Dear friends,
Thank you for another wonderful rehearsal last night-- certainly a highlight of another week at First-Plymouth. I just read an e-mail from one of our basses who said, "It could have gone on longer as far as I was concerned." Another choir member told me last night that she broke down in tears of joy watching us sing on the World Communion Sunday broadcast of Reach Out and Live. At the trustees meeting a few moments ago, there were more than a few testimonials lifting up the joy that our music has brought to the community over this past month. And I mentioned last night about the men's group I attended commenting on a new sensitivity and communication that is infused in your singing. We have many reasons to be thankful for a truly blessed beginning in our ministry together. We've done A LOT this month-- it's been a busy time, full of rich experiences and growth through challenges. We have been rewarded handsomely for the efforts and energy we have contributed.
Thanks to many of you who have signed up to sing at the funeral service on Saturday morning. The family has requested that we sing Halle, Halle in our most joyful fashion as well the Lord Bless You and Keep You, both of which we have sung recently. We will also sing a piece that two of our choir members have created-- Deanne Hyde wrote the text, and Jack Rinke the music. We will gather at 9:00 in our robes on Saturday morning so that we have plenty of time to prepare all of this beautiful music.
Sunday morning we offer our support to the children of our congregation on Children's Sabbath. We will assemble in the choir room at 9:45 to sing DAY BY DAY, IN LOVE YOU SUMMON (purple sheet), the CIRCLE SONG, and Jeremy's beautiful arrangement of CHILDREN OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. The Youth Orchestra will play with you, and the K-2 Plymouth Singers will sing in worship, some for the first time ever. If you happen to be able to come a bit early on Sunday to worship at the 9:00 service, I would love for you to hear the 3rd-5th grade Choristers sing the morning scripture as well. The It is so important that we adults encourage our children and youth, offer them our thanks for their contributions to worship. We need to remind them that we welcome them in worship not just because they are cute or because we cognatively know they need to be there once in awhile, but because they sing or play on our behalf. They help us to pray, they illuminate scripture for us, and they help us to hear God's voice in a very special way. They can praise God just the way they are, and their praises and prayers and anthems can inspire us to sing with more thankful and grateful hearts. Consider spending a moment with a Chorister, a Youth musician, or a Plymouth Singer before or after service this week to offer them your gratitude and thanks rather than applause and praise. If we start to build relationships between and among the different musical ensembles and support one another as worshipful, servant musicians, our music ministry will be a stronger, more faithful body, and we will all be more richly blessed!
I often hear Jeremy say, "It's another week at First-Plymouth." One translator could hear that as, "O my God, there is so much work to do EVERY week-- nothing is ever simple." But we embrace that instead to realize: "It's another week to have the opportunity to experience the gift of God's presence among us in this beautiful, loving, dynamic community."
It's another week at First-Plymouth. Make haste to be kind. Be quick to love. Give thanks. SING!
Peace.
TT
