| Multigenerational Choir Notes |
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November 2008 Where are the bells? Well, after Coffee Hour each Sunday the members of the Bell Choir have been climbing up to the balcony and preparing music for November and December. Since it takes a while to prepare a piece, the bells have not participated in worship services yet this fall. However, the bells will be part of the worship service at 10:00 on November 2 with a fun piece entitled Let Your Praises Ring You will hear the bells sounding in various ways. Try to see if you can hear the different sounds that are being made. The bells will also participate in the 10:00 worship service on December 7 and again on Christmas Eve. Also during Advent the bells will be part of the Christmas through the Arts program at the Port Morris United Methodist Church ( 4:30 p.m. this year) and the Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair . We hope that the music of the bells helps to enhance your worship experience at St. James and the other venues. October 2008 Where are the bells? Well, after Coffee Hour each Sunday the members of the Bell Choir have been climbing up to the balcony and preparing music for November and December. Since it takes a while to prepare a piece, the bells have not participated in worship services yet this fall. However, the bells will be part of the worship service at 10:00 on November 2 with a fun piece entitled Let Your Praises Ring You will hear the bells sounding in various ways. Try to see if you can hear the different sounds that are being made. The bells will also participate in the 10:00 worship service on December 7 and again on Christmas Eve. Also during Advent the bells will be part of the Christmas through the Arts program at the Port Morris United Methodist Church ( 4:30 p.m. this year) and the Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Montclair . We hope that the music of the bells helps to enhance your worship experience at St. James and the other venues. September 2008 Someone has told me that September is around the corner. How can that be? Seriously, I hope everyone has had a relaxing and rejuvenating summer. The St. James Multi-Generational Bell Choir is about to begin for another exciting year. Please consider joining with us. I am flexible about members' commitments – join for the fall, for Christmas only, whatever works in your schedule. Rehearsals will begin on Sunday, September 7 following the Coffee Hour after the 10:00 service. The music for the next few months has been selected. We will be preparing music for the service dedicating the new Parish Hall and also for Advent and Christmas. Let me know if you want to join this dedicated and fun group! November 2007 The Multi-Generational Bell Choir participated in the 10:00 service on October 28. The piece was "A Mighty Fortress" arr. by Kevin McChesney. It is a beautifully written arrangement of a favorite hymn of mine. The choir played it beautifully after a shaky start. The choir is now preparing for the visit from Bishop Beckwith, November 11, and also preparing music for both Advent and Christmas. The Bell Choir was pleased to welcome Joyce Forman as an "interim" ringer. Joyce has been experiencing some difficulty with singing and not wanting to leave music completely, she has joined the Bell Choir. Welcome, Joyce, and we hope you stay with us beyond the "interim" period. We are so blessed at St; James with a very dedicated group of ringers. In fact, it might be time to purchase a few more bells! In December, the Multi-Generational Bell Choir will go "on the road" twice. On Sunday, December 2, the Bell Choir along with the St. James Players and Youth Choir will participate in the Annual Christmas through the Arts Celebration at the Port Morris United Methodist Church . The program begins at 2:00 p.m. On Sunday, December 16, the Bell Choir will participate in a service of Lessons and Carols at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Montclair . This service begins at 4:00 p.m. Both of these services along with St. James' own Sunday worship services are a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas and to focus on the real meaning of the Advent season. Come join these groups from St. James and add these "on the road" events to your Advent commitments. You'll be glad you did. Directions to both programs will be available in the narthex. October 2007 The Bell Choir began practicing on September 16. We were all so happy to welcome Dawn Modugno as a new member of the group. We are preparing to play during the 10:00 service on October 28. Our piece will be A Mighty Fortress is Our God in honor of the Protestant Reformation Sunday. We are also preparing music for Advent and will shortly begin to work on the music for Christmas. The Bell Choir will be going "on the road" twice during Advent. Please join with us as we await the birth of our Savior. On Sunday, December 2, the Bell Choir along with the St. James Players and the Children's Choir will participate in the Annual Christmas through the Arts Program at Port Morris United Methodist Church . The program begins at 2:00 p.m. In the past the program has included such arts as mime, clowning and choir singing. On Sunday, December 16, the Bell Choir will travel to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Montclair , to participate in a Service of Lessons and Carols. Pam Laura's father is the director of music and he has kindly invited us to play for a second year as part of the service. The church has a beautiful sanctuary, really worth seeing. Feel free to join us that day at 4:00 p.m. A soup supper follows the service.
September 2007 What a joy it was to have Bell Choir members who wanted to practice and play during the services in the summer. Because we did quartets and played music that did not require use of the tables, we played in the front of the church. We hope that you enjoyed seeing, as well as hearing, the bells. Many thanks to the members of the Bell Choir who played during the summer: July 15 - Diana Grant, Pam Laura, Helen Wise and Russ Worthington and August 19 - Wendie Germain, Diana Grant, Pam Laura and Russ Worthington.. Thanks for two terrific jobs. It isn't easy to play in front of the congregation. As director it made me feel really wonderful to have choir members who volunteered beyond the usual "school year" commitment. The Bell Choir will be participating in the 10:00 service on "Homecoming" Sunday. We will be playing during Communion while the congregation is singing. I am really looking forward to doing this, something a little different. Regular Bell Choir rehearsals will begin on Sunday, September 16 after the Coffee Hour following the 10:00 service. We will be preparing music for October, Advent and Christmas. Rumor has it that there will be some new Bell Choir members this fall. We look forward to welcoming these people and hope that they will enjoy being a part of our group. If you would like to join us, call me at 973-584-2061. You can join us for the 2007-2008 year, for the fall season, just for October, just for Advent, just for Christmas or any combination of times. Let me know what works for you. |
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Updated:
November 10, 2008
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