Chance Choir Special Rehearsal

Just a reminder that the Chancel Choir will have a special rehearsal on Saturday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. to prepare for the Christmas Eve service.

Chancel Choir Get-Together

The Chancel Choir will have a preseason get-together on Thursday, August 21 at the Whitakers. Directions are available on the bulletin board in the cloister hallway and in the choir room. We will gather at 6:00 p.m. Please bring a covered dish - meat and beverages will be provided.

New members are always welcome!

Regular rehearsals will begin on thursday, August 28, 7:00 p.m. at church.

Chancel Choir

It's only the first of August, but it's time to start thinking about starting back up for the fall. The Chancel Choir will have it's annual kick-off party on Thursday, August 21. I'll post more soon regarding the time and place. Our first regular rehearsal at the church will be on August 28.

Chancel Choir Seeking New Members

The Chancel Choir is seeking new members. If you've ever thought about joining, now would be a good time to do so. We'll be starting to work on music for Easter in a couple of weeks. You don't have to make a long-term commitment; we'll be glad to have you sing with us even if you can only come for a while. If you have any questions, contact director Ginger Minneman.

Chancel Choir Rehearsals Resume This Evening

Just a reminder to members of the Chancel Choir - rehearsals resume this evening at 7:00 p.m.

It's Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve, and we have two services today. The first is at 4:00 p.m. It is the family service, and includes the children's Christmas pagaent and Holy Communion. The second service is at 10:00 p.m. It is a traditional service of Holy Communion. Much of the service will be by candle light. The Chancel Choir, Ginger Minneman, Director, is singing a number of special pieces:

• Betelehemu, a Nigerian Christmas Song, Via Olatunji, Wendell Wahlum, Barrington Brooks (sung in Nigerian)
• The Shepherd's Carol, Bob Chilcott
• A La Nanita Nana, traditional Spanish Carol, Norman Luboff
• Bogoroditse Dyevo, (Hail Mary), Bill Tamblyn, Sergei Rachmaninov
• A Child By Choice, Robert Southwell, Richard Nance

Both services will include many Christmas Carols.

A Message From Our Pastor - Advent and Christmas Events

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This weekend is the Fourth (and last) Sunday in Advent, and our worship theme centers around the proclamation Emmanuel – God is with us. The Gospel lesson is Matthew's account of the Christmas story, with the focus on Joseph as one who trusted God and "did the right thing." As we frantically prepare for the holiday, we are reminded to trust in God, and not in our own abilities, and do what is the right thing to do – always.

During the 10:30 worship Sunday, the Joyful Noise Children's Choir will present special music prior to the Children's Moment, and the Hand Bell Choir will present music during the offering.

Weekend Activities

Friday Spiritual Journey – 10:00 p.m. in the Parish House foyer around the fire place

Saturday Adopt-A-Family Delivery – 9:30 a.m. The Social Ministry Committee is coordinating this major project that will benefit many children and adults in the Miami Valley.

Saturday Worship – 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary

Sunday Worship – 8:15 a.m. in the sanctuary
Children's Choir Rehearsals – 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School – 9:15/9:30 a.m.
Worship – 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary
Sacred Harp Singers – 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Parish House Blue Room

CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE

3:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

4:00 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Service, with pageant, carols, and celebration of Holy Communion .

10:00 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service, with candles, readings, carols, celebration of Holy Communion, and music presented by the Chancel Choir.


Special thanks to everyone who helped with the decorating in the sanctuary – it is beautiful. And special thanks to everyone who assisted in leading worship last weekend while Debby and I were in Chicago, especially Harriet Uphoff, Ginger and Dan Minneman, and Rachel Spry.

May God fill the remainder of this Advent season with hope, and bring joyous blessings to you all this Christmas!

In Christ's peace,
Gary

Still Time Left to Join the Chancel Choir for Christmas Eve

Christmas is coming up quickly, but there is still time to join the Chancel Choir to sing at the Christmas Eve Service. If you sing and would like to join us for this special festival service, contact our Music Director, Ginger Minneman. Rehearsals are on the following days:

• Saturday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Ginger has once again chosen beautiful music for us to sing at this candlelight service. I'll post a list of the music in the next day or two.

