Choral Corner with Instrumental Insight

“We truly enjoy contributing choral anthems into our services for the purpose of enhancing everyone’s worship experience.”

Summer vacations are over, kids are back in school and our Sanctuary Choir is in full operation. Our enthusiastic choral singers sang the traditional Zulu song: "We Are Marching in the Light of the Lord" on Sept. 29th to our very appreciative 9:30 morning worshippers. Thank you congregation for your happy response. We truly enjoy contributing choral anthems into our services for the purpose of enhancing everyone's worship experience. Within the next three months the choir also is planning to sing on Commitment Sunday, Oct. 27th, Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 24th, plus three times during the Christmas Season: Dec. 8th, 15th & 22nd.

Have you noticed our newest singers: Warren Eacret, Jan Isett and Randy Bailey? They are important additions to our choir as well as three people who, after having to be away for awhile, are able to sing with us again. We are so glad to welcome back: Missi Koon, Jenny Elofson and Trent Danielson.

Our prayers now are with those in choir who are facing major health issues. We miss you and pray for your swift & complete recovery. We are so thankful that others in our choir who also have had major health challenges such as Ray Hanson plus Don & Carolyn Miller have been able to return to full participation. We are grateful to have such loyal singers. God bless everyone of our choral members in their Christian walk and in their dedication to our choir's musical purpose.

If others in our congregation are singers and looking for a place where they can serve 

God in our church, I would encourage you to consider coming to our choir rehearsals for awhile. Perhaps you also will discover the joy of serving God through sacred choral music and be blessed in the process.

“Sing"cerely,

- Betty -

Choral Corner with Instrumental Insight

If you have the desire to serve God through music at our church, whether part time or year around, we invite you to visit one or two of the groups listed below when they are rehearsing to see which one would fit best into your life style. Would it be: 

Summer Singers?     Baptist Belles Hand Bell Choir?

SiSS Singers? (Sisters in Sacred Song) Sanctuary Choir?

Baptist Beaus Hand Bell Choir? Men’s Gospel Singers?

Have you noticed that these four people have returned for steady participation in our singing groups after recovering from major health issues: Don & Carolyn Miller plus Warren Horsley and Ray Hanson? In addition, these three newer people have become regulars in our choir: Warren Eacret, Jan Isett and Trent Danielson? We are so blessed to have them all with us!   

At this point in our church calendar year, our Sanctuary Choir is concluding their spring sacred choral season and the Summer Singers are beginning their choral season. Perhaps you attended the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Father’s Day and heard them sing the stirring song, “I Trust in the Lord.” That will be followed in July with a Christian patriotic song called, “Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord.”  Plan to be in church when they sing it because this is a song you won’t want to miss! 

During the summer this director will attend the annual choral workshop in Seattle to meet with other church music directors and become acquainted with numerous new compositions suitable for church worship services. This is an inspiring time and I am fortunate to be able to attend. Thank you for all the support you give to me through your encouraging words and loyal participation. 

All our musical groups prepare and present their special music with one purpose in mind. We desire to present inspiring sacred musical numbers which will significantly enhance the worship experience of each person who comes to church to worship God.

If this describes how YOU feel about sacred music, COME JOIN US!

“Sing”cerely,

 Betty  Hanson, Director

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Choir Director's Report

Psalm 68:3 says:   

“Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God.”

Dear First Baptist Church Members, 

Come, rejoice with me that we have so many people in our congregation who joyfully contribute their talents to our various musical groups. 

The people in our musical groups are dedicated to serving God through music. If this appeals to you, please join in with one of the groups listed below:

    Men’s Gospel Singers Sanctuary Choir 

    SiSS Singers ( Sisters in Sacred Song )

    Baptist Belles ’n Beaus Hand Bell Choir

All total, we currently have forty plus people involved in our musical groups! Approximately twenty-five people are regularly involved in our singing groups and fifteen in our bell choirs, but we have room for more.  In addition, we have others who are able to join in with us at certain times of the year but not year around.  We welcome them also for they add much to our on-going efforts.  So, if you can be a part-time participant, we would welcome you too if you have the desire to serve God with us through music. 

