Dear friends,
I was just wondering to myself: What should I do in the morning? I quickly imagined getting together with 60 or 70 of my friends and singing beautiful music and having a blast and sharing it all with a church-full of people. WOW! That would be cool. We should try it...tomorrow as a preview for the 2011-12 Plymouth Choir season. Everyone's invited! Bring a friend. Come on along!
Grace and peace, and many thanks for all you are and all you do!
TT
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August Choir News 8.8.2011
Dear friends,
The only good part of summer being closer to over is that choir season is closer to beginning! I look so forward to seeing you all soon! Here is a quick reminder of some things coming up as we get the year started:
Hope to see you on the weekend!
Grace and peace,
TT
The only good part of summer being closer to over is that choir season is closer to beginning! I look so forward to seeing you all soon! Here is a quick reminder of some things coming up as we get the year started:
- Sunday, August 14: we will sing for the 10:30 a.m. service. Rehearsal will be in the choir room at 9:30 a.m. Let's have an awesome turn-out as we tune-up to sing AMAZING GRACE, THE LORD BLESS YOU and some favorite hymns. (You may remember I am asking you to leave your summer choral hibernation because my parents will be in worship with us, visiting from Ohio, and they did not want to miss hearing our awesome choir!)
- Wednesday, August 24: our first Wednesday evening rehearsal, 7:15-9:30 p.m. We will have the blessing of welcoming many new faces to our choir. YAY!
- Saturday, August 27: our annual choir retreat here at First-Plymouth from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. RSVP by August 24 to reserve your spot for the retreat.
Hope to see you on the weekend!
Grace and peace,
TT
Choir Season Coming Soon... 7.20.2011
Dear friends,
It is exciting to think that we are just a month away from the beginning of a new Plymouth Choir season. Rejoining the routine of our Wednesday and Sunday gatherings will be a welcomed addition to my week, and I can't wait to reconnect with our choir family! As we embark upon our third year together, I am grateful for all that we have discovered in our shared mission and ministry thus far, and I am amazed to consider the possibilities of what beautiful opportunities await us. Our service together enriches our spirits. Even as we give our time and energy to our ministry through music, we receive countless blessings for our offerings. I often sense that I leave choir rehearsals with more energy than I brought into them! The space we share has become holy ground-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow in our commitment to making our choir a safe place to find our voice and to sing our faith.
I was talking with Jack Levick on the phone yesterday, and we both talked about how amazing it is that people sing in choirs in churches. No other volunteers within the church invest as much time in a ministry as a choir member does. No groups in the church meet weekly-- or more than once per week. No other groups within the church have such faithful worship attendance. No other groups within the church have as many longterm, longtime members. Thank you for accepting your call to our choir, and thank you for the many ways you commit to the mission and ministry we share. Fewer and fewer churches have choirs in our time-- less than 40% last I heard. This is, in large part, because of the commitment that is required by members to create a beautiful choir. By contrast, our First-Plymouth Choir is growing year by year, and that is because your commitment, enthusiasm, and spirit have inspired others to come to support and sustain you. Everyone feels welcome to give the best they can. The work we do is holy work-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow in our commitment to making our choir a true instrument of the amazing grace and unceasing love of God.
Attached to this e-mail, you will find a copy of our First-Plymouth Choir Calendar for the 2011-12 season. There are many exciting services, concerts, and collaborations for us to engage in this year. I am very excited, also, that Donna Harler Smith is coming back to teach voice class this fall-- both for men and women this time. I would encourage you to give yourself the gift of allowing yourself to participate in these energizing and motivating and illuminating sessions. As each of us grows into the full beauty of our individual voice, so does our whole choir grow into its full possibility of beauty. We all come together with confidence in the gifts we have and their value to the group. We also come with humility for all that we can become. The work we do is holy work-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow-- individually and collectively-- in our commitment to sing our best in praise and thanks to our God.
Not a day goes by that I do not give thanks to God for bringing us here together. May God continue to guide our journey together through a new calendar...and always...
Grace and peace, and many thanks for all you are and all you do.
TT
It is exciting to think that we are just a month away from the beginning of a new Plymouth Choir season. Rejoining the routine of our Wednesday and Sunday gatherings will be a welcomed addition to my week, and I can't wait to reconnect with our choir family! As we embark upon our third year together, I am grateful for all that we have discovered in our shared mission and ministry thus far, and I am amazed to consider the possibilities of what beautiful opportunities await us. Our service together enriches our spirits. Even as we give our time and energy to our ministry through music, we receive countless blessings for our offerings. I often sense that I leave choir rehearsals with more energy than I brought into them! The space we share has become holy ground-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow in our commitment to making our choir a safe place to find our voice and to sing our faith.
