar to enhance the music program at St. Luke.
Today was also Mardi Gras Sunday which St. Luke celebrated with "Souper" Sunday--soup lunch to benefit Mary Jane Enrichment Center. Another delicious day of fellowship. This week begins Lent; blessings to all as you embark on the spiritual journey of the Lenten season!
For the St. Luke choir, however, Clyde has also dubbed this February as "Mendelssohn Month." Felix Mendelssohn was born in German on February 3, 1809, exactly 200 years ago (same year as Lincoln and Darwin). A talented and prolific composer of beautiful works for symphony and keyboard, Mendelssohn also wrote oratorio "St. Paul" and "Elijah." Our preludes, postludes, and anthems have all been by the composer, and even we soloists have taken it upon ourselves to select offertory music written by Mendelssohn.
There is so much lovely music to choose from, some that has made a very important impression at different times in my life. As a senior in high school, I played "Fingal's Cave (Hebrides Overture)" with the Pennsylvania State Orchestra (um, would it give my age away too much if I mentioned this was in 1982?). The piece evokes a cavern from the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland. It is hauntingly beautiful and has an awesome clarinet solo, through which I was very proud not to have "squeaked." At our wedding at St. Luke nearly one year ago, we used as our Recessional, as have countless other couples before us, Mendelssohn's "Incidental music from Midsummer Night's Dream."
Test your knowledge by taking a trivia quiz on Mendelssohn! http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/music/classical_music/mendelssohn.html (I scored a 7/10)
Thanks to our organist and choirmaster Dr. Clyde Shive for sharing his distinguished experience as a music scholar to enhance the music program at St. Luke.
Today was also Mardi Gras Sunday which St. Luke celebrated with "Souper" Sunday--soup lunch to benefit Mary Jane Enrichment Center. Another delicious day of fellowship. This week begins Lent; blessings to all as you embark on the spiritual journey of the Lenten season!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Listen and Wait
I've been very busy for a couple of weeks so I apologize for not posting anything. Many changes are happening for me at work and I'm taking a graduate class so things have not been terribly settled. Meanwhile Martin Luther King Day and the Inauguration of the new President have been monopolizing the headlines.
This Sunday the St. Luke Choir did an anthem this morning that consisted of the men singing the faith song "I Believe" while the women sang the Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria." This was termed a "Quodlibet" which is a piece of music combining more than one melody (think "Lida Rose" and "Dream Of Now" from the Music Man.) We did not do a bad job of it, and it was glorious to hear our soprano sub Kristen on the high note at the end, but there was a noticeable spot in the middle where we didn't hear each other and we consequently lost our place for about a bar or so.
Okay, so there's a lesson there......no matter how well you think you know what you are doing, it pays to listen and pay attention. If you are not in synch with what the other folks you are collaborating with are doing, nobody gets anywhere. It's hard to listen and adjust to someone else; I find it a huge challenge to be patient and wait for others. (just ask my husband about getting ready to go to the gym in the mornings). Especially in a choir, it's not a race to see who gets to the end of the piece first (that would be interesting though) but a work done together, "in concert." One of the most important skills in music performance--and life--is to be able to listen to what others are doing and adjust how you fit into it.
We saw Obama do a little of this during the oath of office gaffe where Chief Justice Roberts reversed the word order, moving the adverb "faithfully" modifying the verb "to execute" to the end of the sentence instead of with the verb. I don't think he wanted to, but I think he ended up saying it Roberts' way. How much more gracious is that than saying "I'm sorry, you've got it wrong. Start over."
I enjoy attending live community theater productions, and if possible I always try to make it to a show on opening night. I think that the performance is more electric and fresher the first time with an audience, when the players are just learning how the pieces fit together and the whole work is perceived. Collaborating in artistic ventures is the joy of it for the performers and a very large part of the appreciation by the audience.
So it's a beautiful day to listen and wait and see what happens......
This Sunday the St. Luke Choir did an anthem this morning that consisted of the men singing the faith song "I Believe" while the women sang the Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria." This was termed a "Quodlibet" which is a piece of music combining more than one melody (think "Lida Rose" and "Dream Of Now" from the Music Man.) We did not do a bad job of it, and it was glorious to hear our soprano sub Kristen on the high note at the end, but there was a noticeable spot in the middle where we didn't hear each other and we consequently lost our place for about a bar or so.
Okay, so there's a lesson there......no matter how well you think you know what you are doing, it pays to listen and pay attention. If you are not in synch with what the other folks you are collaborating with are doing, nobody gets anywhere. It's hard to listen and adjust to someone else; I find it a huge challenge to be patient and wait for others. (just ask my husband about getting ready to go to the gym in the mornings). Especially in a choir, it's not a race to see who gets to the end of the piece first (that would be interesting though) but a work done together, "in concert." One of the most important skills in music performance--and life--is to be able to listen to what others are doing and adjust how you fit into it.