Our groups prepare and present their special music with one purpose in mind. We desire to present musical messages which will significantly enhance the worship experience of each person who comes to church to worship God.    

Will you join us?

“Sing”cerely  -  Betty  -

Choral Corner

We have many people to thank for the special music which was provided by willing church musicians during the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season. Rick Parkhurst gave us: “Hands of Praise”, The Baptist Belles presented: “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”, the Sanctuary Choir sang: “We Come to Say Thank You” and Sierra Horsley played a flute solo: “The Huron Carol.”

How fortunate we are to have such talented musicians among our church members. A special thanks goes to our Sanctuary Choir for their diligence in preparing and presenting a song on every Sunday in December. Each song told the Christmas story from “Deliver Us, Lord” and “One King” through “Mary, Did You Know?” and the choral benediction:  “A Christmas Blessing.”

Thank you, congregation, for taking the time to share with this director your complimentary words and expressions of thanks for the special numbers you heard which blessed your morning worship in our Sunday services. Your encouraging comments keep us going.

In the new year, you can expect to hear our F.B.C. Men’s Gospel Singers in January and our SiSS (Sisters in Sacred Song) sing in February. If any of you reading this article are singers but can’t commit to a year of choir rehearsals, remember this: Men, you are welcome to sing with the Gospel Singers in January and Ladies, you are welcome to sing with the SiSS singers in February. (See rehearsal schedule on this page.)

Blessings to All in the New Year,

-Betty-

Men’s Gospel Singers

 will rehearse on Sundays, January 8, 15, 22, & 29

at 10:30am in Room 14.

Sisters in Sacred Song (SiSS)

will rehearse on Sundays, February 5, 12, 19, & 26

at 10:30am in Room 14.

Jesus Teach Me

“Jesus teach me what I need to know.

Guide and lead me where I need to go.

In everything thing I say and do,

teach me how to love like You.”

These are the words the choir will sing in their October anthem. This piece is a favorite of many people in our congregation and it will continue the trend we began in September of singing favorite choral anthems from September through December. If you have a favorite anthem the choir has sung in the past, be sure to let the choral director know so she can work it into the musical line-up.

We were blessed in September with the song, “My Lord” sung by our Summer Singers on Grandparents Day and on Sept. 25th a solo by Rick Parkhurst. Rick is a new participant in our musical endeavors at First Baptist. What a blessing he already has been in our Sanctuary Choir. Welcome, Rick, into our family of church musicians who seek to bring spiritual blessings to our congregation through sacred music.

Are you ready to hear more Hand Bell music? Soon, the hand bell choirs will be re-organizing. If you want to be included, please let the music director, Betty Hanson, know of your interest.

“Shine Your heavenly light.

Touch me and open my eyes.

As I go through the day,

Lord, let me follow Your way.”

“Sing”cerely,

-Betty-

Fall Choral & Instrumental Preview

Many years ago I formulated my mission statement which would guide me in all my sacred musical activities. To this day, my guiding goals remain the same:

The purpose of this director’s music ministry is to:

“Inspire the Faithful and Engage the Community through Sacred Music.”

 All choral and instrumental activities seek to:

“Glorify God and Generate Growth which will Sustain the Church.”

 This fall the vocal choir and hand bell choirs will be presenting favorites from the past. From the Sanctuary Choir get ready to hear songs such as “My Lord,” Jesus Teach Me” and “We Come to Say, Thank You.” In December we plan to feature one anthem each week leading up to Christmas. These anthems will be songs directly from the many Christmas Cantatas we have presented over the last several years.

The Hand Bell Choirs will do likewise. So if you have a favorite hand bell hymn you would like to hear again, please let the director know. We’d be happy to play your favorite if at all possible.

