Join Us February 28^th @ 10:30 Worship for our Guest Soloist, Courtney Caston

In recognition of Black History Month, we welcome African-American soprano, Courtney Caston as the featured singer for worship on February 28^th at our 10:30 service.

Courtney was born and raised in Mableton, Georgia. In May 2019, she obtained her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Previous UNC Opera Theatre credits include Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte and Agathe (Cover) in Der Freischütz. During the summer of 2019, she travelled to Germany to perform with the professional opera company, Opera Classica Europa. In Germany, she performed as the High Priestess in Aida and Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte. She has also performed with the Simpson College Opera Theatre, the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, the Atlanta Opera High School Institute, and The Boston Conservatory Vocal/Choral Intensive Summer Program.

Historical Background of Spirituals (provided by guest singer Courtney Caston & includes information on the pieces she’ll be singing on February 28th.)

 

Spirituals (also commonly known as Negro Spirituals, spiritual music, or African-American spirituals) is a genre of songs created by enslaved Africans during the times of chattel slavery. Most of the songs in this genre can be traced to enslaved Africans living in the southern states of the United States during the 19th century, prior to the Civil War. Many of the spirituals contained hidden messages about freedom and veiled references to escape, and thus were also sometimes called Underground Railroad songs. The Spiritual “Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray” was sung specifically as a warning signal to other slaves: a fellow slave would soon be making a run towards freedom, leaving others behind. Another popular Spiritual, “Were You There,” contains a religious meaning that directly references our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. This Spiritual highlights the pain and suffering the slaves endured, and how slaves could relate to the pain and brutality that Jesus Christ suffered while on the cross. Finally, the Spiritual "Ride On, King Jesus," contains a text whose purpose appears to be a strictly spiritual one, one however, that raises the slaves' ultimate worth to that of their owners with the words that Jesus "died for the rich and He died for the poor." Spirituals today still retain a strong cultural significance within the Black community. They seek to stir the soul and connect us back to the ancestors who died for following generations of Black people's right to be free, whole, and full of cultural pride. 

Vaccine Finder: check it out here. Website scans all available location in one place.

Bergen Park King Soopers has been added as a vaccination site.

If you find a place which has open appointments. After you register, it would be great if you could send a text or email to others in our church asap who might be eligible and needing a vaccine telling them about the location and open days you saw. 

Safeway -- Their online site is the easiest to navigate. Between 9:30-10:30 a.m. seems to be the best time to try, but you can try throughout the day. Goggle "Safeway COVID vaccination". Enter your zip code. Enter that you are willing to travel up to 15 or 30 miles. The Evergreen or Conifer store will come up first [depending on your zip code]. If it doesn't have appointments, open the dropdown box and keep clicking down the store list one by one until open appointments appear. Don't pick the first appointment available as it will be filled by the time you complete the registration questions. Though if they tell you your appointment spot is filled, don't panic, they keep your registration, you just have to go back and pick a new time. Make sure you download and print the CO form you need to complete and bring with you.

King Soopers -- Their online site is a bit more complicated as you have to go store by store to search for availability. Goggle "King Soopers COVID vaccination". Go to the Colorado section and click. Don't begin until after 9:30 a.m., as they haven't had time find out what is coming in and get it on the site much before then. When there's no availability at a store you have to go back to step one to pick another store. Still, folk are having pretty good luck if they are willing to do this. Try the listings for Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and Littleton. I haven't heard if the Bergen Park or Conifer stores are giving the vaccines yet, but they could also be considered.  

Stride Community Health -- Register online [stridechc.org] or by calling. [303-360-6276]. When appointments become available, they will contact you and find out which sites you are willing to go to. They have several clinics on the westside of the Denver areas. They will find an appointment for you at the clinics you are willing to go to. They also have a satellite clinic in Bailey. 

From Dianne Donelson:

Worship music leader, Nathan Jensen, is putting together a virtual choir for special music on both Palm Sunday and Easter. By singing along with a singer you hear in your ear, you record your part for these special pieces. Nathan guides you through the whole process. He then will bring all the voices together for what is sure to be a highlight of worship on these Sundays. Nathan will have music and a sign up sheet out Sunday the 14th. He will send out recordings on Monday the 15th for you to sing a long with and you will have until the 14th of March to get your recording back to Nathan.

Contact Nathan at music@evergreenumc.org with any questions.

Pastor Deb will bring the Lenten sermon series “Satisfying Our Soul’s Search for More” beginning the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. No matter how good life is, most Christians thirst for something more. Although we are people of faith, many of us aren't satisfied. We long for lives that are more fulfilled, more rich, more meaningful, and more joyful. These messages help us identify our individual thirsts and shows us the great adventure when we discover the freedom, promise, and rewards that come with committing ourselves to a closer relationship with God.

If You Heard Pastor Deb's Message -- {shared by Michael Eaton}

Throughout his time on earth, Jesus did not just feel compassion, he showed compassion. He did not just say to the man with leprosy “My heart goes out to you” and continue on his way. He “reached out and touched the man,” the Bible says. He demonstrated his compassion by healing the man of leprosy.

The Church & Society Team eagerly looks forward to meeting our guest, Courtney Caston, on February 28th: We welcome her personally and the beauty of her voice to our worship. In addition, to recognize and celebrate the humanity of each of God’s children, we support including cultural and racial diversity throughout the year as a part of our worship experience.

The spirituals Courtney will sing were not only “born” during slavery, but continued to be integral to the black worship experience over the years. We have appreciated the documentary “The Black Church” on PBS recently, where it was stressed that their church has been the single most important part of black lives. It was said, “The spirituals did more to free my people than all the guns in the Union Army.” The music gave the fighting black men the strength they needed in the Civil War. From the Praise Houses on every plantation, to the Great Migration, to the Civil Rights Era, to mega-churches in the north in the 80’s, the black church continues to evolve and support the “social gospel” for black people. “Our people made a way out of no way.”  If you missed it, “The Black Church” can be viewed online HERE.

The March/April edition of Upper Room is now available! You can pick up a copy in the narthex, or email the church office to mail you a copy. There is also a digital version available if you are interested!

Pura Vida hopes to be able to return teams to Guatemala this summer. In the meantime, churches can continue to provide financial support, especially by sponsoring a student or donating to the unsponsored student fund. For more information contact Jerry Bucholtz, bucholzjl@msn.com.

Visit us on the web:  www.evergreenumc.org