The Shell. Reflections for August: Why We Sing a Manifesto

Transcription

1 The Shell August, 2014 St. James Episcopal Church 1307 North Main St. Mount Airy, MD Reflections for August: Why We Sing a Manifesto Inspired by a well-known set of singing instructions by John Wesley, I wrote this piece for a parish that was in the throes of what some in the church have called The Music Wars, battling about what kinds of music were suitable for church and what should be excluded. I offer it to you as a look into how I think about music and worship, and hope it will spark conversation in our church. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalm 28:7 (KJV) By The Rev. Dr. Bill Doggett "Sing unto the Lord a new song," says the psalmist. The Episcopal Church s Canon II.6.1 requires each minister of the church to "see that music is used as an offering for the glory of God and as a help to the people in their worship." But even if music were not required of us by the decree of both God and church, we would sing because music expresses our deepest thoughts and feelings when words fail us. Music has a sacramental power. It can speak of great joy or great sorrow, and at the same time move the listener to share the emotion it invokes. The ability to "effect what it symbolizes" defines sacrament. It is for this reason that we worship with music. Throughout history, the most significant events in human life, both public and private, have been accompanied by music. We have had music for birth and music for death; music for war and for peace; and especially, we have had music for prayer and for worship. Music unites us in our common purpose, and nurtures us in our singular pursuits. It should be the desire of any congregation to worship and praise the Lord with the fullness of our beings, making an offering to God from all the gifts which we have received. To that end, in order to become a musical people, with the Lord as our strength and song, I offer the following principles as guidelines for our common musical life: (continued)

2 Page 2 The Shell, August, 2014 I. Music should be a regular part of the worship life of every parish. II. Every kind of music has a place and purpose in human life, and every kind of music has a place in the life of the parish. III. Music has the power to divide. Musical tastes separate generations, cultures and classes. But music also has the power to unite, and we are committed to work toward unity, both by seeking musical "common ground" and by striving to understand and appreciate the music that pleases others. IV. Music is an offering to God. When we offer music, everyone should participate. V. Musical participation takes many forms. Singing, hand-clapping and attentive, prayerful listening are all vital forms of participation. VI. The musical life of any community is enhanced by the gifts of many people. We should be committed to seeking out those gifts among the members of the congregation and nurturing them, and to inviting others in the community to offer their musical gifts with the church. VII. Musical gifts and offerings will be strengthened and nurtured by the leadership of trained musicians, both amateur and professional. Congregations should be committed to finding effective musical leadership for the kinds of music offered in worship, so that the offering will be as pleasing to God as humanly possible. VIII. Musical ministry is both pastoral and evangelical. Music has the power to move, to stir, to comfort and to heal. Music also has the power to bring the Gospel to the world, and to draw the world into the Body of Christ. IX. Music has the power to exclude. Music that is hard to sing, or hard to understand can shut people out as effectively as a barred sanctuary door. Congregations should be committed to choosing music for worship that is accessible. X. Children are full members of the musical life of a congregation, just as they are full members of the body of Christ. The church must be committed to teaching our children to sing, and to sharing a musical life with them, both by inviting them to participate in the music we love, and by participating in the music they love. The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Psalm 118:14 (KJV)

3 The Shell, August, 2014 Page 3 Saint James Sunday School Co-Directors: Yvette Allen, Betsy Davis, Joan Fader Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen (BCP p. 829) We hope everyone is enjoying a restful and joyful summer! In planning for the Fall Sunday School classes, we are seeking a new volunteer to organize and plan the Bible Stories for Pre-school class. (many thanks to Allison Griffin who planned the class this past year) This class provides an opportunity for our youngest Sunday School students to explore some of the great stories of the Bible in a 30 minute story-time format. A rotating schedule of volunteers will read the story and help children color a story-themed coloring page. How you can help: We need someone to plan the stories and create and manage the volunteer sign-ups. No experience is necessary! I am available for advice and assistance in planning. Please consider this simple way to enrich the Sunday School program. the coming year. Come be a part of the fun!!!! I am so excited about Please contact me to let me know you are willing to help: Betsy Davis jbeezd@aol.com