I was talking with Jack Levick on the phone yesterday, and we both talked about how amazing it is that people sing in choirs in churches. No other volunteers within the church invest as much time in a ministry as a choir member does. No groups in the church meet weekly-- or more than once per week. No other groups within the church have such faithful worship attendance. No other groups within the church have as many longterm, longtime members. Thank you for accepting your call to our choir, and thank you for the many ways you commit to the mission and ministry we share. Fewer and fewer churches have choirs in our time-- less than 40% last I heard. This is, in large part, because of the commitment that is required by members to create a beautiful choir. By contrast, our First-Plymouth Choir is growing year by year, and that is because your commitment, enthusiasm, and spirit have inspired others to come to support and sustain you. Everyone feels welcome to give the best they can. The work we do is holy work-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow in our commitment to making our choir a true instrument of the amazing grace and unceasing love of God.
Attached to this e-mail, you will find a copy of our First-Plymouth Choir Calendar for the 2011-12 season. There are many exciting services, concerts, and collaborations for us to engage in this year. I am very excited, also, that Donna Harler Smith is coming back to teach voice class this fall-- both for men and women this time. I would encourage you to give yourself the gift of allowing yourself to participate in these energizing and motivating and illuminating sessions. As each of us grows into the full beauty of our individual voice, so does our whole choir grow into its full possibility of beauty. We all come together with confidence in the gifts we have and their value to the group. We also come with humility for all that we can become. The work we do is holy work-- true sanctuary. This year, we can grow-- individually and collectively-- in our commitment to sing our best in praise and thanks to our God.
Not a day goes by that I do not give thanks to God for bringing us here together. May God continue to guide our journey together through a new calendar...and always...
Grace and peace, and many thanks for all you are and all you do.
TT
Women's Day in the Choir Loft 7.16.2011
Dear friends,
This is a friendly reminder that all sopranos and altos (whether ever before spotted in choir or not!) are invited to sing in the morning for worship. We will meet at 9:45 in the choir room, then sing for the 10:30 service. We will not wear robes, so dress comfortably in something you wouldn't mind being seen wearing on TV! : )
It will be fun to see you in the morning. And, by the way, thanks to the men who came to sing so beautifully last Sunday!
Grace and peace,
TT
This is a friendly reminder that all sopranos and altos (whether ever before spotted in choir or not!) are invited to sing in the morning for worship. We will meet at 9:45 in the choir room, then sing for the 10:30 service. We will not wear robes, so dress comfortably in something you wouldn't mind being seen wearing on TV! : )
It will be fun to see you in the morning. And, by the way, thanks to the men who came to sing so beautifully last Sunday!
Grace and peace,
TT
A few good men 7.8.2011
Dear tenors and basses,
If you are around Lincoln this weekend and do not have alternate plans this Sunday morning, we need you to come to sing for worship. We plan to meet in the choir room at 9:45 to prepare to sing for the 10:30 service. We will not wear robes, so wear something sorta nice in case they put you on TV. : ) We will sing RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD and I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing you soon!
TT
If you are around Lincoln this weekend and do not have alternate plans this Sunday morning, we need you to come to sing for worship. We plan to meet in the choir room at 9:45 to prepare to sing for the 10:30 service. We will not wear robes, so wear something sorta nice in case they put you on TV. : ) We will sing RISE UP, O MEN OF GOD and I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing you soon!
TT
Answer: This Sunday 6.17.2011
Question: When do we all get to come together for the last time this season to sing in worship, meeting in the choir room at 9:30, ready to fully immerse ourselves in singing the awesome GOSPEL MASS?
Grace and peace,
TT
Grace and peace,
TT
Culminations and Commencements 6.13.2011
Dear friends,
Even as we are finishing up this choir season, plans are well underway for an awesome 2011-12! This message will serve as an invitation to what remains for us this June, over the summer, and then to initially communicate about our launch in the fall. The full season schedule will be coming your way soon! : ) If you want a sneak peak at the Abendmusik season lineup, take a look at our website, www.abendmusik.org We have a lot to look forward to!
JUNE
Wednesday, June 15-- we have rehearsal for those attending the choir tour to Minneapolis, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 19-- Plymouth Choir will sing our excerpts (Credo and Agnus Dei) from the Gospel Mass by Robert Ray. We will also sing "Lay Me Low." Call time is 9:30 in the choir room. This is our final choir Sunday of the season.