For all of you who have enjoyed the many musical presentations of the past, maybe you would like to participate sometime in one of our singing or bell-playing groups. If you would, please speak to the director and make your wishes known. We’d be happy to include you even if it’s for only one month out of the year. Come discover that:

Sacred music can invigorate our senses, console our spirits,

Inspire our hearts and strengthen our walk with Christ.      

 “Sing”cerely, -Betty-

If You Love Me

“If You Love Me”

“If you love me, keep my commandments and I will pray unto the Father

And He will give you another Comforter, That He may be with you forever.

Even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, will remain in you.

You know Him, You know that He lives and will abide in you.”

As the Sanctuary Choir rehearsed this anthem this past spring, they were blessed by these reassuring words which Christ spoke to all believers. What a blessing it is to sing with other Christians the powerful promises of God!

Choral music is so stirring. “Let All of the People Praise Thee” is another anthem which made our hearts sing when we presented it to our 9:30 worship service! Thank you, congregation, for your expressions of appreciation and outward support of our choir.

 As you’ve noticed, from time to time to time we also have the privilege of giving our worshippers music presented by small ensembles in addition to our choir numbers. Such was the case on June 19th when the Koon Family sang an arrangement of their own in honor of Father’s Day. Thank you Jennifer & her daughter Ayamika along with Melissa & her daughter Jordan for your beautiful number!

The “Summer Singers” have opened our next series of musical presentations by singing a powerful arrangement of, “America” on our nation’s day of Independence and will continue to bless us with songs as the summer progresses.

The Summer Singers group is made up of people who are unable to practice every week but are able to sing once or twice a year with others who also are available in the summer. So, if you would like to sing with this special group, speak to Betty Hanson & she’ll gladly give you a copy of the few times they practice. The next time they will sing this year is on July 17th which is the date of our combined service called, “Celebration Sunday.”

 Come sing for the joy it will give you and for the blessing your song will be to all who worship with us in our special 10:00 a.m. service that Sunday.

 “Sing”cerely,

-Betty-

We at First Baptist are blessed with many who serve “heartily, as to the Lord.” It is evident in all the departments including the music department of our church that we have an exceptional band of willing participants. When I think of all the choir singers, accompanists, song leaders and hand bell ringers in our midst, that quality of serving the Lord “heartily” stands out in my mind.

So, thank you 9:30 church musicians for your loyalty and energetic spirit which you bring to all our rehearsals and presentations. What a blessing you are to our worshippers through the music you present. Thank you, thank you!

A big “Thank You” goes to the following servants who collaborated to bring a very meaningful devotional segment in place of the normal sermon to our 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, January 3, 2016:

Juanita Rapids – Congregational Hymn Sing

Rosemary Brauninger – Organ

Ray Hanson - Scripture  

Sierra Horsley – Flute solo

Congregation – The Lord’s Prayer

James Kaufman – Communion

Thank you for creating a very worshipful experience for our congregation. Requests have come in to hold more of this type of worship service occasionally throughout the year. This director appreciates your encouraging responses.

The Sisters of Sacred Song (SiSS) prepared and presented a beautiful number on Jan. 31st. The words and music are still ringing in the minds of many people. Some have told me that the choral numbers stay in their heads throughout the week. Now that’s the power of sacred music! What a blessing!!

In case you didn’t get to worship to the ladies number, here are some of the words to the song they sang. Perhaps the words alone will be a blessing to those who read this article:

“If you would my disciple be, Take up your cross & follow me,

If you would set the world aright,  Then walk with me and seek the light,

Where peace shall reign from shore to shore, And love will triumph evermore.

So come with me and find the way, It lies before us day by day,

And together we will bring in the Kingdom of the Lord.”

With words such as these matched with a memorable melody, it is easy to see why sacred music continues to bless our souls long after the presentation has ended.  Thank you SiSS for putting your heart and soul into that presentation.

