A Note from Chris
As I write this article, my thoughts are heavily focused on next week's youth choir tour. The theme of this year's tour is "Go Out With Joy", so the concept of joy has been at the forefront of my mind for a while. I searched the Bible for references to joy, I asked friends and co-workers to share their thoughts on joy, and I searched the internet where I found all sorts of interesting definitions of the word. Immediately I became intrigued with the context of joy in the midst of anxiety or pain. How is one expected to find joy in difficult times? Just today, I was listening to Brenda sing a beautiful song at our dear friend Doug Saye's memorial service. The lyrics contained the phrase, "In this very room, there's quite enough joy for one like me." There it was again...the idea of joy...surrounded by heavy sadness.
The authors of the psalms have written about every emotion we could ever feel or imagine. Joy is mentioned nearly 165 times in scripture; and many of those references are not synonymous with happiness or rejoicing at times when all is well. Instead, joy appears as a multidimensional, natural outcome of fellowship with God. Later, in the New Testament, the element of joy is even more prominent. One theologian puts it this way: "Christian joy is no mere gaiety that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it."
Yes! That's it! So next week when the youth sing "You shall go out with joy, be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands", it is a bold testimony of their faith...our faith: testimony to the goodness that comes from the Lord, testimony to the assurance of God's presence in our lives...in the good times and the tough times. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised! This summer, may the JOY of the Lord be our strength!
Grace, peace, and JOY
Chris
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Chris Crook
Minister of Music
Terry Metzger
Instrumental Director
Bradley Reznicek
Organist
Maryanne Visconti
Pianist
Brenda Potter
Director of Children's Music
Lynn Hayes
Director of Handbells
Sarah Ford
Youth Music Associate
Scott Ayers
Music Office Administrator
Contact us:
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"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
--Aristotle | |
Welcome to this e-mail edition of The Music of St. Andrew. The purpose of this e-newsletter is simple. As the church and its music ministry grows, the music family and its supporters need to remain aware of the musical happenings at St. Andrew. It is emailed to our ensembles which represent hundreds of musicians, as well as to a list of our faithful music supporters in our community and around the world. We hope you find it informative and helpful.
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Salt and Light Choir Tour
Salt and Light on Tour June 24-July1
Home Concert: Wednesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary
43 youth and 7 adults will travel to Houston; New Orleans; Baton Rouge; Tylertown, MS; Amory, MS; and Tyler, TX before returning to St. Andrew for the home concert on July 1. Please be in prayer for these youth as they present concerts in churches and retirement homes along the route. If you are registered on Facebook, you may follow daily updates on the choir Facebook page here. |
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SMAK
Registration closes on July 8. Brochures can be found in the information kiosks or printed from the website. Brochure and registration form here.
July 27-31
SMAK / SMAK Jr. ~ 8:45am-12:30pm
Young Rembrandts Art Camp ~ 12:30pm-3:00pm
Time is running out to register for this summer's SMAK (Summer Music Adventure for Kids). This year the campers will rock-n-roll up a mountain learning to trust in God and appreciate the wonderful world He created. The music includes a camper STOMP band using hiking materials. There are also a variety of discovery classes to choose from for the week of camp. We are glad to also offer an art camp led by Young Rembrandts in the afternoon. It will be a fun and exciting week! Registration closes on July 8. Auditions for speaking parts or solos are July 8 from 5:30-7:00 in room 218.
For more information contact Brenda Potter at bpotter@standrewumc.org or 214-291-8019. |
 Chancel Choir to be featured at National Conference
Congratulations to the St. Andrew Chancel Choir for being chosen as featured performers at the 2009 Alleluia! conference for church music leaders and pastors. This conference draws attendees from all over the country and takes place on the campus of Baylor University in Waco each year. Only the finest church choirs are invited to perform, so this is quite an honor extended to very few. The Chancel Choir will be singing some of their favorite anthems in a sixty-minute concert at 7:30 p.m. on July 22. Interestingly, some of the composers of the favorite anthems will be clinicians at this same conference.
The St. Andrew congregation is very supportive of the music ministry throughout the year. Here are three specific ways friends may wish to support the choir in July:
- Pray for the choir as they prepare for the concert.
- Send a message of encouragement and congratulations to the choir at music@standrewumc.org.
- Actually be a part of the excitement that day! A charter bus of supporters will travel alongside choir members to Waco on July 22. While the choir rehearses, the supporters will tour the stunning Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor campus, then have dinner with the choir at a local restaurant. The bus will depart St. Andrew at 2:00 p.m. and return around 10:30 p.m. Space is very limited. If you wish to join us, click here to register. You can also email us at music@standrewumc.org or call 214-291-8002.
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Summer Sunday Ensembles
While the Chancel Choir is on break later this summer, ensembles from the larger choir will provide musical leadership for Sanctuary worship on:
August 23
Music will be chosen for you. Singers should be confident enough to carry a part on his/her own, if required.
Rehearsals will be 8:45 a.m. that morning, singing at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services, and dismissing before the sermon at 11:00 a.m.
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Chancel Choir Camp 2009
Find out more about the Prothro Center by visiting their website.
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Bell Notes
The Children's Chime Choir and our youth bell choir, Bells of Blessing, will resume rehearsals on Sunday, September 20. The times for these rehearsals will be announced and will be coordinated with the Children's Choir and Salt and Light so that students can participate in both groups.
Children in grades 3, 4 and 5 are invited to participate in our chime program. Bells of Blessing is open to all students in grades 6 - 12. We will work on basic music skills, bell skills, and learn pieces to be played in worship and special programs at various times throughout the school year. No previous experience is needed; however participation in instrumental or vocal groups or individual music lessons can be helpful, especially for our youth bell group.
If you are interested in one of these groups, please contact:
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Interview with Meredith and Creighton Gerlach
This month we interview Meredith and Creighton Gerlach, members of the Salt & Light Choir. Meredith is 16 and moving up to 11th grade next year at the Hockaday School. Creighton is 13 and will be going into 9th grade at Trinity Christian Academy.
Read more about these active youth here. |
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Worship Music Schedule
A look at schedules and repertoire for ensembles and soloists for this summer. Schedule | |
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With Sympathy
Our thought and prayers go to Scott Matkin (Chancel Choir bass) on the death of his mother, Hazel Matkin. |
| Upcoming musical events
St. Andrew Music Ministry events:
- Salt & Light Choir Tour, June 24-July 1
- Salt & Light Choir Tour Home Concert, July 1, 7:00pm
- S.M.A.K. Auditions, July 18, 5:30pm
- Chancel Choir Concert, July 19, 7:00pm, Third Church of Christ, Scientist (4419 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas)
- Chancel Choir Concert at Alleluia Conference, July 22, 7:30pm, Baylor University, Waco [info]
- S.M.A.K., July 27-31, 8:30am [info]
Additional events at St. Andrew:
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Tim Jenkins studio piano recital, June 26, 6:00pm
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Plano Symphony Orchestra Patriotic Pops concert, July 4, 3:00pm
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Resounding Harmony Recording, July 19, 3:00pm
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Resounding Harmony Recording, July 26, 3:00pm
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Choristers Guild Bell Choir Recording, Aug. 1, 8:00am
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Locrian String Quartet Concert, Aug. 7, 7:00pm
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Choristers Guild Bell Choir Recording, Aug. 8, 8:00am
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