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The next two weeks’ worship services bring almost opposite genres of music. Just as small group bible study groups are beneficial for the education of members, these small music groups help to provide fellowship for those that are skilled in playing instruments and singing certain types of music and an opportunity to hone those skills. This Sunday, the Early Music Ensemble will play instrumentals by Praetorius, Banchieri, Bach, and Handel on harpsichord, soprano, tenor, and bass recorders, and violin. For those interested, we need an alto recorder player, and then we will have a full consort. This music was composed between the years 1570 and 1750. Amy Bishop will end the service with a Bach piece, rounding out the early music theme. The first hymn is the tune DEO GRACIAS. “The Lutheran Book of Worship cites “Deo Gracias” as a 15th-century English tune, also known as AGINCOURT, while other sources state that it is an anonymous Latin tune. Regardless of its lost origin, the tune is lovely, minor, and powerful. The rhythm has a punch in three beats with an ancient feel reminiscent of, perhaps, waltzing monks! The carol is featured in Laurence Olivier's 1944 film Henry V.[3] The composer Ernest Farrar created his 1918 Heroic Elegy: For Soldiers on the basis of the Agincourt Carol.[4]” * - It isn’t easy to sing (we have sung it before), but there will be choir members throughout the congregation that know it and will provide support wherever they stand and sing. The last hymn is “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” which is a very familiar hymn.
August 20 is Bluegrass Sunday. Many of you have been waiting a long time for this Sunday to roll around. Our usual suspects (Ricky Ray-Banjo, Bud Longley-Dobro, Ann Nermoe-Guitar, Drew Holland, guitar, Jan Rossiter-Fiddle, Crystal Murphy-Fiddle, me-piano) will be joined by friends of Ricky Ray. They play together quite a bit throughout the region. Brad & Joan Holcomb and Roland & Doreen Hendry will play bass fiddle, mandolin, guitar and do vocals. Depending on how Harlan is doing, he will join in and play mandolin as well. This will be the largest group we’ve had through the years.
Thank you for all of the prayers and thoughts as Harlan recovers from major surgery. It’s quite the miracle that surgeons have the skills to do what they did. They certainly did have a Divine Presence with them. We are hopeful that it all will work and that he can have a better quality of life. I am grateful to all for the time allowed me to help him through this transition.
On August 23rd, the Chancel Choir revs back up for the fall. Now is a great time to join. Let me know if you will be attending, and we will be prepared for you (music, etc). I do have “Jesus” folders if someone comes at the last minute, however. If you don’t know what I mean, ask me sometime.
Love & Gratitude,
Rhonda
*quote from Wikipedia
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