Thank you male quartet for the beautiful number you sang on Feb. 21st, "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." The world would be a better place if we all followed even the first verse and chorus of that song everyday. Right? Here are those words: 

"I am weak but Thou art strong. Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I'll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee. Let it be, dear Lord, let it be."

Thank you, Baptist Belles, for your beautiful hand-bell number on Palm Sunday. The joy of ringing hand bells is quite unique and we have a very loyal group of ladies who enjoy practicing together in order to present such hymns as the one you heard on 3/20: "All Glory, Laud and Honor.”

Thank you, choir, for inspiring us with your anthem: "My Redeemer's Love" on Easter Sunday, 3/27! 

If you would like to participate in any one of our musical groups, please let this director know. We welcome all those who want to contribute their time and talent to our on-going musical groups at First Baptist whether it is on a part time basis or year around.

We will soon be focusing on our summer musical activities. Please come and join in with others who sing or play from their hearts to the Lord and discover the rich, spiritual rewards which arise from this type of involvement.  

“Sing”cerely, -Betty-

Christmas Grace

During the Christmas Season our thoughts rightly ponder on the amazing gift God gave to all people on earth. The story is so familiar, yet we find ourselves gratefully renewed in spirit every year as we focus on the birth of Jesus. 

Our appreciation of sacred  Christmas music comes from the creative ways in which Christian composers weave the story of Christ’s birth with beautiful music. Alleluia! 

The choral anthem our Sanctuary Choir will bring to us on Christmas Sunday 12/20 this year does an incredible job of helping us to better understand the magnitude of God’s gift through the wording the composer, Ruth Schram, chose to use in her composition, “Christmas Grace.” 

Here are some of the words she wove together in her unique style:

 “To take God’s Son from heaven, to turn the Lord of all  

into a helpless infant, a baby weak and small;

to give to our Creator a fully human face! 

THIS, IS Christmas Grace.”            

Ruth goes on to also remind us that:

“The feet that walked in splendor on streets of purest gold,

now wrapped in humble swaddling, shiver from the cold. (and)

The hand that Mary holds HUNG the MOON and STARS in PLACE.

THIS, IS Christmas Grace.

 R. E. Schram continues by pointing out many more powerful contrasts between the Divine existence Christ knew in heaven with the human life He had on earth by asking us to realize and dwell upon the following VERY IMPORTANT FACT:  While living among us, The ALMIGHTY was LOCKED into a single span of time and geographic location. Therefore, Jesus experienced OUR frailty, understood OUR fragile lot and laid aside His power to be Helped, Trained and Taught.  (WOW !)

In addition to the special song our Sanctuary Choir brought to both worship services at out church on Thanksgiving Sunday, “Christmas Grace” is another choral number by which you will be blessed if you are present on Christmas Sunday. Come. You’ll be glad you did. 

 “And now may God who knows us all, watch over those who heed His call and make a place within their hearts for Christ, the Lord, from the manger stall. I pray that God will guide and keep each one who truly seeks.”                        

 Amen, 

-Betty-

We Come To Say Thank-you

As we approach the Thanksgiving Season, I’m sure each of us can name many reasons why we are thankful.

As for me, I am thankful that:

1. My husband, Ray, is heading toward recovery from his battle with cancer
2. I had the energy and stamina to meet Ray’s many needs during this long health journey we traveled together.
3. Many people showed their love & concern for Ray during his long illness.
4. God made it possible for me to keep up with the responsibilities associated with my church music position while taking care of my husband.
5. We have such a dedicated choir at First Baptist Church.
6. God recently has blessed our Sanctuary Choir with four new singers at a time when we really needed a boost.

It is fitting that our Sanctuary Choir will be singing a wonderful, new anthem on Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 22nd.  The anthem is written by a contemporary musician in sacred, choral literature: Pepper Choplin. In his distinctive, lively style he not only lists the earthly things surrounding us which we admire and appreciate daily but he also reminds us of the blessings God bestows upon the human race such as:
             

1. The joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child.
2. Friends on earth and friends above, 
3. For all gentle thoughts and mild.
4. For Thyself, best gift divine, to our race so freely giv’n.
5. For the great, great love of Thine,
6. For peace on earth and endless joy in heaven.