Wednesday, June 22, we have rehearsal for those attending the choir tour, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
June 24-26: The Choir tour to Minneapolis
Wednesday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. Abendmusik is sponsoring a Summer Sing of Handel's Messiah. Everyone is invited to this all-community event. No preparation or practice is necessary, just a fun gathering to share in singing some wonderful music! Invite your friends. Soloists include Enoch Ulmer, Becky Shane, Becky Lowe, and Rob McMaster
JULY
Sunday, July 10- Men's Chorus-- we will try to gather as many male singers as possible to sing on this Sunday for the 10:30 a.m. service. Come at 9:30 for rehearsal.
Sunday, July 17- Women's Chorus-- we will try to gather as many female singers as possible to sing on this Sunday for the 10:30 a.m. service. Come at 9:30 for rehearsal.
Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.- Abendmusik is sponsoring a Summer Sing of Fauré's Requiem. Everyone is invited to this all-community event. No preparation or practice is necessary, just a fun gathering to share in singing some wonderful music! Invite your friends. Soloists are Jay Colwell and Zuri.
Saturday, July 30 TBA-- Choir room cleaning and painting party! Laurel Muff, our choir liaison, will be in touch with you soon to recruit volunteers to help!
AUGUST
Sunday, August 14- Plymouth Choir sings for 10:30 service. Warm-up beforehand at 9:30. Friends and family are welcome to come sing! (You may wonder why we are singing over the summer-- well it's a bit selfish on my part...My parents and aunt and uncle will be in town that morning, and I hope you will come to sing for them so that they and the whole congregation can have a true First-Plymouth experience! : )
Wednesday, August 24-- Plymouth Choir rehearsals begin!
Saturday, August 27-- Plymouth Choir retreat, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Grace and peace, and many thanks for the ways you contribute to the music and ministry of our church. As we conclude our second year together and begin our third, I am grateful that God has called us together, and I pray that the spirit will continue to guide us in beautiful ways in the days ahead.
Grace and peace,
TT
Even as we are finishing up this choir season, plans are well underway for an awesome 2011-12! This message will serve as an invitation to what remains for us this June, over the summer, and then to initially communicate about our launch in the fall. The full season schedule will be coming your way soon! : ) If you want a sneak peak at the Abendmusik season lineup, take a look at our website, www.abendmusik.org We have a lot to look forward to!
JUNE
Wednesday, June 15-- we have rehearsal for those attending the choir tour to Minneapolis, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 19-- Plymouth Choir will sing our excerpts (Credo and Agnus Dei) from the Gospel Mass by Robert Ray. We will also sing "Lay Me Low." Call time is 9:30 in the choir room. This is our final choir Sunday of the season.
Wednesday, June 22, we have rehearsal for those attending the choir tour, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
June 24-26: The Choir tour to Minneapolis
Wednesday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. Abendmusik is sponsoring a Summer Sing of Handel's Messiah. Everyone is invited to this all-community event. No preparation or practice is necessary, just a fun gathering to share in singing some wonderful music! Invite your friends. Soloists include Enoch Ulmer, Becky Shane, Becky Lowe, and Rob McMaster
JULY
Sunday, July 10- Men's Chorus-- we will try to gather as many male singers as possible to sing on this Sunday for the 10:30 a.m. service. Come at 9:30 for rehearsal.
Sunday, July 17- Women's Chorus-- we will try to gather as many female singers as possible to sing on this Sunday for the 10:30 a.m. service. Come at 9:30 for rehearsal.
Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.- Abendmusik is sponsoring a Summer Sing of Fauré's Requiem. Everyone is invited to this all-community event. No preparation or practice is necessary, just a fun gathering to share in singing some wonderful music! Invite your friends. Soloists are Jay Colwell and Zuri.
Saturday, July 30 TBA-- Choir room cleaning and painting party! Laurel Muff, our choir liaison, will be in touch with you soon to recruit volunteers to help!
AUGUST
Sunday, August 14- Plymouth Choir sings for 10:30 service. Warm-up beforehand at 9:30. Friends and family are welcome to come sing! (You may wonder why we are singing over the summer-- well it's a bit selfish on my part...My parents and aunt and uncle will be in town that morning, and I hope you will come to sing for them so that they and the whole congregation can have a true First-Plymouth experience! : )
Wednesday, August 24-- Plymouth Choir rehearsals begin!
Saturday, August 27-- Plymouth Choir retreat, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Grace and peace, and many thanks for the ways you contribute to the music and ministry of our church. As we conclude our second year together and begin our third, I am grateful that God has called us together, and I pray that the spirit will continue to guide us in beautiful ways in the days ahead.
