Friday, August 27, 2010

Worship Music 082910

This Sunday we are welcoming Christopher Imoff, guest trumpet player at the 11AM service. Chris has just finished up a run with The Wizard of Oz, and next month begins touring with A Chorus Line. His course of study has included Ohio University and the Jacob's School of Music at Indiana University.

FirstLight
Gathering Song
No higher calling


Opening Song
Cry of my heart

Celebration of Forgiveness
Halle, halle, hallelujah


Offertory
Mighty to save

Doxology
Give thanks


Communion
M Barker, keyboard

Closing Song
Christ be our light

11AM
Hymns
487, When morning guilds the skies (LAUDES DOMINI)
434, Today we all are called to be disciples (KINGSFOLD)


Celebration of Forgiveness
Glory be to God the Father (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)

Anthem/Solo
Alan Hovhaness, Prayer of St. Gregory
Christopher Imhoff, trumpet
Christ God, awe-inspiring name, vision of majesty, inscrutable image of sublimity, infinite force, model of the light of salvation, defender of life, gate to the kingdom of heavenly rest, path of tranquility, refuge of renewal that ends sadness, almighty sovereign of all being, call to blessing, voice of good news, proclamation of bliss, salve of immortality, indescribable son of the one and only God: Yours is salvation, from you is pardon, and to you is befitting glory in all things forever. Amen.
a prayer of St.Gregory the Illuminator (Krikor Loosavorich) , Father and Patron Saint of the Armenian Church

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Music during Communion
Organ selections


Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Diemer, Voluntary on Kingsfold
Offertory: Handel, Bouree from Water Music
Postlude: Mouret, Rondeau

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Worship Music 082210

FirstLight worship will begin at 915AM at BMPCNC; 11AM worship will be in Anderson Auditorium in Montreat. It is a joint service with the Montreat PC(USA) congregation.

FirstLight
Gathering Song
The heart of worship

Opening Song
Shout to the north

Celebration of Forgiveness
Amazing love (You are my king)

Offertory
M Barker, keyboard

Doxology
Give thanks

Closing Song
Amazing grace

11AM
Hymns
483, Sing praise to God who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
472, O sing to the Lord (CANTAD)
554, Let all things now living (THE ASH GROVE)

Introit
White, Surely it is God who saves me (2030.R)

Celebration of Forgiveness
Patterson, Alleluia, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Anthem/Solo
Leavitt, In the shadow of your wings
a setting of Psalm 57; Cara Jenkins, oboe

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Benediction Response
Dauermann, The trees of the field (STF 2279)

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Paul Halley, Outer Hebrides (a fantasy on three pipe tunes)
Offertory: Mozart, Church Sonata in F, K. 244
Libby Barker, flute; Cara Jenkins, oboe
Postlude: Percy Whitlock, Toccata, from Plymouth Suite

Friday, August 13, 2010

Summer Conference Reflections

I've been attending the "Church Unbound" conference in Montreat for these couple of days. I actually led a seminar last year at the same event. I went just to listen this year.

Every few years I have realized it's a good thing to use continuing education time and funding for something other than music events. This year my registration for the PAM Worship and Music conference in Montreat was gratis because we loaned them handbells. So I had some spare funds.

The speaker this year was Brian McLaren, about whom I've heard a lot, but whom I've never heard or read. It's been very nice and enlightening. The only singing has been an ice-breaker at the beginning of the plenary sessions. They have offered a seminar on "unbound worship" which was interesting. The leadership for that came from the Covenant Community.

Last year when I was teaching, I also took in the plenary sessions. They were led by Shane Claiborne. They were very exciting also, and totally unrelated to music.

A colleague asked via Facebook who I would recommend to seek to hear, were she to try to engage in this sort of non-musical education event. My best answer is that it doesn't really matter. What matters most is that we church music professionals recognize the need for growth in our non-musical/spiritual/theological lives. Like many of us I attend a huge national event, teach once or twice for a local or regional event, and very quickly can be drained by all that leadership. That is unless I take commensurate time to get refueled at an event in which I can think in other ways than notes and rests and sharps and flats and toe and heel.

I suppose I'm a little unique in that I hold an MDiv degree. That may make it for likely that I get a kick out of non-musical and theology-related seminars. But I think any church professional would be well-suited to take in a similar event, outside of their usual area of expertise. This began years ago for me by taking in a retreat led by Richard Foster, who was big into spiritual disciplines and the contemplative life.

And for the record, I don't attend every session when I enroll in these events. It's not my personality style (as SJK has rightly noted). I pick and choose and spend plenty of time reading and watching hummingbirds.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

John Bell at Montreat

Montreat Conference Center has released information about a day-long event with Iona Community musician John Bell.

Join John Bell of the Iona Community for a full day of music at Montreat! The day long exploration includes a Big Sing, looking at how song shapes what we believe, the Bible and music, and how song penetrates our personal spiritual journey.

The event is Friday October 8, all day.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Eric Wall to oversee Montreat Summer Music

Eric Wall, musician at First Asheville has been named coordinator of music for summer worship at the Montreat Conference Center.

The music that plays such an important role in Sunday summer worship, adult and youth conference worship, and special events will now be coordinated by Eric Wall, the newly appointed Conference Center Musician at Montreat Conference Center.

Read the whole article here.

Congratulations, Eric!