Chancel Choir - Special Rehearsals December 1 and 15

A reminder to members of the Chancel Choir - this year's special rehearsals to prepare for Christmas Eve are Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 15. Both rehearsals are at 10:00 a.m.

Chancel Choir Rehearsal on Thanksgiving Eve

A reminder to members of the Chancel Choir: we will rehearse after the Thanksgiving Eve Service on Wednesday, November 21. (Details of the service below.) We will not hold our normal Thursday evening service this week, since Thursday is Thanksgiving.

Thanks to "Eternal Peace" Participants

The "Eternal Peace" service last Sunday turned out wonderfully. It was a fitting commemoration of All Saints' Sunday. Thank you to everybody who participated - Chancel Choir members, guest choir members, instrumentalists, readers, Bell Choir members, and communion assistants. It's a real treat to be accompanied by a group of string and brass instruments, and the harp was beautiful.

A number of people also worked behind the scenes, and we also appreciate their work. Thanks to those who helped assemble bulletins, decorate the sanctuary, prepare and serve the reception, open and close the building, and (the least glamorous job) clean up.

Special thanks to Ginger Minneman, our Music Director and the Dirctor of the Chancel Choir. The service was Ginger's conception. She chose and arranged the sequence of all of the readings, hymns, and anthems. Her creativity and talents are greatly appreciated.

No Chancel Choir Rehearsal This Thursday

There will be no Chancel Choir rehearsal on Thursday, November 8. We will sing at the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, November 11. We'll be singing "Crossing the Bar" at this service - please come for the normal 10:00 a.m. warm up.

Dress Rehearsal For "Eternal Peace"

A reminder to the Chancel Choir - dress rehearsal for the "Eternal Peace" service is at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3.

Thank You

Thanks to everybody who helped make yesterday's Reformation Sunday service special-choir members, guest musicians, and those who helped decorate. Special thanks to our Music Director Ginger Minneman for all of the extra work involved and to our organist Rachel Spry for pulling together music for the brass players to play with the hymns.

Chancel Choir Special Rehearsals for "Eternal Peace"

This is a reminder to members of the Chancel Choir. Ginger will be holding two special rehearsals for the "Eternal Peace" Service. (See posting below for details of this evening service on November 4.) The rehearsals are at 10:00 a.m. on both Saturday, October 27 and Saturday, November 3. The November 3rd rehearsal will be the dress rehearsal, including the guest insturmentalists and singers.

"Eternal Peace" - A Service of Hope and Rememberance - All Saints Sunday - November 4th at 7:00 PM

On Sunday November 4th at 7:00 pm the Chancel Choir (Ginger Minneman, Director) will lead "Eternal Peace," a special service in observance of All Saints Sunday. They will be assisted by organist Rachel Spry as well as instrumentalists and vocalists from the Wright State University Music Department.

Please plan to attend this beautiful and meaningful service as we remember with thanksgiving those whom God has taken home and we celebrate the hope of the resurrection for all of God’s children. The service will include several movements from the Fauré Requiem, as well as other inspirational music, hymns, and readings.

As always, visitors are welcome. Please invite your friends and neighbors to join us for this special event.

God's Peace Flowing Through Us Event - All Saint's Sunday

Our Music Director Ginger Minneman has announced that as part of our series of events based on the theme "God's Peace Flowing Through Us," we will hold a special service in the evening of All Saint's Sunday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. The Chancel Choir and guest musicians will present special music at this service, including parts of the Faure Requiem. I'll post more details here in the days to come.