Grace and peace,
TT
Choir Tour Rehearsals 6.8.2011
Dear friends,
We look so forward to beginning rehearsals tonight to prepare for our upcoming choir tour to Minneapolis! We will meet in the choir room from 7:15-9:30 p.m. tonight and the next two weeks as well. We have a lot of beautiful music to prepare, and we are excited to share it together. : ) For those choir members not attending the trip, though we don't rehearse tonight, we do sing this Sunday for the 10:30 service, and I will meet you for rehearsal at 9:45 in the choir room.
Grace and peace, and many thanks to you all!
TT
We look so forward to beginning rehearsals tonight to prepare for our upcoming choir tour to Minneapolis! We will meet in the choir room from 7:15-9:30 p.m. tonight and the next two weeks as well. We have a lot of beautiful music to prepare, and we are excited to share it together. : ) For those choir members not attending the trip, though we don't rehearse tonight, we do sing this Sunday for the 10:30 service, and I will meet you for rehearsal at 9:45 in the choir room.
Grace and peace, and many thanks to you all!
TT
What a May 5.25.2011
Dear Friends,
You have been such loyal, faithful servant musicians these last few weeks of May, and I am so thankful for your continuing commitment as worship leaders in our congregation. Your concert last week was remarkable! Music Sunday was spectacular! I know this Sunday will be very meaningful as well as we will sing SPEAK, O LORD and PRAISE THE LORD. I will see you in the choir room at 9:45. Jeremy is away this weekend, so I will do my best to be there on time, finishing up from the 9:00 service. If I'm late, start humming and sighing on 'oo'!
I look so forward to another beautiful Sunday Plymouth morning!
Grace and peace,
TT
You have been such loyal, faithful servant musicians these last few weeks of May, and I am so thankful for your continuing commitment as worship leaders in our congregation. Your concert last week was remarkable! Music Sunday was spectacular! I know this Sunday will be very meaningful as well as we will sing SPEAK, O LORD and PRAISE THE LORD. I will see you in the choir room at 9:45. Jeremy is away this weekend, so I will do my best to be there on time, finishing up from the 9:00 service. If I'm late, start humming and sighing on 'oo'!
I look so forward to another beautiful Sunday Plymouth morning!
Grace and peace,
TT
Abendmusik To-Do List 5.16.2011
1. Practice LAUDES ORGANI
2. Practice EVENING HYMN
3. Stream music from our blog so that it may creep in your ears:
4. Buy tickets for your family and friends (buy one get one free if you purchase them on Wednesday night!)
5. Come for rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday so that we can be fully prepared.
6. Invite all your friends (both real and facebook)
7. Read the translations of both pieces that are printed in your scores.
8. Re-familiarize yourself with the Latin pronunciation, particularly our 5 pure vowels A=AH, E= eh, I=ee, O=AW, U=oo
9. Read this e-mail
10. Stop doing your e-mail, and return to step 1. : )
Grace and peace,
TT
2. Practice EVENING HYMN
3. Stream music from our blog so that it may creep in your ears:
4. Buy tickets for your family and friends (buy one get one free if you purchase them on Wednesday night!)
5. Come for rehearsals on Wednesday and Thursday so that we can be fully prepared.
6. Invite all your friends (both real and facebook)
7. Read the translations of both pieces that are printed in your scores.
8. Re-familiarize yourself with the Latin pronunciation, particularly our 5 pure vowels A=AH, E= eh, I=ee, O=AW, U=oo
9. Read this e-mail
10. Stop doing your e-mail, and return to step 1. : )
Grace and peace,
TT
Coming Attractions 5.11.2011
Dear friends,
Thanks so much for all your good energy tonight as we continued our preparations for next week's concert and also opened up some of the scores for this weekend's Music Ministry Spectacular for the first time. We tend to do such a good job of being fully prepared for worship and performances throughout the year, but this big weekend always seems to catch me a bit by surprise. I apologize that we will be 'on the edge' on Sunday morning more than usual. Having said that, we will have a beautiful and wonderful time together, and we can enjoy sharing with the orchestra and all the other singing and ringing choirs at First-Plymouth. As a reminder, this Sunday, May 15, we will:
Two additional musical events coming up at First-Plymouth that may interest you:
I have been working intently the last few days on my sermon for this Sunday. I want to thank you that you have given me so many chances to 'preach to the choir' in preparation. I pray that the message I will offer in worship Sunday will be even half as meaningful as the message you all bring to our worship each and every week. Thank you, as always, for extending to me the honor, privilege and blessing of sharing in ministry with you. We have a lot to celebrate on Sunday...and always!
