June

WHAT’S NEW: Childcare has begun at the 11:15 Contemporary Worship Service! There will be one adult and one youth available to attend children age 2 through the 3rd grade. Please take advantage of this service, and let others know it’s available.

WHAT’S NEEDED: Tenors and basses to join the Senior Choir complement for our June 29th 9:15 Worship Service for some distinctive TTBB music! Give the ladies a break one Sunday. The seldom-witnessed-among-Lutherans ability to snap one’s fingers may come in handy, too.

The backbone of the music ministries at Christ Lutheran Church is the Senior Choir. If you would enjoy being a part of so many memorable music highlights of the season, please take leave of your senses one Thursday evening (7:30 to 9:00) and drop in on a rehearsal. We usually practice two or three weeks in advance, so you might plan ahead for a particular service.

WHAT’S AHEAD: The Hand Bell Ensemble will join the 9:15 service June 1st. The 11:15 service that Sunday will be held in the sanctuary, to celebrate Confirmation of our 8th grade students. The Jubilation! children’s choir will sing at the June 8th 9:15 service. That service will also include Michael Hickey on trumpet.

On a Saturday in June to be announced Christ Lutheran will host the ordination of John Hickey! This is an exciting culmination of work and joy for so many, and we look forward to hearing his brother Michael on trumpet, in addition to the anthem “Ready, Lord,” which has been sung at every Christ Lutheran ordination.

Also, some very special music is on tap for June 22nd when CLC celebrates our graduating high school seniors at the 11:15 service. The Senior Choir will join the Contemporary Worship Band for a special anthem, stirring together the gospel number “I Am Delivered” with the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and the Lutheran hymn “Lord Speak to Us That We May Speak.”

WHAT’S BEHIND: On May 1st Christ Lutheran hosted the joint Ascension Service, which featured a powerful combined choir that left everyone looking forward to a new opportunity to join forces. The Hand Bell Ensemble May 4th was absolutely great, especially in “On Eagles Wings.” The Jubilation! choir was also wonderful May 11th, Pentecost and Mothers Day. What a perfect encore for the day was “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck.” There’s just one more opportunity to hear each of these ensembles this season.

NEVER FORGET: As of this writing, May 25th, the Sunday of Memorial Day week-end, is still ahead of us. Still grieving the loss of Jordan Haerter in Iraq, we plan a special presentation of “America the Beautiful” at the 9:15 service, dedicated to the memory of all those close to the CLC family, who have died in the service of our country.

THANK YOU!
The brass quartet of young musicians who presented the Offertory anthem at the 9:15 service May 18th was something special. They presented “I Bind unto Myself Today” (LBW Hymn #188), based on a beautiful traditional Irish melody. When you visit our website, gotoclc.org, click on “Pictures” to see for yourself. Thank you Katie Williams and Marc Recio, trumpets, Sarah Demarest, French horn, and Markus Sher, trombone, for making that service such a memorable occasion.

May

After the Ascension Day service Thursday, May 1st, a number of people shared some very positive comments with me. One was happy that the money donated was given over the Huntington Respite Program, a joint effort by several local houses of worship to make sure no one has to spend winter nights shivering in the woods, or huddled outside buildings. Others were happy for the opportunity to see so many, including old friends, from different congregations nearby.

Most were saying many kind things about the music, the choir and the anthem, and rightly so. The choir numbered 45 or more, as singers from a half dozen area Lutheran churches, all wearing the distinctive robes of their home church, joined forces for this stirring occasion. We sat in the front pews, simply standing and turning around to sing. I led from atop a chair in the center aisle so the choristers could see me.

And the sound! It filled every nook and cranny of the sanctuary and resonated underfoot. I guess you could call this our Surround Sound Sanctuary.

We have joint services at Epiphany (January 6th) and Ascension, and in the glow of this service there was talk of again having a joint celebration of Martin Luther’s birthday November 10th. Not all of these services are hosted by CLC, and even November 10th seems a long time from today; but watch for these services in the Sunday bulletin and mark your calendar when the time comes. Don’t let an occasion like this slip away.

The Handbell Choir provided beautiful music for the 9:15 service May 4th. They played “How Great Thou Art” as a prelude, but it was their wonderful setting of “On Eagles Wings” that set the tone for day. That was a sound to remember.