For all You’ve done and the blessings You send our way, “We come today to say, “Thank you.” Come to the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Nov. 22nd & say, “Thank you” with us.  You’ll be glad you did.

“Sing”cerely, Betty

Choral Corner

All our singers are on a much deserved summer break. The next time they sing will be on Grandparents’ Day, September 19th when our current choir members as well as past choir members plus their children and grandchildren combine their vocal talents to bring us, “My Lord” on Grandparents’ Day.

It also is a good time to invite new singers to join in our choral activities. Now is the time to spread the word about this musical event and bring someone to our Wednesday rehearsal @ 6:45 p.m. on September 9th so they can sing with us in church on September 13th.

If you thought you might like to sing with this special once-a-year choir, come along. Maybe you’d like to try singing regularly for awhile with our choir to see if it would be an avenue in which you could serve the church. If so, come on the 9th of Sept. and enjoy singing with others on this special Bible song.

We welcome all who want to participate. Whether it’s for just one time or for several times, I think you’ll find it is a blessing to sing praises to God with so many other caring Christians.

Summer time is also a good time for this director to lay plans for the coming choir season. So it is a busy time for me even though our musical groups are not visible in the church services.

Take care and be bold by taking a step toward singing with our choir on 9-13-15 in church. You’ll be glad you did.

"Sing"cerely, Betty Hanson

One Nation Under God

“God bless our native land, Firm may she ever stand

Through storm and night: When the wild tempests rave,

Ruler of wind and wave, Do Thou our country save

By Thy great might.”

Then they led the congregation in the singing of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” 

which ends with these words:

“Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing:

Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!”

What a precious heritage we have and one worth protecting. May we make sure our nation always honors God for indeed blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Now our singers will take a much deserved break. The next time they will sing is on September 13th when our current choir members as well as past choir members plus their children and grandchildren combine their talents to bring us, 

“My Lord” on Grandparents’ Day.

It is also a good time to invite new singers to join us in our choral activities. 

Now is the time to spread the word about this musical event and bring someone 

to our Wed. rehearsal on Sept. 9!

Did you notice that we already have a new singer in our choir? We are happy to have Jeanine Thayer now singing in our group. She sang with us on July 5th and you’ll see her singing with us again on Grandparents’ Day. WELCOME JEANINE!! WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE WITH US!!!

“Sing”cerely,

 -Betty-

Anchored to the Rock

“On this sea of life I sail through the storms and through the gales,
For I’m anchored to the Rock, the Rock of Ages;
And my anchor is secure, and my vessel will endure
For I’m anchored to the solid Rock.”

What a blessing it is to know that as a believer, we have an anchor in Jesus Christ. Even though the “winds of fear and doubt may blow, peace and safety will be found, for my ship is homeward bound.”

Recently our Sanctuary Choir members had the privilege to welcome a visitor to one of our rehearsals. At the conclusion of the rehearsal this director had the opportunity to converse with our guest and discovered that our visitor had never heard comforting words such as those expressed in this anthem. What an opportunity to witness!
 
I trust we never take for granted the gift we have received from Christ to anchor ourselves in Him. Sometimes it takes a contact with someone hearing for the first time about the love and salvation God offers through His son, Jesus Christ, to make us realize how fortunate we are as  believers to have this anchor as we make our way through life.

On God’s promises I rest for each one has stood the test,
Yes, I’m anchored to the Rock, the Rock of Ages.
Heaven’s haven will draw nigh, we will be there by and by,
For I’m anchored to the solid Rock.

The choir will sing this anthem in the 9:30 worship service on Sunday, June 14, 2015. We hope you will be present to worship with us through this musical message. Also on this same Sunday, the choir will offer a choral blessing at the conclusion of the sermon, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” This choral benediction is a favorite of many people in our choir as well as among members of our congregation.
 