Grace and peace,
TT
Thanks so much for all your good energy tonight as we continued our preparations for next week's concert and also opened up some of the scores for this weekend's Music Ministry Spectacular for the first time. We tend to do such a good job of being fully prepared for worship and performances throughout the year, but this big weekend always seems to catch me a bit by surprise. I apologize that we will be 'on the edge' on Sunday morning more than usual. Having said that, we will have a beautiful and wonderful time together, and we can enjoy sharing with the orchestra and all the other singing and ringing choirs at First-Plymouth. As a reminder, this Sunday, May 15, we will:
- gather in the choir room at 8:00 sharp for warm-up and to review some of the hymn arrangements and Come Thou Fount
- sing Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain with the Choristers, Chorale, and Orchestra at 8:30 in the sanctuary, then practice procession
- sing for the 9:00 service
- eat breakfast in Mayflower and celebrate with Paula Nicholls on the occasion of her retirement from choir (Thank you for your donations tonight towards her Campbell's Nursery Gift certificate)
- sing for the 10:30 service
- Wednesday rehearsal, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
- Thursday dress rehearsal, 7:15-9:00 p.m.
- Friday concert at 7:00 p.m., warm-up at 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday service, May 22 at 10:30 a.m. (warm-up at 9:45 a.m.)
Two additional musical events coming up at First-Plymouth that may interest you:
- An incredible young pianist, Anna Larsen, will play a free concert on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m.
- Lyric Baritone, Paul Tipton, who was "Jesus' in our recent St. John Passion will sing a recital on Tuesday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m.
I have been working intently the last few days on my sermon for this Sunday. I want to thank you that you have given me so many chances to 'preach to the choir' in preparation. I pray that the message I will offer in worship Sunday will be even half as meaningful as the message you all bring to our worship each and every week. Thank you, as always, for extending to me the honor, privilege and blessing of sharing in ministry with you. We have a lot to celebrate on Sunday...and always!
Grace and peace,
TT
Merry Month of May 5.6.2011
Dear friends,
Thank you for your continued commitment and devotion to our music ministry even during the "temptation-filled" month of May, when many church choirs are abandoned for spring endeavors. It is such a blessing that we can continue to gather together these next few months, still looking forward to a very awesome concert, our music ministry Sunday, and our fun "mission trip" to the Twin Cities in June. It is also a time to treasure our final days in sharing music (at least week by week) with Jeni, Bryce, and Zach, and it was so good to have a chance to celebrate their gifts among us this past Wednesday. Please see below about our coming celebration with Paula.
As we close in on the Organ Plus concert when we sing the Kodaly LAUDES ORGANI and Gardiner EVENING HYMN, I encourage you to spend some time with the blog to get those harmonies and sonorities in your head:
Here are a few updates on events in our choir calendar for you to consider. (You will notice that a few of our pieces have changed from the choir calendar):
Tonight-- Friday, May 6-- Our beloved baritone Charles Muff is featured artist in the First Friday art walk from 7-9 p.m. in the Burkholder Project, Basement, Studio E-- 719 P Street
Sunday, May 8-- Mothers' Day--- we will sing Jack and Deanne's beautiful ALLELUIA and Duruflé UBI CARITAS for the 10:30 service. Please be ready to rehearse in the choir room at 9:45 a.m. (...and, yes, the Plymouth Brass will play "Just a closer walk...")
At 7 p.m., also on Sunday, the Lincoln Lutheran Choir will sing the Fauré REQUIEM as well as a premiere by Lincoln composer Kurt Knecht at Grace Lutheran Church. I look forward to hearing that program. Our friend Josh Norris is the conductor, and Jane and Tami sing with that group. Becky Shane and Bill Shomos will be the soloists.
Wednesday, May 11- rehearsal as usual, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 15- Music Ministry Sunday-- we will sing for both services, arriving at 8:00 a.m. to prepare. We will sing CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN and COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING. At the breakfast between services we will honor Paula Nicholls who will be retiring from many years of faithful service to our Plymouth Choir. We will take up a collection on Wednesday, the 11th, and if each of us can give $1-$2, we will be able to give Paula a small token gift of our appreciation.
At 3 p.m., also on Sunday, May 15, the Lincoln Civic Choir and many organists from the Lincoln community (me included!) will be performing works of Louis Vierne at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
Wednesday, May 18-- rehearsal as usual, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 19-- dress rehearsal in sanctuary with guest organist Andrew Kotylo for concert, 7:15-9:00 p.m.
Friday, May 20-- Organ Plus Concert-- we sing LAUDES ORGANI and EVENING HYMN as the second half, 7:00 p.m. (warm-up at 6:30 p.m.) We will wear bright color tops and black bottoms.
Sunday, May 22-- we will sing A REPEATING ALLELUIA and CHRIST HAS ARISEN for the 10:30 a.m. service (warm-up at 9:45)
Wednesday, May 25-- rehearsal as usual, 7:15- 9:25 p.m. (IOU five minutes from last Wednesday!)