We saw Obama do a little of this during the oath of office gaffe where Chief Justice Roberts reversed the word order, moving the adverb "faithfully" modifying the verb "to execute" to the end of the sentence instead of with the verb. I don't think he wanted to, but I think he ended up saying it Roberts' way. How much more gracious is that than saying "I'm sorry, you've got it wrong. Start over."
I enjoy attending live community theater productions, and if possible I always try to make it to a show on opening night. I think that the performance is more electric and fresher the first time with an audience, when the players are just learning how the pieces fit together and the whole work is perceived. Collaborating in artistic ventures is the joy of it for the performers and a very large part of the appreciation by the audience.
So it's a beautiful day to listen and wait and see what happens......
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Take My Life....Please!
It's the New Year--rarely have we been so glad to start one--Christmas is over, the trees are down, the decorations put away, the cookies and chocolate fortunately almost completely gone.
We had what could barely be called snow (what happened to the good old snowy days?) but the parking lot was icy despite the cheery sunshine.
This morning's service was remarkable in many ways, from the gorgeous Bach music from Marcia, Ray, and Clyde, the climactic faceoff Pastor David explained he would be joining with peacemaking colleagues at a Philadelphia gun shop, the consecration of church leaders and a very moving message about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
However, the thing I most want to remark on was that we had a little chancel drama! Marilyn and Nancy kicked off the second scripture reading (the Holy Spirit descending on Ch rist after his baptism) with a little role-play dialogue of two observers discussing the events of the day and their imperfect understanding of what had occurred at the baptism of Jesus. "Ooh, cool!" I thought, leaning forward with excitement. It was great to have a little interpretation to make the reading relevant. Chancel drama is a wonderful tool in worship--it's entertaining and a break from routine. Most importantly, it's truly effective in helping people remember and take away the message.
I'm about to go to our global sales meeting this week and I will have to do presentations that I have been preparing for two months, along with my colleagues who work with me on basic science textbooks and review books for medical students. It's a big effort, and I am always extremely anxious for this meeting to be over, so my prayers today were along the lines they often are--help me to find a way to feel that I am serving God even while working fulltime at a corporation. The anthem today was thought-provoking, "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee......Take my intellect and use every power as Thou should choose." While I often seek out God as escape or refuge of some kind from the challenges and stresses of work, I know that there is no joy without struggle, and that effort and work are always rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing we've done our best!
In fact, we can't really do our best without being synched in with the Holy Spirit. And the more we consecrate ourselves to God, the more good work we are able to do. So let's keep high expectations and high hopes of ourselves and of others, trusting that we'll be able to tap into the power of God to get us through.
We had what could barely be called snow (what happened to the good old snowy days?) but the parking lot was icy despite the cheery sunshine.
This morning's service was remarkable in many ways, from the gorgeous Bach music from Marcia, Ray, and Clyde, the climactic faceoff Pastor David explained he would be joining with peacemaking colleagues at a Philadelphia gun shop, the consecration of church leaders and a very moving message about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
However, the thing I most want to remark on was that we had a little chancel drama! Marilyn and Nancy kicked off the second scripture reading (the Holy Spirit descending on Ch rist after his baptism) with a little role-play dialogue of two observers discussing the events of the day and their imperfect understanding of what had occurred at the baptism of Jesus. "Ooh, cool!" I thought, leaning forward with excitement. It was great to have a little interpretation to make the reading relevant. Chancel drama is a wonderful tool in worship--it's entertaining and a break from routine. Most importantly, it's truly effective in helping people remember and take away the message.
I'm about to go to our global sales meeting this week and I will have to do presentations that I have been preparing for two months, along with my colleagues who work with me on basic science textbooks and review books for medical students. It's a big effort, and I am always extremely anxious for this meeting to be over, so my prayers today were along the lines they often are--help me to find a way to feel that I am serving God even while working fulltime at a corporation. The anthem today was thought-provoking, "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee......Take my intellect and use every power as Thou should choose." While I often seek out God as escape or refuge of some kind from the challenges and stresses of work, I know that there is no joy without struggle, and that effort and work are always rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing we've done our best!
In fact, we can't really do our best without being synched in with the Holy Spirit. And the more we consecrate ourselves to God, the more good work we are able to do. So let's keep high expectations and high hopes of ourselves and of others, trusting that we'll be able to tap into the power of God to get us through.
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