flute with anthem

The bulletin did not mention the flute player yesterday in worship--Joyce Price. Sorry I overlooked that. It's not a mere detail. Her fine playing with the anthem was an integral part of the whole. Thanks so much!

harp clip

If you liked the organ clip, here's a harp clip. It's Sarah playing "Lo How A Rose" last Sunday at Zion. Mike was on a music stand against center of front wall.

http://www.box.net/shared/mksm26re7r

It's Christmas. Let the music roll!

pipe organ student

It's a rare youth who tackles the pipe organ. But is it really harder than mastering the Blackberry?

Eric Kehs kind of makes it look easy. He's active in youth activities and musical activities at Zion. Here I caught him practicing a student version of "Old Hundredth" or the doxology. Click on this and then hit play.

http://www.box.net/shared/gzokgdha25

harp plus this week

Advent III. Every church musician knows the heightened pace. Lots of music. Lots of children and big people. Lots of expectations.

This Sunday is no different. A big effort to tell the story of Jesus.

There will be lots of songs. Lots of instruments. One of them will be this harp which my daughter, Sarah, plays. Behind it, my piano at home.

two food paradigms

I wish I had the camera at the singles fellowship breakfast Pastor Beth planned in a private home. Two splendid egg casseroles, french toast, roasted oatmeal, fruit, and on and on. It was lovely and beautiful beyond words. Thanks so much!

Later in the day it was time to take the red wagon offering of food items to Indian Valley food bank, right in Souderton. It looked like the little country store of back in the day. A difference--no price tags. Things here are free but really expensive--you have to have proof of need. Hunger was the price tag. More than I wanted to pay. Zion items in boxes bottom left.

potter at breakfast

Roy Yoder, a potter not far from Souderton, was the feature "speaker" at the appreciation breakfast for the ministers of the two local MCUSA conferences. I was the song leader.

Roy: the piece is being shaped from both outside and inside.

Songs: "I owe the Lord a morning song," "gathered here in the mystery of this hour" (with motions), Chinese thanksgiving hymn (with hand chimes), advent ancient chant "Creator of the stars of night (with hand chimes), "Spirit of the living God" (hum with eyes closed first time), and "O beautiful star of Bethlehem."

red wagon offering

Pulling a wagon down the aisle. That appeals to the boy in me.

But what was going on in my head when we planned the Thanksgiving Eve service was all those announcements this fall about local food banks running out of food.

Okay. I can see the point of not having a budget offering. But, can we all bring a can for the food bank? That's how we got to Red Wagon Offering. And here it is. Yeah, worship can be a down to earth thing.

blog forgotten?

Where did November go? Looking at my blog you'd think I did nothing.



Fact is, I was doing so much Advent and Christmas preparation that the blog fell by the wayside.

Look at this work on the right. Art by Juanita Yoder, niece of the local potter, Roy Yoder. This is "Advent and Christmas" for a church.

jykart.com, if you want to see more. I can picture this brightening up our Christmas Eve.