Sunday, May 29-- sing SPEAK O LORD and PRAISE THE LORD for the 10:30 a.m. service (warm-up at 9:45)
Then, there is the Jolly Month of June!...more on that later.
Looking forward to a meaningful and memorable conclusion to a truly beautiful season. Thank you for all you are and all you do.
Grace and peace,
TT
Thank you for your continued commitment and devotion to our music ministry even during the "temptation-filled" month of May, when many church choirs are abandoned for spring endeavors. It is such a blessing that we can continue to gather together these next few months, still looking forward to a very awesome concert, our music ministry Sunday, and our fun "mission trip" to the Twin Cities in June. It is also a time to treasure our final days in sharing music (at least week by week) with Jeni, Bryce, and Zach, and it was so good to have a chance to celebrate their gifts among us this past Wednesday. Please see below about our coming celebration with Paula.
As we close in on the Organ Plus concert when we sing the Kodaly LAUDES ORGANI and Gardiner EVENING HYMN, I encourage you to spend some time with the blog to get those harmonies and sonorities in your head:
Here are a few updates on events in our choir calendar for you to consider. (You will notice that a few of our pieces have changed from the choir calendar):
Tonight-- Friday, May 6-- Our beloved baritone Charles Muff is featured artist in the First Friday art walk from 7-9 p.m. in the Burkholder Project, Basement, Studio E-- 719 P Street
Sunday, May 8-- Mothers' Day--- we will sing Jack and Deanne's beautiful ALLELUIA and Duruflé UBI CARITAS for the 10:30 service. Please be ready to rehearse in the choir room at 9:45 a.m. (...and, yes, the Plymouth Brass will play "Just a closer walk...")
At 7 p.m., also on Sunday, the Lincoln Lutheran Choir will sing the Fauré REQUIEM as well as a premiere by Lincoln composer Kurt Knecht at Grace Lutheran Church. I look forward to hearing that program. Our friend Josh Norris is the conductor, and Jane and Tami sing with that group. Becky Shane and Bill Shomos will be the soloists.
Wednesday, May 11- rehearsal as usual, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 15- Music Ministry Sunday-- we will sing for both services, arriving at 8:00 a.m. to prepare. We will sing CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN and COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING. At the breakfast between services we will honor Paula Nicholls who will be retiring from many years of faithful service to our Plymouth Choir. We will take up a collection on Wednesday, the 11th, and if each of us can give $1-$2, we will be able to give Paula a small token gift of our appreciation.
At 3 p.m., also on Sunday, May 15, the Lincoln Civic Choir and many organists from the Lincoln community (me included!) will be performing works of Louis Vierne at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
Wednesday, May 18-- rehearsal as usual, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 19-- dress rehearsal in sanctuary with guest organist Andrew Kotylo for concert, 7:15-9:00 p.m.
Friday, May 20-- Organ Plus Concert-- we sing LAUDES ORGANI and EVENING HYMN as the second half, 7:00 p.m. (warm-up at 6:30 p.m.) We will wear bright color tops and black bottoms.
Sunday, May 22-- we will sing A REPEATING ALLELUIA and CHRIST HAS ARISEN for the 10:30 a.m. service (warm-up at 9:45)
Wednesday, May 25-- rehearsal as usual, 7:15- 9:25 p.m. (IOU five minutes from last Wednesday!)
Sunday, May 29-- sing SPEAK O LORD and PRAISE THE LORD for the 10:30 a.m. service (warm-up at 9:45)
Then, there is the Jolly Month of June!...more on that later.
Looking forward to a meaningful and memorable conclusion to a truly beautiful season. Thank you for all you are and all you do.
Grace and peace,
TT
Singing on Saturday 4.28.2011
Dear friends,
This is just a friendly reminder from your neighborhood choir guy that we sing for the Saturday service this week to help celebrate Confirmation. Warm-up time in the choir room begins at 4:30. The service begins at 5:30. It will be no longer than an hour. We will sing THIS JOYFUL EASTERTIDE and A REPEATING ALLELUIA.\
Thanks again for a magical Easter week. I look forward to all that awaits us as we complete the season!
Grace and peace,
TT
Thank you 4.24.2011
Dear friends,
You made today's Easter worship as joyful and blessed and holy and whole as anyone could imagine. Thank you for offering your abundant gifts to our choir and our congregation. Thank you for discovering your calling to our shared ministry as servant musicians-- as leaders in the worship of our church. Thank you for the ways you support, inspire, and encourage one another and the congregation. What we do together is much more than singing. Thanks for believing that and making it so. Thank you for bringing all that you are to all that we do. Easter is the culmination of Holy Week, but it is the commencement of all that follows.