With the singing of this special benediction, the Sanctuary Choir will break for the summer and  won’t be heard again until October. The Summer Singers take over in July and finish their run on Grandparents Day, Sept. 13, 2015. Come sing with us for the summer, if you wish!

It has come to my attention that we need to find a pianist/organist to substitute for Joy Koon when she is not available to fill in for Rosemary Brauninger when Kent and Rosemary are traveling. I’m asking the congregation to help me locate an accompanist who would enjoy filling in whenever necessary. If you can suggestion a name to me, I’ll be happy to follow up on that lead. Thank you.
 
“Sing”cerely, Betty

Choral Corner

The year 2015 has not been kind to many of us so far and poor health has plagued our Sanctuary Choir as well. But God is Good and has watched over us and lead us through some very trying weeks.

Thanks to our choir ladies, we were able to provide special music in March and April in spite of so many men ill and therefore unable to participate in our choir presentations. May will be no different. We will bring a choral message of hope to all by singing, “God so Loved the World” on Mother’s Day and “Anchored to the Rock” on June 14th as well as a thought-provoking number on July 5th to celebrate our beloved homeland,  America.

As most of you know by now, some of our choir members have been seriously ill and we are looking for those who are concerned about maintaining our choir, to step in and fill the gaps in our ranks. Are you one of those who would like to help us during this lean time? If you are, then I encourage you to come to a few of our rehearsals and sing with us in a church service. That’s the best way to find out if singing with others in a Christians Choir would be appealing to you as a way to serve Christ in our church.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have stood by my husband, Ray, during the past two and a half months while he aggressively battled a cancerous tumor. The battle still is not over but some progress has been made and we cling to any and all improvements no matter how small. Your cards, calls, visits and prayers have been great sources of encouragement to both Ray and myself and we have appreciated every one. Thank you so very much. Ray says he can feel the Power of Prayer. Praise God and blessings to you all.

“Sing”cerely, Betty

Are You Ready to Give Thanks?

The Sanctuary Choir is ready. Are you? On Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 23rd, the choir will sing:

                “I will give jubilant thanks to the Lord. I will be glad in the things He has done.

                  I will give jubilant thanks to the Lord, to God the ever glorious One!”

We are so fortunate to have a faithful core of singers who make up our amazing Sanctuary Choir.

In addition to preparing for their Thanksgiving anthem, they are working diligently on this year’s Christmas Cantata, “Mary Did You Know?” Thank you, singers, for setting aside time in your busy lives to make choral singing a priority! We have welcomed some new singers into our regular choir and an additional number to our Cantata Choir. The sound of so many singers is glorious! There’s nothing like a choir full of Christians celebrating God’s love and mercy. Praise God for our singers!

“I will bring jubilant praise to the Lord. Rejoice and lift my voice to the sky.

For God is the giver of all good things, I will give jubilant thanks to the Lord.

I will give honor and glory and blessings and jubilant thanks to the Lord.”

The Baptist Belles ‘n Beaus also are rehearsing regularly in preparation for their Thanksgiving presentation:

“For the Fruit of All Creation.”

This group also is very diligent in dedicating their time to rehearse in order to bring worshipful music on special occasions to our services. The next time our Bell Choir will be playing is on Nov. 16th. If you want a musical blessing, be sure to attend the 9:30 a.m. service to hear them play.

If you ever have a desire to participate in a choral or hand bell presentation, just let the director know. We welcome newcomers all the time. (No previous experience necessary.) Even if you can’t sing or play year ‘round, we welcome participants at special times of the year, coming as often as they can. Think about it and…

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Be a Blessing to Others!

“Sing”cerely, 

- Betty-

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.

Full Year Ahead

“O Lord, Our Lord, How Excellent Thy Name”
“In all the earth, the heavens above, there is no other name.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, sing alleluia!
How excellent Thy name. How excellent Thy name in all the earth!”

