Notes from the Music Director…
In February, we continued to sing each week. My ongoing thanks goes to the mighty few who faithfully sing when able and to Tom Rusch, who serves the music program of our church in so many ways!
Senior Choir continues at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the choir room and meets weekly, unless noted ahead of time. We can always use more singers. There are no special requirements to be in the choir. Familiarity with music reading is helpful but not required. In the past few years, I have been choosing and adapting the music that I use to the skills and numbers of the singers that attend. We generally work on 2-3 pieces of music each week, so that we are working ahead and have several rehearsals on the same piece of music before singing it in a service. You do not have to be a church member or make a weekly commitment to be a part of the choir. High school age and above are welcome (and I would consider musically enthusiastic or advanced 8th graders.) Drop-ins are also welcome. If you play an instrument, please let me know. You never know when there might be an opportunity to play.
Church musicians, vocal or instrumental, are providing ministry in another way. We not only serve as leaders of the hymns but also add an anthem or special music to the service which is intended to expand upon the theme of the lectionary or the service, or provide music as a backdrop for prayerful meditation.
BEHIND THE ANTHEMS
The choir recently sang “Set It Right Again” with the original call: “There’s a great trouble in the land,” based on the words of Sojourner Truth. Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, Sojourner Truth was enslaved in Kingston, NY before she escaped in late 1826. She took the name Sojourner Truth on Pentecost Sunday, June 1, 1843. She took the name because she heard the Spirit of God calling on her to preach the truth. She lived the remainder of her life recruiting black soldiers for the union army, speaking about abolition, prison reform, human rights including for black men and all women’s rights, and speaking against capital punishment. Sojourner died in 1883 in Battle Creek, MI.
Ana Hernandez wrote this song as a Call and Response, the style of so many field songs, other work songs, and African-American spirituals, but COVID interfered, so it first came out as a solo song with a walking bass accompaniment.
-- Juanita Edington
