Concord UMC Music Notes
May 24th, 2017
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If you're like me, at some point you have either thought or said the phrase, "Somebody should do something about X". The unfortunate thing is that I seldom imagine that "somebody" should be me. I've been thinking about this because of a couple of non-connected, yet strangely inter-connected things. Right before we left for the Wesley Heritage Tour, trials began in Nashville for a group of ministers and spiritual leaders who staged a "sit-in" at the state capitol to lobby for increased state participation in Medicare. I don't think anything serious will happen to them, but I'm also not sure that anything will happen because of them. They had a statement to make and they made it. I certainly don't begrudge them their right to make their voices heard, but I do wonder what, if anything, they accomplished.
While we were in England, at each significant Wesley site, there was a book in the gift shop that had been reprinted from Wesley's 1700 original. It was a book full of cures for ailments, disease, dietary advice, and folk remedies that Wesley had heard about, tried, or administered during his travels across the country. I thumbed through it, and Charlie Huddleston got an enormous kick out of it. Apparently Wesley was a big believer in things like ice baths, electric shock, and poultices of onion skins - maybe or maybe not at the same time. It's humorous today that people would actually try some of those remedies, but to only see the humor in it misses an important point.
Wesley was no doctor (although there is some speculation that perhaps he wanted to be), but he was extremely sensitive to needs. The people with whom he came in contact would have had a difficult time affording medical bills, so he published at his own expense a way to offer at least a little bit of help. His theological doctrines moved around quite a bit throughout his career, but the consistent spirit of Methodism was that Methodists are not just faith people, they are action people. If the people were in need of help, then the duty of Methodists was to help out as they could and not wait for or expect someone else to do it. The Methodists of 18th century Britain provided medicine as they could, provided books for education, provided food for the hungry, and tried to address any other need that they could see.
If Wesley were to address Methodists today, I'm positive that he would applaud advocacy activity in our attempts to bring attention to need. However, I believe he would also ask a penetrating question: "As you're sharing posts on Facebook, wearing ribbons, sending checks, and reTweeting, are you also talking directly with your next door neighbor?" Perhaps the most effective way to be an agent of change is to roll someone's trash cans to and from the street. Is there someone that you know who is anxious over healthcare changes? Perhaps helping them purchase test strips or a prescription is what they need right now.
I was reminded again of the true Wesley heritage to Methodists and to the world at large: our heritage is a twin-pillared foundation of evangelism and action. It is not enough to only point out needs and direct others to fix it. It is our duty to proclaim Christ by getting our hands dirty and our hearts involved with our neighbors.
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Chancel and Worship Choirs
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- Chancel Choir - Thank you to everyone for stepping up and delivering a great anthem Sunday despite not having a rehearsal for a couple of weeks. A very special thanks to Tami Bland for leading choirs last Sunday as Sarah Beth and I were away.
- Chancel Choir - Don't forget that we will be rehearsing Tuesday night at 6:30 instead of Wednesday night because of Wednesday's handbell concert. We will be working on upcoming Pentecost season anthems.
- Worship and Chancel Choirs - Save the date of Saturday, June 24th at 6:00 p.m. We will be having a going-away party for Sarah Beth at the home of Donna Brown. There will be more details soon to follow.
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- Well, here we are on the cusp of leaving for this year's choir tour. I sent out a packet of important information last Friday. If you did not receive it, please let me know and I will be glad to send it again.
- We will be leaving on choir tour this Saturday at 2:00. I anticipate our return on Tuesday to be around 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening.
- We need to have one final rehearsal before we go. Since everyone will be out of school, I am scheduling it for Wednesday at 4:00 in the choir room. We will be learning our arrangement of the national anthem as well as going through all of our concert pieces.
- Congratulations to all of our youth choir graduates: Riley Brison, Jonathan Stallings, and Katy Warnick. Thank you for your faithfulness both to youth choir and to Concord.