Alleluia, our regular sanctuary choir is back and will be singing in full force in our 9:30 a.m. worship service on October 26, 2014, which is Reformation Sunday!
 
We are looking forward to a strong choral year starting with Reformation Sunday and continuing with choral anthems on Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 23rd, and on December 14th, presenting our Christmas Cantata, “Mary, Did You Know?”
 
Our goal in this year’s cantata is to unite the musical efforts of people from both the first and second worship services. Please contact either Betty Hanson or Lynn Crawford by Sunday, October 19th, to let them know you are interested in singing in this year’s cantata.
 
We are in the process of welcoming new singers into our choir and would like to include you! There is nothing quite as exhilarating as singing God’s praises with other believers. As we’ve mentioned before, even if your schedule doesn’t allow you to sing with us all year long, please clear your calendar to sing with us at special times of the church year such as Grandparent’s Day in September, Christmas Cantata in December and/or Easter Sunday in April.
 
Speaking of Grandparent’s Day, wasn’t the Three-Generational Choir which sang on Sept. 7th sensational! Thank you everyone who turned out to sing on that special occasion. We can’t wait to hear you sing again on Grandparent’s Day in 2015!!
 
Also, we were so blessed to hear Sierra and Warren Horsley play a flute/guitar duet on Sept. 14th. Thank you so very much. As I mentioned in my last newsletter article, when they play I think even the angels in heaven pause to listen! We can’t wait to hear another duet from the two of you in the near future.
 

“Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart!”
 
“Sing”cerely,
 
-Betty-

This article originally appeared in the October 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.

Choir Updates

“My Lord’s gonna come in morning,

My Lord’s gonna stay through the night.

My Lord’s gonna watch over me, and

Ev’ry thing’s gonna be all right.”

September’s special music is well on its way! We were so blessed by the Grandparents’ Day Choir. This is a yearly event, where we invite all those who would like to sing once a year in a church choir to come and sing with former choir members, their children and grandchildren along with our current singers and their family members. Together they formed a happy, exuberant group of singers who sang a Bible story song called, “My Lord.” Music feeds the soul, and Christian music satisfies the spirit. Those who participated in this choir were blessed, and so were all those who come to worship with us. 

Next Sunday, September 14th, will bring our worshippers another musical treat. Sierra Horsley and her father, Warren Horsley will present a flute/guitar duo. When they make music together, I think even the angels stop to listen.

Thank you Sons of Adam for your music at our summertime church BBQ on July 19th and in the 9:30 a.m. service on August 31st. Your music is spirited and delightful to hear.

Thanks also goes out to everyone who put in a hymn request during the summer months. I hope you were present when the congregation sang your favorite. Keep those requests coming and some Sunday you’ll see your choice listed in the bulletin. Since we began accepting hymn requests, we have sung approximately seventy-five requested hymns!

“O magnify the Lord with me, Let us exalt His name together.” 

Psalm 34:3

“Sing”cerely,

-Betty-

This article originally appeared in the September 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.

Grandparent's Day Choir

“Sing praises to the Lord

Who dwelleth in Zion:

Declare among the people

His doings.”   Selah!

Have you ever thought to yourself, “My, how I’d like to sing praises to God with a choir of believers even if it’s just on one occasion?” Well, here’s your opportunity.

On Sunday, September 7th, our current church choir and their children/grandchildren plus former choir members with their children/grandchildren will lift their voices to God in our 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. With them will be people who are considering joining the choir and others who want to sing in our Christmas cantata.

This is the perfect opportunity for YOU to test out the possibility of choral singing for yourself! So come to three rehearsals and discover the joy of singing praises to God from your heart with other like-minded Christians.  You’re bound to be blessed!

Rehearsals are in the sanctuary on

Wed. evenings at 6:45 p.m. on

Aug. 20th, 27th & Sept. 3rd

On Sunday, Sept. 7th we will warm up in the sanctuary at 8:45 a.m.

and sing in both the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.

