Sunday, July 14, 2019

Learn to Play Handbells!



Looking for a Good Time? Learn to Play Handbells!

The St. Mark’s Ringers has a couple of open slots for the fall, and it would be awesome if we could start a second handbell choir at St. Mark’s. Any ringer will tell you that playing bells is a great way to stay active. Playing bells is also an enjoyable fellowship activity. Most important, handbells add to the beauty of our worship and are an important part of the church’s song at St. Mark’s.

Commitment
Just like in team sports, honoring the time commitments for a musical ensemble is important.

The St. Mark’s Ringers rehearse one hour per week and play in church 10-12 times per year September through May. We also have a short rehearsal on the Sunday mornings we play.

A new group would rehearse about the same amount of time, but probably not play in church as frequently.  As our skills increase, we would play more.

We have historically rehearsed on Wednesday evenings.  The St. Mark’s Ringers will continue with that schedule, but a new group may choose another time to rehearse.

Of course, things come up and everyone must be absent at one time or another.  Having more bell ringers makes filling in the gaps much easier. 

Who can ring?
St. Mark's Ringers
Lutheridge Handbell Weekend 2012
All adults and youth from 12 years old are eligible.  Youth members would need reliable transportation to and from rehearsals.  If a parent is unable to accompany a minor child, two adults need to help with transportation. (See “Protection and Prevention – Working with Youth Under Age 18” in St. Mark’s Policies and Procedures”).

Handbell ringing is a great family activity! I have seen many instances with one or two parents and their child (or children) ringing in a handbell choir.

Ringers do not need to be members of St. Mark’s to be part of our choirs. Do you have a friend who might be a good fit? Bring them along – but we do ask that non-members have the same level of commitment to our schedule as any member of St. Mark’s.




Do I Need to Be Able to Read Music?
Yes. . . but not right away!  We will teach you. (It’s easier than you think!)  If we have a lot of true music newbies in the beginning choir, then we can start right at the beginning with everyone. If we have a mix of musicianship levels, then we may have a couple of “private lessons” before bringing the whole group together.

Did you play an instrument in high school? Can you still name the lines and spaces on the musical staff? Do you remember how to clap rhythms with eighth notes, quarter notes, and half notes? Then you already know a lot! We can easily fill in the rest. This might be the perfect time to make use of those piano lessons you had as a child!


How many spaces are there?
We need 11 ringers to form a new three-octave handbell choir, one or two more for a four-octave choir. (An octave equals eight notes.) Advanced ringers in this group may even be eligible to serve as subs for the St. Mark’s Ringers – and vice versa!

Are there other activities?
Yes! We often attend a Handbell Workshop at Lutheridge in North Carolina. This three-day event is a fun way to work on our skills, learn new music, and meet lots of ringers from other churches.

Our annual Christmas party features an ornament exchange and great food!
  
I’m intrigued. Now what?
Contact Tony Cruz as soon as possible either via email (cantortonycruz@gmail.com). The schedule will be announced as summer comes to an end.

St. Mark's Ringers in Concert!
2017 at Riverside Park United Methodist Church
 

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Music for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: July 14, 2019

It has been said the Sundays after Pentecost are green to suggest growth;
 hence, the background of lush ferns in this graphic.
Opening Voluntary Ubi caritas et amor     
setting, Gerald Near (b. 1942)
See the tune and text at ELW 653.

This Sunday’s gospel lesson has an important reminder for us:
You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 NRSV

The Good Samaritan
Aimé Morot (1880)
This piece is based on a hymn that comes to us from Gregorian chant. It was first sung between the 4th and 10th centuries of the common era. It is often sung on Maundy Thursday during the foot washing part of the service. The text that accompanies this gentle melody calls us to “love the living God,” and tells us that where we find true charity and love, we also find God.

Hear the chant sung as it might have sounded in an ancient monastery by following the link. As a bonus, this YouTube recording allows you to follow along with the Gregorian chant notation. Notice the antiphon is sung by the assembly while soloists sing the verses. You might also notice a slight change in the text: Ubi caritas est vera. . . is what is sung here.

In this organ setting we hear the melody on an oboe stop accompanied by some of the organ’s softest flute sounds. (The latter were added to organ in 2013.) Later, the melody moves to the manuals and the sound fills out so that the pedals take on a supportive, rather than solo, role.

Gathering Hymn Great God, Your Love Has Called Us (Ryburn)
Evangelical Lutheran Worship ELW 358

Brian Wren (b. 1936) is one of my favorite writers of modern hymn texts. He drew this text from the following scriptures: Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 43:12, John 13:1-17, Romans 3:21-26, and II Corinthians 3:17 and 5:10.

Wren has a total of five hymns in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, but my favorite Brian Wren text, Bring Many Names, is not in ELW. Hear Bring Many Names, sung at First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the following link. It has subtitles, so you’ll be able to understand the text. The tune, Westchase, is by Carlton Young.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTP85GwoE88

Hymn of the Day Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life (Walton)
ELW 719
The author of this hymn, Frank M. North, was ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1872. He advocated for women’s rights, child labor laws, and for the rights of workers to organize. His passion for social justice is clearly reflected in this hymn. May we truly rise above “the cries of race and clan” and lift ourselves above the “noise of selfish strife” so that we can hear Christ’s call to love, and serve, our neighbor.

Communion Hymns
Christus
by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1533)
When the Poor Ones (El camino)
ELW 725
Will You Let Me Be Your Servant (The Servant Song)
ELW 659

Sending Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy)
ELW 836
I probably don’t have to tell you this infectious tune was written by Beethoven for the fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony. Our final hymned petition to God in this worship service is “teach us how to love each other.”

Closing Voluntary Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (Old Hundredth)
setting, Michael Burkhardt
See the tune and the text at ELW 885.
This tune is probably in every hymnal! Many people call it “The Doxology,” but the actual name of the tune is Old Hundredth because it was first paired with a metrical setting of psalm 100.
Burkhardt has set it as a toccata, a term that comes from an Italian word meaning “to touch.” Usually the keys are meant to be touched lightly – but the registration from the organ is often anything but light!

Sources:
Wikipedia
"The Good Samaritan" painting via Wikipedia
Discipleship Ministries (The United Methodist Church)
"Christus" woodcut via Wikipedia
Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Paul Westermeyer