Easter means...there is another Wednesday coming! AMENNNNNNN! ALLELUIA!
Grace and peace,
TT
You made today's Easter worship as joyful and blessed and holy and whole as anyone could imagine. Thank you for offering your abundant gifts to our choir and our congregation. Thank you for discovering your calling to our shared ministry as servant musicians-- as leaders in the worship of our church. Thank you for the ways you support, inspire, and encourage one another and the congregation. What we do together is much more than singing. Thanks for believing that and making it so. Thank you for bringing all that you are to all that we do. Easter is the culmination of Holy Week, but it is the commencement of all that follows.
Easter means...there is another Wednesday coming! AMENNNNNNN! ALLELUIA!
Grace and peace,
TT
Thank you 4.21.2011
Dear friends,
Tonight you sounded a lot like the choir I conduct in my dreams. Thank you for being fully present in our offerings to a truly holy worship service, and know that I feel blessed indeed that we have been called together to share in ministry this Holy Week and always.
I look forward to continuing our choir journey Saturday morning. I will be in the choir room at 9:40 if anyone would like a vocal warm-up. We will begin promptly in the sanctuary with the orchestra for our combined Easter rehearsal at 10:00 a.m.
I also hope that many of you can come to experience the St. John Passion tomorrow evening. Our soloists from tonight will be the Evangelist (Brian) and Jesus (Paul), and you will also recognize Pilate (Jeff Keele) from our recent Mozart/Henderson concert. If you have never heard this work, you must not miss this opportunity. If you have heard it before, you will not need any encouragement to experience it again.
Grace and peace, and thank you for being a channel of wondrous, amazing love. Deus ibi est. : )
TT
Tonight you sounded a lot like the choir I conduct in my dreams. Thank you for being fully present in our offerings to a truly holy worship service, and know that I feel blessed indeed that we have been called together to share in ministry this Holy Week and always.
I look forward to continuing our choir journey Saturday morning. I will be in the choir room at 9:40 if anyone would like a vocal warm-up. We will begin promptly in the sanctuary with the orchestra for our combined Easter rehearsal at 10:00 a.m.
I also hope that many of you can come to experience the St. John Passion tomorrow evening. Our soloists from tonight will be the Evangelist (Brian) and Jesus (Paul), and you will also recognize Pilate (Jeff Keele) from our recent Mozart/Henderson concert. If you have never heard this work, you must not miss this opportunity. If you have heard it before, you will not need any encouragement to experience it again.
Grace and peace, and thank you for being a channel of wondrous, amazing love. Deus ibi est. : )
TT
Holy, Holy, Holy Week 4.20.2011
Dear friends,
What a beautiful week of worship services we will experience at First-Plymouth- thanks, in many ways, to your offerings. As a reminder, here is our agenda for the week.
Wednesday (today), 7:15-9:30 p.m. rehearsal in choir room (to prepare all music for Maundy Thursday and Easter)
Maundy Thursday worship (tomorrow), assemble in choir room at 6:30 to warm-up; service at 7:00 p.m.
choral anthems include CALVARY and UBI CARITAS; service music to be distributed this evening
Good Friday worship including Bach's St. John Passion at 7:00 p.m. (sung by ABENDCHOR and Lincoln Symphony Orchestra)
Saturday, Easter Dress Rehearsal, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in sanctuary
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil at 5:30 p.m. (sung by Cantorei)
Sunday Easter Services-- assemble in choir room by 7:30 a.m. to sing for 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 services.
choral anthems include WORTHY IS THE LAMB and CHRISTUS PARADOX; service music to be distributed this evening
I look forward to sharing in all of this with each of you. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to this meaningful, holy season.
Grace and peace,
TT
What a beautiful week of worship services we will experience at First-Plymouth- thanks, in many ways, to your offerings. As a reminder, here is our agenda for the week.
Wednesday (today), 7:15-9:30 p.m. rehearsal in choir room (to prepare all music for Maundy Thursday and Easter)
Maundy Thursday worship (tomorrow), assemble in choir room at 6:30 to warm-up; service at 7:00 p.m.
choral anthems include CALVARY and UBI CARITAS; service music to be distributed this evening
Good Friday worship including Bach's St. John Passion at 7:00 p.m. (sung by ABENDCHOR and Lincoln Symphony Orchestra)
Saturday, Easter Dress Rehearsal, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in sanctuary
Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil at 5:30 p.m. (sung by Cantorei)
Sunday Easter Services-- assemble in choir room by 7:30 a.m. to sing for 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 services.
choral anthems include WORTHY IS THE LAMB and CHRISTUS PARADOX; service music to be distributed this evening
I look forward to sharing in all of this with each of you. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to this meaningful, holy season.
