Concord UMC Music Notes

June 7th, 2017
From the Podium
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    I consider myself one of the most blessed people in the world.  Each year I get to lead our youth choir on a choir tour and see incredible things that the majority of the church doesn't get to see. Our church's mission statement is simple to say, but not always so simple to live out:  "Sharing Christ. Serving Others. Growing in Faith."  I would love to share with you some of the specific ways that our youth lived out those values.

"Sharing Christ" - This one seems like the easy one.  After all, almost every song we sing in some way shares the message of Christ.  But sharing Christ isn't always about words.  Sometimes it's simply spending time with a stranger who doesn't receive a lot of attention. Concord's youth sang in three places that housed people with deep need.  One was a memory support wing of an assisted living facility. One was a daycare center for those with severe physical, mental, and memory challenges.  The other was a newer assisted living facility that hadn't been able to have many programs like ours.  In each of these venues, Concord's youth choir not only sang, but held hands, shared kind words and smiles, and made days brighter.

"Serving Others" - I've already mentioned some of the ways that our youth lived this out, but there were other, less noticed ways.  In more than one restaurant we saw people come in and immediately be dismayed because they were behind 24 people in grey choir shirts. Our choir got used to seeing these people and letting them go to the front of the line.  It's a simple thing, but sometimes the simplest acts of kindness are the most meaningful.  Concord's youth did small things like hold doors, sing songs that they didn't know (the first concert was partly led by the residents who really wanted to sing and teach our kids some of the older hymns), and be gracious to people who were serving us.

"Growing in Faith" - There is no bigger believer in the importance of worship and study than I am.  But I also realize that there is incredible power and strengthening in faith through simply being together in the community of believers. It may not seem like a big deal at the time, but in the sharing of time together, in the sharing of ice cream and roller coaster rides, community is being built in beautiful ways. Throughout our trip I saw juniors and seniors spending time with 7th and 8th graders; teaching them traditions, making them feel a part of the group, encouraging them and providing them with an example of the Kingdom fellowship and living.

You would have been so proud of our youth choir.  A choir tour may not shift the world on its axis, and in the places we sang, I'm pretty sure we've already been forgotten by those for whom we were singing. But that's okay. Success isn't always measured in the long term effects.  Sometimes success is found in a single moment. As we were getting ready to leave our final concert, a lady stopped me and said, "I'm sorry I missed the beginning of the concert. I just came from a counseling session. We've just found out that we're losing my son.  To come into this room and hear these kids' voices, and see their faces - it was an incredible gift. Thank you."  Maybe it was for that one woman in that one moment that we took the trip. Maybe we took it for the sake of blessings not yet realized. Maybe we took it so that I'm once more humbled to be reminded that I'm one of the most blessed people in the world.
     
      


Chancel and Worship Choirs


  • Chancel Choir - We will be rehearsing this Wednesday night at our regular time of 6:30.  We will (hopefully) be looking at a lot of music for the upcoming summer season. Be sure to look over the schedule below for an accurate listing of upcoming anthems and rehearsals.
  • 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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Youth Choir
  • I can't begin to thank you enough for a great choir tour.  I'd like to say a special thanks to Chris Luper, Anna Castleberry, and Radia Saah for their willingness to sacrifice time (and sleep) to be such wonderful chaperones. You make my heart swell with pride each time you sing, and you are among Concord's very best representatives and ambassadors for Christ. I hope everyone has a relaxing and rewarding summer, and we'll begin a new choir year in August.
Other Musical Ensembles


  • Concord Bells - I have reserved a church bus if you are interested in traveling together to see the Raleigh Ringers concert on Saturday, July 8th at Munsey Memorial UMC in Johnson City. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.  Tickets are available at the Munsey website (www.munsey.org). If you haven't seen this group perform, you should definitely try to make this trip. They are an outstanding group that will leave you inspired and in awe.

  Looking Ahead








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 - Special Music - Sarah Beth Coppage and Katie Bland

11:00 - Special Music - Sarah Beth Coppage and Katie Bland

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















Prayer Calendar


Tuesday, June 6thPray for those in our community still recovering from storm damage

Wednesday, June 7thPray for pastors and staff as they prepare for worship on Sunday.

Thursday, June 8th - Pray for those who are sick and in need of prayers for healing

Friday, June 9th- Spend some of your prayer time in purposeful reflection of the many examples of God's grace.

Saturday, June 10th- Pray for our Conference, our bishop, and Conference staff as we prepare for Annual Conference tomorrow.

Sunday, June 11th - Pray for God's blessing on our worship today, and for the ministers who are delivering God's message. 

Monday, June 12th - Pray for our church and for the Holston Conference as we conference together this week.  Many lives are impacted by the work that we do for the Kingdom. Pray for God's leadership and inspiration for our conference and its mission going forward.

       
      
           
 
Daily Scripture Readings (from the Book of Common Prayer)



Tuesday, June 7th

Psalms 45, 47, 48
Deuteronomy 12: 1-12
2 Corinthians 6:3 - 7:1
Luke 17: 11-19

Wednesday, June 8th

Psalm 119: 49-72, Psalm 49
Deuteronomy 13: 1-11
2 Corinthians 7: 2-16
Luke 17: 20-37

Thursday, June 9th

Psalms 50, 84
Deuteronomy 16: 18-20, 17: 14-20
2 Corinthians 8: 1-16
Luke 18: 1-8

Friday, June 10th

Psalms 40, 54, 51
Deuteronomy 26: 1-11
2 Corinthians 8: 16-24
Luke 18: 9-14

Saturday, June 11th

Psalms 55, 138, 139
Deuteronomy 29: 2-15
2 Corinthians 9: 1-15
Luke 18: 15-30

Sunday, June 12th

Psalms 24, 29, 8, 84
Deuteronomy 29: 16-29
Revelation 12: 1-12
Matthew 15: 29-39

Monday, June 13th

Psalms 56, 57, 64, 65
Deuteronomy 30: 1-10
2 Corinthians 10: 1-18
Luke 18: 31-43




















 
Concerns and Celebrations


  • John Glenn, Dalton and Norma Smith's nephew



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Mike Stallings
mike@concordumc.com
mikestallings@charter.net
(865) 966-6728 (o.)
(865) 719-3469 (c.)