 (Those who have other church duties during a given service can slip away after we sing.)

If you wish, seek out a current choir member or the director and express your desire to participate in this up-coming event, or just show up at the rehearsals. If you need a ride to rehearsals, a choir member will be happy to pick you up or simply just come to the rehearsals on your own. Either way, we look forward to your participation in this special event on Grandparents’ Day. 

As the hymn says: 

“Come, ye that love the Lord, and let your joys be known.

Join in the song with sweet accord and thus surround the throne.”

“Sing”cerely,

-Betty-

This article originally appeared in the August 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.

Upcoming Break

“You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders.
You raise me up to more than I can be!”

 
How about that Sanctuary Choir of ours? Weren’t they amazing on May 18th? Their delivery of, “You Raise Me Up” was powerful indeed and all who were present to hear that message were blessed. Sorry if you missed it. Hopefully you’ll be in attendance to worship through a choral presentation one more time before they take their summer break. June 8th will be their last time to sing in our 9:30 a.m. church service until they regroup to sing again on Grandparents Day, September 7th.
 
Speaking of Grandparents Day, please help us spread the word to all current and former choir members as well as to their children and grandchildren that they are invited to sing with the choir in the 9:30 a.m. church service on September 7, 2014. Plus, those whose schedules only allow them to sing with the choir occasionally throughout the year also are included in this group along with their children and grandchildren. This is a generational reunion of singers who look forward to blending their voices together once a year to glorify God in song! If you fall within this category of singers and plan to participate, please let the director know then mark the date on your home calendar so you can be included in this very special musical event.
 
As the choir approaches its break, perhaps you will take the time to seek out a choir member or two and thank them for their year-round participation. We are so fortunate that each individual member is completely dedicated to the value of Christian Choral Music and to the purpose it serves in our worship services.
 
This type of dedication is what brings choir members out to rehearsals every Wednesday evening come rain or shine, to Summer Singers rehearsals in June and August and also to extra Christmas Cantata rehearsals in winter. They are an inspiration to this director and deserve words of appreciation. I thank them and hope you will also.
 

“Sing”cerely
-Betty-

This article originally appeared in the June 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.

Spring Into Worship

Our Sanctuary Choir presented, “Lift Up Your Heads” on Palm Sunday and that was followed on Easter Sunday with The Baptist Belles Hand Bell Choir playing, “Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today” along with, “I Serve a Risen Savior.” These are rich treasures from our Christian Musical Heritage which are just as alive with meaning today as they were when they were composed many years ago.
 
Thank you to all our thirty-two church musicians for your dedication to rehearsals for many weeks so that you could present these pieces to both worship services. Also, many thanks go to Bob Edwards and Rose Sanders for leading congregational singing during the months of March and April. We are fortunate to have willing leaders and a capable piano accompanist in Joshua Mullins when our organist, Rosemary Brauninger, is away. Your service to God is greatly appreciated by this director and the members of our congregation.
 
Spring brings its own special musical treats when our men’s bell players: The Baptist Beaus, present a number in honor of Mother’s Day. You won’t want to miss Sunday, May 11th, to hear them. It will be the first time we have had enough men to complete a full male bell choir. Thank you, men, for rising to the occasion.
 
On May 18th, our Sanctuary Choir will sing, “Be Still, My Soul” coupled with “You Raise Me Up.” What a joy to work with our choir on this number. We have grown in size and are twenty singers strong now. If you would like to join, now would be a good time. After their May presentation and before they take a summer break, our singers will sing one more time. It will be on June 8th. So, if you’ve been wanting to hear them, mark 5/18 and 6/8 on your calendars.
 
In the meantime, remember:

“Be still, my soul! The Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
             Leave to your God to order and provide. In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them
while He dwelt below.”
 
“Sing”cerely,
-Betty-

This article originally appeared in the May 2014 edition of the FBC newsletter. Click here to view the rest of this newsletter.