Gloria!

The chancel choir will praise the Lord with "Gloria!" by Jay Althouse on this Sunday. Gloria is one of doxology during Mass service. However, it has been composed as a piece and performed separately. Gloria is usually very angelic and joyful, praising music. I pray that we all praise the Lord when our choir lift the song on this Sunday.

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo. (Glory be to God on high)

We sing out this song to all people on earth. We sing out this song of good cheer. We sing with one heart and with one solemn voice. We sing so all people may hear.

Let us now rejoice with a song in our heart. In music our voices we riase. Let us now consider that life here on earth is ever deservicng of praise, of praise.

Gloria, Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Psalm 86

The anthem of this week will be Psalm 86 by Carl J. Nygard, Jr. As we know, it has prayer and praise by David. I pray that we all praise and pray to the Lord with this beautiful music in the worship service on Sunday. Here is the text.

Hear my voice, o Lord, when I pray.
Hear my prayer when I cry from the lowly place;
in your mercy, Lord, let me stay; hear my voice, o Lord, when I pray.

Hear my voice, o Lord, when I cry;
Hear my words when I call from the lowly place; I will pray, O Lord, lest I die:
hear my voice, o Lord, When I cry.
From the grave's descent You have taken me, when the men of the world have forsaken me.
In my day of need and my time of grief, hear the prayer for my body and soul's relief.
In the morning , Lord, I will sing with a song that will rise from the holy place,
And my praises, Lord, it will bring: in the morning, Lord, I will sing.
Alleluia~
Amen.

Lake Junalusak III

One of special events in the music and liturgical art week was the children's musical. Older elementary children practiced for four full day and performed the musical on Thursday morning service. My Christine sang with them. What a wonderful opportunity!

Lake Junaluska II

Here are more pictures from Lake Junalusak!

We had a worship service in every morning. The alter was decorated new every morning. After the service, we had our regular rehearsals. Most of us attended for the handbell choir. I sang with the chamber choir, Dawn sang with the adult choir with 300 people. Enjoy!

Let us break bread together on our knees~!

Oh~ yes! This Sunday will be our first Sunday of July, it means there will be the communion which is one of my favorite services. The chancel choir lift up a popular hymn "Let us break bread together" as our anthem. It is a simple melody but whenever I sing the song, I feel God's warmth like rising sun. Let's fall on our knees in front of the Lord's table. What an amazing blessing!

Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

Music and Liturgical Art week at Lake Junaluska in 2009

Oh~ yes! It was amazing again. All services, rehearsals, seminars, performances, scenaries, and even food were great and unforgetable. I wish I could share every moment with you all. I will put some pictures in here so you can at least imagine. From Sunday to Friday, the weather was gorgeous. We all did our best to participate in rehearsals, seminars, and performances from 7:00 in the morning to 9:30 at night. It was certainly tight schedule but worthy.

First night, we arrived around 6:30 and started with our first rehearsal for an hour and half. Five youth and Barb were in one of handbell teams, Dawn was in the big adult choir, and I was in the chamber choir. My Joanne was in the children's choir, Christine was in the musical group who performed the premier of Allen Pote musical on Thursday morning.

Here are some pictures of the first day!

How deep the Father's love for us!

We will lift up "How deep the Father's love for us!" as our anthem this Sunday. As we know, it will be Father's day. I would like to remember and celebrate our heavenly Father and His love through this music. 12 people will leave right after the second service to Lake Junaluska to attend "Music and liturgical Arts week". Please pray for our trip!

Here is the lyric of the text.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure that he should give his only Son to make a wretch his treasure. How great the pain pf searing loss. The Father turns his face away as wounds which mar to Chosen One bring many sons to glory. How high, how wide, how deep the Father's love for us. Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon his shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished; his dying breath has brought me life. I know it is finished. How pure, how strong, how deep the Father's love for us. I will not boast of anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ: His death and Resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart:his wounds have paid my Ransom. How high, how wide, how pure, how strong, How deep the Father's love for us!