Danger! Danger!

I am at the PAM-sponsored conference on Worship & Music at Montreat this week. Lay musicians have cause to fear after I've had a busy summer conference season. I return to the fall rehearsal schedule, as my grandfather used to say, "loaded for bear." The conference season is a vital bit of re-fueling for me, where I get jazzed by new techniques, refreshed in my own soul, and confirmed in things I already knew. I've learned not to blast away at the first rehearsal with all my new ideas, but they most certainly trickle out as the academic year progresses.

I have had two wonderful surprises already, not really related to music. I saw my most-favorite-est piano teacher, Betty C. Betty wasn't my first piano teacher but she raised me from a musical pup. We have kept in touch lo these many years! I also met up with Ed T. formerly in Richmond, now at Morningstar Lutheran in Matthews (near Charlotte). Folks from church are also here: Cathy Mc. and Carla S. I spied Arden S. and Anne L. from afar today (one of the virtues of sitting near the rear of the 2000-seat Anderson Auditorium). I'll try to remember to pack a camera and get some photos.

A couple have made it

You can make it in music-land. A couple of folks with ties to our congregation have proved it. David Lamotte and Arto Lindsay do very different styles of music, but both are phenomenal musicians, with ties to our congregation. I have added a couple of links to them in the Links section in the right column. Please pay them a visit, and buy their music! That's Arto's photo on the left.

David Lamotte at GA

David Lamotte, son of church members John and Olivia Lamotte, performed at GA today. Presbyterian News Service had this to say about it. Very nice; good job, David! A link to his site is in the links section in the right column.

Worship Music June 22, 2008

This week FirstLight continues its summer series on Old Testament characters and stories by remembering the story of Hagar and Ishmael, slaves of Abraham and Sarah. Karen Haak will use this story to explore the relationship among Christians, Jews and Muslims. There are relatively few songs about Hagar and Ishmael in any musical idiom (read “exactly none”) so songs will be more general at both services. We’ll be singing “Shine Jesus Shine” and “Shout to the Lord” at FirstLight. The band will sing “Cry of my heart” at the offering, and we’ll close worship with “Change my heart O God.”

Hymns at 11 AM will include “Morning has broken” (BUNNESAN); “Today we are called to be disciples” (KINGSFOLD); and “The church of Christ in every age” (WAREHAM). Keithie Knowles will play violin for the prelude, anthem and offertory. We’ll hear the famous Bach/Gounod “Meditation on the First Prelude,” a movement from a Handel sonata, and the familiar “Sicilienne” by Maria Theresia von Paradis.

Sunday Music 060808

This week we will be learning about the call of God to Abram and Sarai. We'll begin FirstLight worship with the camp song "Father Abraham." We also will sing Chris Tomlin's "Forever." We'll conclude worship with the spiritual, "I have decided to follow Jesus" (ASSAM). The Prophets will sing a new (for them) song, "Take my life."

Hymns at 11 AM will include "O for a thousand tongues to sing" (AZMON); "I have decided to follow Jesus" (ASSAM); and "The God of Abraham praise" (LEONI). The Tune Weavers, our men's quartet, will be singing "Standing in the need of prayer" for the anthem. Dr. Ken Scott, Sr. will be guest organist this week.

An extra bit of lectionary humor courtesy of Reverend Fun.

Worship Music Sunday 1 June

In FirstLight we are beginning a summer series on favorite Old Testament characters and stories. Following the OT lectionary readings for the summer months we’ll be encountering Noah, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Easu, and Joseph, Rebekah, Laban, Rachel and Leah. We’ll begin FirstLight this week by recreating a storm using musical instruments. We’ll enjoy the folk song “One more river” to help load our imaginary ark with animals. We’ll also be singing “I will call upon the Lord,” and “My hope is built” (SOLID ROCK). Mike Barker will play “Precious Lord, take my hand” at the offering. Susan B. will sing this classic spiritual at the 11 AM service. Tommy Dorsey (a trombone player, associated with his brother Jimmy in the swing music genre) is tee-totally different from Thomas A. Dorsey (a jazz and gospel pianist) who wrote “Precious Lord.” We’ll sing the hymns “Rejoice ye pure in heart” (MARION); “My hope is built” (SOLID ROCK); and “Christ is made the sure foundation” (REGENT SQUARE). Organ music will include JSB’s setting of In dich heb ich gehoffet herr (From the Orgelbuchlein), a fugue by Mr. Handel, and a fanfare setting of REGENT SQUARE by David Lasky.