The Contemporary Worship services (11:15) are continuing the new Gilligan’s Island series, exploring the “Seven Deadly Sins” as suggested by the castaway characters. On May 4th this service was held in the sanctuary to make room for the blood drive in the Fellowship Hall.

COMING UP: Pentecost is May 11th this year, coinciding with Mothers Day. The Jubilation! children’s choir will join the 9:15 service for the occasion, and the Senior Choir will present the rousing traditional anthem Every Time I Feel the Spirit. Following Pentecost the Wednesday evening services (7:30 p.m.) will resume using the Stay With Us, Lord service music, led by a number of volunteers from the Senior Choir.

The following Sunday, May 18th at 9:15, combines a First Communion celebration with Holy Trinity Sunday, and some very special music is on tap. Christine Kenny and I will play a organ/piano duet as prelude (Holy, Holy, Holy), and the Senior Choir will sing a beautiful Benediction by Benjamin Harlan. In the Offertory anthem spot, though, we look forward to a brass quartet presenting I Bind unto Myself Today (Hymn #188). At this writing we anticipate Katie Williams and Matt Recio, trumpets, Sarah Demarest, French horn, and Markus Sher, trombone, adding a memorable accent to the service. Thank you!

Thanks go to John McNally, whose French horn added a wonderful counterpoint to our Senior Choir anthem April 13th (My Shepherd Will Supply My Need). It accented the music of “Shepherd Sunday” like nothing else could. John is music director of long standing at Saint Sylvester’s Church in Medford, a recently retired music teacher (Connetquot District), and an active NYSSMA and All-State adjudicator. And my wife Jean’s brother! Thanks, John!

Also, thank you to the Jubilation! children’s choir for their beautiful voices in that same service, led by Victoria Metal. Vicky is in the seventh grade, a splendid singer and young musician herself. Here she stood in for the director, her mother Joanne, who fell ill the previous evening. Joanne is perfectly fine now, of course, but unfortunately she missed the very auspicious debut of her younger daughter leading the choir!

April

Thank you to Doug Brueggemann and the Handbell Ensemble for adding their musical gifts to our worship services April 6th. We anticipate they will play next on May 4th, also at our 9:15 Sunday service.

On April 13th our children’s choir joins the 9:15 service, presenting Standing in the Need of Prayer and Everybody Ought to Know. Also in that service the Senior Choir will be joined by guest musician John McNally on French horn, to present My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.

Looking ahead, there will be a joint Ascension Day service Thursday, May 1st at 7:30 p.m. We are hosting a joint service with area Lutheran churches. One exciting feature will be an anthem presented by the combined choirs of these churches, Go Forth in His Name. There will be time for fellowship and refreshments afterward.

March

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

HOLY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
In the Lutheran calendar, Holy Wednesday is the last day of Lent, followed by the Three Days preceding Easter. Our noon services continue with Don Hoyer and Lois Shamer providing music. In the evening we will serve soup at 6:30, followed by a Taizé worship service at 7:30. Taizé features a meditative atmosphere and contemplative music. Mike Recio and Donna Monten will join Chris Kenny to provide the music. Wednesday in Holy Week used to be called “Spy Wednesday,” a reference to Judas’s identification as the betrayer of Jesus. Our prayers focus on perseverance and the confidence we need in our faith to endure the trials of life.

THE THREE DAYS
MAUNDY THURSDAY, MARCH 20
The first of “The Three Days,” Maundy Thursday commemorates our Lord’s Last Supper, the first Communion, and Jesus’ Commandment that we love one another as He has loved us. We will serve a light meal, a Soup Supper, at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7:30 service. The members of the Contemporary Worship band steps away from their usual venue (Sundays at 11:15) to provide the music.

GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 21
CLC will present one service at noon, which yours truly will accompany, and a Tenebrae service at 7:30 .pm. “Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows” or “darkness,” and the service evokes the emotional impact of Christ’s passion. The service will be structured around Jesus’ Seven Last Words. The Senior Choir will sing, and Jean Fuller will present “Watch the Lamb,” a recounting of the story of Peter of Cyrene.