Chancel Choir

The Chancel Choir is off to a great start for the season. As always, our director (Ginger Minneman) has chosen a wide variety of excellent music. Pieces we're working on:

• The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee, Jean Berger
• In Paradisum, Gabriel Fauré
• O Be Joyful in the Lord, John Rutter
• Give Me Jesus, Arr. L.L. Fleming
• Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, Dale Grotenhuis
• Amazing Grace, Aar. John Rutter
• O Jesu, Blessed Lord, to Thee, William Byrd
• How Blest Are They, Pyotr Iľyich Tchaikovsky
  

A Message From Our Pastor - Peace Kick-off; Fall Worship Schedule

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

"It was the one of the most peaceful experiences I've ever had."

That was the sentiment expressed by many who participated in the 24-hour Prayer Vigil for peace that began our GOD'S PEACE FLOWING THROUGH US festivities last weekend. Over 100 people (children, youth, and adults) from our community of faith (including visitors!) took turns praying in the chapel. They prayed for God's peace to fill the hearts of all people in the world; they prayed for you and me; they prayed that all might have enough for life to be good. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., they came throughout the day and night, with the last prayers offered at 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Some prayed silently, some spoke, some sang. Some lit candles (see picture on www.oursaviordayton.org). Some families "camped out" in the church (the welcome rain forced us inside), crawling out of their sleeping bags at all hours of the morning to take their turns; some dragged themselves out of their homes at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:30 a.m. to make their ways to the chapel.

Sunday continued with Rally Day and a visit from the Dayton International Peace Museum "Peace Mobile", followed by a message in worship from Steve Fryburg, director of the Peace Museum, and the return of our Chancel Choir (praise God!). Worship concluded with the choir and congregation recessing outside and about 20 adults and children carrying the Peace Pole from the sanctuary to its permanent site at the entrance to the cul-de-sac. Watch for pictures to be posted on the church website in the next week. If you took pictures of the day, we'd love for you to share them with the church office. If you have two or three, please email them to Terri Balsom; if you have more, could you please burn them onto a disc? Thanks!

During lunch (which, as several of us noticed, featured NO green jello salad dish!) our youth hosted a "Fair Trade Fair," offering for sale food and artisan items from around the world. T-shirts commemorating the weekend were also for sale. All these items will be available after worship for the next few weeks.

Special thanks to the members of the Peace Focus Team and church staff who engaged in the "behind-the-scenes" planning; to everyone who participated in the prayer vigil; to those who prepared the chapel for the vigil and the sanctuary for worship; to our chefs who grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers in the drenching humid morning, and to all who brought such wonderful food to share; to Kent Halverson and Ron Iverson for returning to the church to permanently "plant" the Peace Pole; and to all of you who participated in such a meaningful weekend. It was a great way to kickoff what we hope will be a multi-year ministry focus for the people of God in this small corner of God's kingdom.

THIS WEEKEND
WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHANGE!

This Sunday, we move to our fall, winter, and spring Sunday worship schedule: 8:15 and 10:30 a.m., with childrens' choirs at 9:00 a.m., and Sunday School for all ages at 9:15 and 9:30 a.m.

Saturday worship remains the same at 5:30 p.m.

CONGREGATION INFORMATION MEETING

Sunday, at 11:45 a.m., council will hold an HVAC project information meeting. Come and learn about the progress of the project; there will be opportunity for questions.

SEEKING BELL RINGERS

The Hand Bell Choir is seeking youth and adults interested in playing hand bells. The choir occasionally presents a special piece of music during worship; rehearsals are held in the sanctuary balcony immediately following the late worship service. Interested? Contact Richard Freudenberger or leave a comment on this posting.

May God breathe peace, hope and joy into your life this week, and may you be led to share those gifts with others throughout the week, and with your sisters and brothers in Christ this weekend in worship!

In Christ's peace,

Gary

Chancel Choir Kick-Off Party - New Date

The date for the Chancel Choir's kick-off party and rehearsal has been changed to Thursday, September 6. The party and rehearsal are at the home of Phyl Mayne. Everyone is invited to bring a covered dish. Join us at 5:30 for appetizers, followed by dinner around 6:00. Rehearsal will begin at 7:30.

Ginger has many exciting things planned for this year - this would be a great time for anyone who has been considered being a part of the choir to join us.