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- Concord Bells - I can't thank you enough for being willing to self-direct the past couple of weeks as we prepared for the concert Wednesday night. I was truly excited and thrilled at how good this choir sounds. Remember that we are meeting Wednesday at 5:45 to go over a couple of songs. The dress is black with white gloves. This is going to be a great way to end our season. Thank you for a year of exceptional achievement.
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Looking Ahead
Tuesday, May 23rd
6:30 - Chancel Choir rehearsal
Wed. May 24th
4:00 - Final Youth Choir Rehearsal
6:30 - Concord Bells Spring Concert: "Music From Screens Large and Small"
Sunday, May 28th
8:45 - Worship Choir - TBA
11:00 - Special Music
Wed. May 31st
6:30 - Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, June 4th
8:45 - Worship Choir - TBA
11:00 - Chancel Choir - "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart"
Wednesday, June 7th
6:30 - Chancel Choir rehearsal
Sunday, June 11th
8:45 - Worship Choir - TBA
11:00 - Chancel Choir - "I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing"
Wednesday, June 14th
NO CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSAL
Sunday, June 18th
8:45 - Worship Choir - TBA
11:00 - Chancel Choir - "I Will Sing With the Spirit"
Wednesday, June 21st
6:30 - Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, June 24th
Worship Choir, Concord Bells, and Chancel Choir going-away celebration for Sarah Beth at the home of Donna Brown.
Sunday, June 25th
8:45 - Worship Choir - TBA
11:00 - Chancel Choir - "O God Beyond All Praising"
Wednesday, June 28th
NO CHANCEL CHOIR REHEARSAL
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Prayer Calendar
Tuesday, May 23rd - Pray for someone specific today, but don't tell them that you did so.
Wednesday, May 24th - Pray for pastors and staff as they prepare for worship on Sunday.
Thursday, May 25th - Pray for God's blessing upon the upcoming youth choir tour (Saturday through Tuesday
Friday, May 26th- Spend some of your prayer time in confession, both for things you are struggling with and confession of your need for God
Saturday, May 27th- Pray for our Conference, and for all pastors and superintendents who are preparing to say goodbye to charges, and for upcoming new appointments.
Sunday, May 28th - Pray for God's blessing on our worship today, and for the ministers who are delivering God's message.
Monday, May 29th - Give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice when their country called. Pray for all families and loved ones for whom Memorial Day is especially painful.
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Daily Scripture Readings (from the Book of Common Prayer)
Tuesday, May 23rd
Psalm 78
Deuteronomy 8: 11-20
James 1: 16-27
Luke 11: 1-13
Wednesday, May 24th
Psalms 68, 119: 97-120
James 5: 13-18
Luke 12: 22-31
Thursday, May 25th
(Ascension Day)
Psalms 8, 47, 24, 96
Ezekiel 1: 1-14, 24-28b
Hebrews 2: 5-18
Matthew 28: 16-20
Friday, May 26th
Psalms 85, 86, 91, 92
Ezekiel 1: 28 - 3:3
Hebrews 4:14 - 5:6
Luke 9: 28-36
Saturday, May 27th
Psalms 87, 90, 136
Ezekiel 3: 4-17
Hebrews 5: 7-14
Luke 9: 37-50
Sunday, May 28th
Psalms 66, 67, 19, 46
Ezekiel 3: 16-27
Ephesians 2: 1-10
Matthew 10: 24-33, 40-42
Monday, May 29th
Psalm 89
Ezekiel 4: 1-17
Hebrews 6: 13-20
Luke 9:51 - 62
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Concerns and Celebrations
- Shireen Saah's birthday is Wednesday, May 24th
- Sarah Beth Coppage's birthday is Saturday, May 26th.
- Thomas Friedle's birthday is Sunday, May 28th.
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Mike Stallings
mike@concordumc.com
mikestallings@charter.net
(865) 966-6728 (o.)
(865) 719-3469 (c.)
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