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No more troubbable

Our performance of The Troubabble of Zerubbabel went really, really well. The kids nailed their songs and their lines; the band was awesome. The crew did great with set changes and props. Our costumes were stunning; our "Adversaries" brought the house down! Here's one picture, but you can view a slideshow of the dress rehearsal and reception following the performance in the sidebar. Thanks to all the kids, all the parents and everyone who helped make it happen.

Others' Pentecost Visuals

We are deeply appreciative to the Herricks for our beautiful cut-paper Pentecost installation. This year also enjoyed a fabric parament installation created by Martha Jane Peterson. Here are a couple of other Pentecost artistic interpretations.

This piece was at Bon Air Methodist Church in Richmond:


This installation was at Tabernacle Baptist also in Richmond.

Music for Worship

FirstLight
Gathering Song
Veni sancte spiritus (Taize)

Opening Song
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness

Offertory
Jesus Messiah

Doxology
Give thanks

Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution: Taste and see

Closing Song
Sweet, sweet spirit

11AM
Hymns
129, Come, O Spirit, dwell among us (EBENEZER)
321, Holy Spirit, truth divine (SONG 13)

Introit
Taize, Veni sancte spiritus

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow (with Alleluias)
LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Music during Communion
Responses by Leon Roberts
Distribution: Michael Bedford, Now to praise the name of Jesus (Chancel Choir)
Now to come before the table, now the Spirit from above;
Bread and wine in fullest measure, prayers ascending as a dove:
Alleluia, alleluia, gracious Savior, we are sanctified in love.
James Moore, Taste and see

Benediction Response
Akers, There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit (PH 398)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Ahrens, Variations on Veni Creator Spiritus
Offertory: William Dawson, Every time I feel the Spirit
Josh Manuel, bass soloist
Postlude: Titelouze, Veni Creator Spiritus

This week the cut paper banner for Pentecost will be reinstalled. Also the pulpit parament for Pentecost is a woven piece, "Why Not Become All Flame," by Martha Jane Peterson. This work was recently featured in the "On Art" section of The Christian Century with an analysis by Lois Huey-Heck.

Zerub-a-who?

That would be Zerubbabel, a governor of the Hebrew people during the Babylonian exile. Zerubbabel led the exiles on their return from exile, and directed the building of the second temple. He's also the subject of a nifty children's musical which you can see in performance this coming Sunday afternoon at 5PM at BMPCNC. Please join us!

The Aerie Singers (kids in grades 3-4-5-6 who participate in Logos) having been learning about Zerubbabel and the music and dialog for this musical since last September. Winter weather wrought havoc with our schedule, leading to extra rehearsals. But the time has come to the musical to come to life.

Written by Will Anderson The Troubbable of Zerubbabel was written specifically for children's singing voices. Through drama and music children tell the story of the Persian king's proclamation that the Hebrew people should return home to Jerusalem under the leadership of their governor, and further instruction that they should commence a project to rebuild the temple for the worship of Yahweh. The plot thickens as adversaries seek to thwart the progress, but through prayer and faith in God, the building (the Second Temple) is completed.

A hearty band of Aerie Singers cover the majority of dramatic roles and sing the songs. The Adversaries will be portrayed in this production by two tough guys from our congregation. Musical accompaniment in the original musical score is for piano; we will hear our house band the Prophets of Praise (with a couple of extra musicians and playing from a score crafted by Mike Barker) in this production.

Vance S. (Zerubbabel) and Lillie C. (Narrator) have the two lead roles. Dave Bell and Dan Stitt will dig deep into their dramatic wells to play the "tough guys."

The performance on Sunday May 23 begins at 5PM and is free. Come enjoy the show, learn a little Bible and support a fine group of young musicians as they share the culmination of months of work and fun.

My chuckle of the day

So we're in the final stages of prepping "The Troubabble of Zerubbabel" by Will Anderson for a performance on 5/23.

This afternoon we had our usual after school rehearsal. Today was the first day we had in place the back drop covers (the kids had been seeing and working around some framing for the past few weeks), and some boxes that will be stones used to construct the temple, and a couple of our band to see and hear the flow of the show (including the percussionist, who brought several sound effects that will be part of some of the songs).

So the kids had a whole lot to take in and a lot to comment on.

As we were doing notes at the end of rehearsal, we came to "question time," when I take 5 questions from the performers. The rules: one person; one question; five times. And then we leave.

Standard procedure.

Our lead actor had his hand up first, nurturing his question for about 5 minutes, while I finished my notes. He was patient, but about to explode with curiosity. So I called on him first.

He put his hand down and thought.

One second, two, three.

I could almost see the wheels turning in his head to figure out how to ask all the things he wanted to know, and still make it sound like a single question.

His question was about 752 words long and covered everything from soup to nuts, but he did it with one breath, and there was only one question mark at the end!

Too smart.

And too funny.

Mary Louise Bringle

Mary Louise (Mel) Bringle is the subject of an article in Blue Ridge Now, the on-line edition of the Time-News in Hendersoneville. She is chair of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS, "peacocks") which is developing a "new hymnal," in whatever form that may ultimately take. Mel is also president of the Hymn Society in the US and Canada. It was in that role that she helped lead the hymn sing at First Asheville last Sunday afternoon. She was joined by Hymn Society executive director Deborah Carlton Loftis in leading that festival service.

Youth Sunday Music

It's a pretty short list of music, but what a service! Kaitlyn, Jordan, Olivia, Alec and Rosy did a great job! The other liturgists and worship helpers made it a truly special day. Awesome!

You are my King (Amazing love)
Lord reign in me
Word of God speak
Forever
I could sing of your love forever
Amazing grace
Give thanks

Things really took off after worship, when folks stuck around for food and fellowship. Folks seemed to not want to leave. Forty-five minutes later we finally were able to start cleaning up! What a day!