Apr 1999 Music: Worship at Nativity is varied

(From April, 1999 Nativity newsletter)

Schedule Update:

In the May Nativity Tidings, watch for the summer choir schedule and for another special course in BASIC MUSIC READING (back by popular request!).

For all prospective choir or hand chime choir members: Summer is a good time to get acquainted. Please contact Karla through the church office (355-3262) if you are interested in joining either group or if you are thinking about joining and would like more information before making a final decision.

Worship at Nativity is varied. And, as such, there are many ways musically to participate.

I don't often write in the first person in these articles, but I would like to share with you a personal goal of mine—I have tried to become comfortable with different expressions of worship so that I can feel at home in any Episcopal/Anglican church anywhere in the world. And in most places in the world you can find an Anglican church—if you go on safari in Tanzania, you can go to an Anglican service in English at Christ Church in Arusha! (And, although I haven't checked lately, you could go to an Anglican service in Swahili in London.) So whether a service is chanted, or people are lifting their hands to the Lord in praise and clapping during the praise songs, it doesn't affect my attitude toward worship. In instances where I was isolated and felt "a stranger in a strange land," nothing compared with joining fellow Christians in the regular Sunday service regardless of the form of worship where I really felt at home.

We are so fortunate to have a choice here at The Church of the Nativity. So whether you are a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning "regular," please consider visiting the other worship opportunities once in a while both for the experience and to help keep us the caring, unified congregation that we are.

— Karla Porter
Music Director

NEW HYMNBOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

Subsequent to the vestry's approval to purchase them, 50 new hymnbooks have arrived and have already been put into service. Called "RENEW," the new books will augment our praise of God by offering some exciting new music selections. They will be used principally at our Saturday Sonrise at Sundown Holy Communion service. On appropriate occasions, Renew will be used at our other services.

It's a great hymnbook that blends quite an array musical resources. It includes both great traditional hymns and contemporary worship songs. If you would like to check it out, come check out our Sonrise at Sundown service. If you would like a personal copy of Renew, make out a check for $9.00 to the church with a Renew notation and pass it along to Elly Freyer or Karla Porter. We will place an order on a monthly basis.

Music Notes