4 Page 4 The Shell, August, 2014 Search Committee Updates Please remember to mark your calenders for the Congregational Conversation on Sunday, September 7th at 3pm. Dinner and childcare for young children will be provided. Thanks to all for participating in the Demographic Survey-the response was excellent! Survey results are being compiled and the results will be posted on the church website by the end of the month. You can also check out the Search Committee timeline on the website -see what has been accomplished and the tasks which lay ahead. Search Committee members are busy this summer obtaining information and ideas from all the various ministries in the parish to help with our parish portfolio. Any questions???? Please see a Search Committee member. Suffragan Bishop-Elect Cook s Ordination and Consecration Our recently elected Bishop Suffragan of Maryland, the Rev. Canon Heather Cook, will be ordained and consecrated at the Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore on Saturday, September 6, During the service, it is customary that a newly elected bishop be given symbols of that office from the congregations of the diocese. These symbols include new vestments such as rochet, chimere, stole, chasuble and mitre. Our St. James Vestry has approved a gift of $200 from our parish. Individual parishioners who would like to personally add to that gift are welcomed and encouraged to do so. Checks should be made payable to the Diocese of Maryland and marked Consecration Gift on the memo line and left at the church office or in the collection plate. Gifts in excess of the funds needed for the symbols of office will be placed in the Suffragan Bishop s discretionary fund.

5 The Shell, August, 2014 Page 5 Save the Date... We will be having a Pampered Chef fundraiser at St. James Church on Sunday, September 21 from noon to 2 PM. Plan to bring your friends. The Pampered Chef Ministries on Summer Break... Friday Bible Study, Sunday School, and the Choir are all on break until the fall. Luck of the Pot will also be taking a break until September 25, when we will have a special Luck of the Pot at the Saint James Thrift Shop. Adult Forum Continues this Sunday... During the summer we will be having an Adult Forum on Sunday mornings at 9:30. We will meet in the Rector s office and discuss topics related to worship. We will be learning about the American Book of Common Prayer and we will take a close look at the Sunday service itself. Summer Vacation... Happy Summer! Schools are out and vacations begin. A friendly request please keep your pledge up to date. If you miss church for several weeks, you can drop your pledge off at the church office or even send it by mail. St. James utility bills and payroll still need to be paid every month.

6 Page 6 The Shell, August, 2014 St. James Nursery School Holiday Extravaganza Our Nursery school is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a Holiday Extravaganza on November 15, 2014 from 10am - 4pm, here at the Church. All of the proceeds will be going to the Mt. Airy Net to help families in our neighborhood that need a little bit of assistance during the holiday time. The Extravaganza will include a Vendor Fair. If you have a business or product that you would like to promote, reserve a table at the Vendor Fair. We are asking for a donation to the Mt. Airy Net of $25.00 (which is your table fee) and a silent auction item with retail value of $25.00 (these proceeds will benefit Mt. Airy Net as well). We have 40 table spaces to offer. After August 1, 2014 we will be offering up the last spots to other businesses in the Mt Airy area. So please respond as quickly as you can. If you are interested this is how you sign up, go to our website:

7 The Shell, August, 2014 Page 7 BACK TO SCHOOL! Who s ready for school??? We are at St. James Thrift Shop! We have a large selection of clothing and shoes that would be PERFECT for you and your family members to start the school year in style! Let s begin this school year with a little homework.. Fill in the blanks: (I will give you a little help ) Shopping at St. James Thrift Shop will save you i e and o e! Shopping at St. James Thrift Shop will put a m l on your face! True or False (Circle one) My family can help support our church by shopping at St. James Thrift Shop. True False I can donate my gently used clothing to the St. James Thrift Shop to help others. True False Multiple Choice (Check the box) At St. James Thrift Shop you can find: Awesome Clothes Sports Equipment Office Supplies All items listed I can shop for the following people at St. James Thrift Shop: Teachers Parents Anyone and Everyone Children Extra Credit: Bring in your COMPLETED homework And receive $1.00 off Any item of your choice ST. JAMES THRIFT SHOP

8 Page 8 The Shell, August, 2014 August Birthdays!!! 2 Kara Wilson 3 Aimee Winkler 5 Erin O Shannon Etzler Jennifer Wellen 6 Kevin DiMisa 7 Lucy Brice 8 David Thomas Frei Jeanne Hammond Emily Hymiller 12 Cathy Schell 14 Lynda Christensen 15 Trevor McClanahan Christine Pelletier Frei 17 Andrew Davis 19 Olivia Ann Reil 21 Emelia Charlotte Neff 22 Janet McKeever 25 Cora Yao 26 Cheri McClanahan Randy Severy 27 Kaelan Etzler Ella Hawkins 28 Joan Collins Melissa Popham Molly Streeton 30 Bryce McClanahan Kaitlin Elizabeth O Rourke 31 Robert Barazotto, Jr. Simone Mauro August Wedding Anniversaries!!! Christine & Scott Carstens Jennifer & Patrick Kearns Carla & Tom Kaufman Sheila & David Pyatt Kathleen & Robert Barazotto Linda & Ted Webb Lucy & Blix Winston August Memorials: In memory of... In Memory of: Wayne Bonifant on his August 2 nd Birthday

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