EASTER VIGIL, SATURDAY MARCH 22
The Easter Vigil awaits the turning of darkness to light, death to Resurrection. Readings dominate the service and trace the spiritual journey of mankind from Genesis to the miracle of Easter. This 7:30 p.m. service is prepared and presented by the Luther League. With its message drawing together the services of Lent, The Three Days and Easter, it can be a most powerful centerpiece of the season. And then, there is, at last,

EASTER DAY
SUNDAY MARCH 23
Services at 8:15, 9:15 and 11:15. Special music at 9:15 includes brass (Michael Hickey, Matt Recio and Katie Williams, trumpets, Sarah Demarest and Eric Levine, French horns); The Contemporary band is back at the 11:15. Alleluias are back. Easter Lilies abound. As Paul observed, if there were no Easter, there would be no church. Come share this Easter joy at Christ Lutheran Church.

Thank you!

These past few days have seen some wonderful music presented by a number of people, including Vicki Metal, singing “What Wondrous Love Is This”; Donna Monten and Katie Van Zant, adding flutes to “Heaven’s Song” with our Senior Choir; the Handbell Ensemble under the new leadership of Doug Brueggemann; and the Jubilation Singers presenting “Thy Word” Sunday, March 9th, and Wednesday the 12th. Thank you for these gifts of music to the worship services here at CLC.

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RINGING CHANGES
Sheldon Warfield is a musician of rare talent and accomplishment. Not only has his extraordinary recorder playing graced our services and special occasions, but his leadership of our handbell ensemble has produced some wonderful performances and a good deal of enthusiasm on the part of that group as well as the listening congregation. Their last performance February 3rd was arguably their finest, and makes it difficult to wish him farewell. I’m sure that wherever he applies his musical touch the response will be similar, so I wish Sheldon Godspeed, as I delight in anticipating his success in a new venue.

And yet it’s my happy privilege to announce here that Doug Brueggemann has agreed to be the new director of the handbell ensemble, starting immediately. Doug has directed ringers, as they are called, for fifteen years, and CLC is blessed that he is able to step in and continue this developing part of our music ministries. We gladly welcome Doug, and wish him the very best in the days ahead.

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
For the Sunday School opening February 3rd, Jessica Mahoney played “Joyful, Joyful” (Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”) on the piano. I was impressed not only with how well she played and how poised she was at the keyboard, but with the attentiveness shown as always by our Sunday School audience. The parents of these children should be happy for the good concert behavior, for that’s what it is, shown at every presentation by our young musicians. Congratulations to Jessica for playing so well, and I hope others will be encouraged to share their own musical accomplishments at these Sunday School services.

The Jubilation Singers children’s choir sang a jazzy number from the new Veggie Tales movie Feb. 10th, with an array of percussion instruments and unmatched enthusiasm in their voices. Their next presentation is March 10th, singing the Amy Grant song “Thy Word,” which they have already been practicing with director Joanne Metal.

On Ash Wednesday at the 7:30 service, Lynn Roa, soprano and her husband Carl on guitar joined John Byers on guitar and our senior Choir for my arrangement of the Reuben Morgan song, “What the Lord has Done in Me.” It was a moving presentation, and a great way to start our Lenten Wednesday services, which will include some special music presentations as well as the “Holden Evening Prayer” service music. Our new Wednesday 12:00 services include the “Morning Prayer” music, led by Don Hoyer and Lois Shamer.

Judy and Joe Sredniawski presented “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” at our 8:15 service February 10th, and we look forward to their performing “As the Deer” at the 8:15 service February 24th. In the Offertory choir anthem at the 9:15 service Asta Mangan beautifully sang a brief soprano solo, the highlight of the work, “Draw Me Near the Cross.” Among special presentations in the month ahead, I look forward to Katie Van Zant and Donna Monten both adding their flutes to our Senior Choir anthem, “Heaven’s Song,” March 10th.

THE CLC SEARCH
We are actively looking for a new Music Director. The Church Council has redesigned the job descriptions of the old Music Director’s post to reflect our growing music ministry, and the responsibilities have been divided between the new “Senior Choir Director” and the “Contemporary Service Music Director.” Inquiries and suggestions may be addressed to the pastoral staff, the church office, or to me or any of the Council members. This is an ambitious search, and I have every confidence we will have some great news in the days and weeks ahead.

Corodon Fuller