Grace and peace,
TT
New Beginnings in Plymouth Choir 4.4.2011
Dear friends,
Thank you all for taking us to the mountaintop on Sunday for a once-in-a-lifetime-kind of experience. Your passionate and spirited commitment to the process and to the project was inspirational to me and to the many who came to share in our special day. I could see and feel you each pouring your heart and soul into the performance. I was sweating by the end of the "Kyrie" from your sheer energy and connectedness (and, by the way, I don't remember ever sweating in a performance before...unless it was hot in the church, I mean!). I realized I stopped breathing for a while near the end of the Lacrymosa and had to bring myself back to earth. Thank you for bringing and being such light to my life! I am overwhelmed with gratitude today for each of you, for Jeremy, for the soloists, for the instrumentalists, and for each person who made FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT on April 3, 2011 a singular event in the history of the world. Thank you for being a gift to treasure!
The exciting thing about a liturgical choir, though, is that once we culminate one thing-- even an incredibly, extraordinary one thing, we commence the next...and so it is. We will gather this first Wednesday in April to begin our preparations for the journey from Holy Week to Easter. I look forward to sharing some new (and some much-beloved!) music together. As a reminder, the women of the choir will sing worship this Sunday, gathering at 9:30 in the choir to prepare their pieces. Thanks to the men for a beautiful morning yesterday!
Also this week, we have the opportunity to hear our own Jeni Houser perform her masters recital on Friday evening, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at UNL's Kimball Recital Hall. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enjoy and celebrate Jeni's presence in our community. She has been a bright light among us these last few years, and she knows she will always have a chair with a post-it note anytime she would stop by to visit once she moves this summer! : )
Finally, if you would like to gather together to hear a recording of our performance from Sunday, we will play Mozart this Wednesday in the choir room beginning around 6:30, and we will play the Ruth Watson Henderson piece next Wednesday at the same time. I will be honest that the recordings are glorious-- and make me feel even more confident about what we achieved 'in the moment' on Sunday.
We hope to see Russ and John and Emily and Michelle and Stephen and Sadie and and Lori and Karin and Linda and Dennis and Julie, and Joan and Jon and Paula and Bryce and Seth back in the choir this week. We look forward to welcoming Penny and Ayndrea to the choir this week as well! Thanks be to God that our family grows!
Grace and peace, and many thanks for all you are and all you do!
TT
Thank you all for taking us to the mountaintop on Sunday for a once-in-a-lifetime-kind of experience. Your passionate and spirited commitment to the process and to the project was inspirational to me and to the many who came to share in our special day. I could see and feel you each pouring your heart and soul into the performance. I was sweating by the end of the "Kyrie" from your sheer energy and connectedness (and, by the way, I don't remember ever sweating in a performance before...unless it was hot in the church, I mean!). I realized I stopped breathing for a while near the end of the Lacrymosa and had to bring myself back to earth. Thank you for bringing and being such light to my life! I am overwhelmed with gratitude today for each of you, for Jeremy, for the soloists, for the instrumentalists, and for each person who made FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT on April 3, 2011 a singular event in the history of the world. Thank you for being a gift to treasure!
The exciting thing about a liturgical choir, though, is that once we culminate one thing-- even an incredibly, extraordinary one thing, we commence the next...and so it is. We will gather this first Wednesday in April to begin our preparations for the journey from Holy Week to Easter. I look forward to sharing some new (and some much-beloved!) music together. As a reminder, the women of the choir will sing worship this Sunday, gathering at 9:30 in the choir to prepare their pieces. Thanks to the men for a beautiful morning yesterday!
Also this week, we have the opportunity to hear our own Jeni Houser perform her masters recital on Friday evening, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at UNL's Kimball Recital Hall. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enjoy and celebrate Jeni's presence in our community. She has been a bright light among us these last few years, and she knows she will always have a chair with a post-it note anytime she would stop by to visit once she moves this summer! : )
Finally, if you would like to gather together to hear a recording of our performance from Sunday, we will play Mozart this Wednesday in the choir room beginning around 6:30, and we will play the Ruth Watson Henderson piece next Wednesday at the same time. I will be honest that the recordings are glorious-- and make me feel even more confident about what we achieved 'in the moment' on Sunday.
We hope to see Russ and John and Emily and Michelle and Stephen and Sadie and and Lori and Karin and Linda and Dennis and Julie, and Joan and Jon and Paula and Bryce and Seth back in the choir this week. We look forward to welcoming Penny and Ayndrea to the choir this week as well! Thanks be to God that our family grows!
Grace and peace, and many thanks for all you are and all you do!
TT
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