Messiah by Handel

On Sunday the Christ Church Chanel Choir and some of the youth choir will sing excerpts from Messiah by Handel.  This will be the entire church service.  The first service is 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM Sunday December 23.

Here is some information about Messiah.  Handel used it as a fund raiser which most contemporary choirs do now.  Here is a link to the story about how Handel used it as a fund raiser.  It aired on the PBS nightly news in 2009 and I thought it was worth repeating.  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/composer_12-23.html

During our rehearsal of Messiah Mark Miller our choir director told us how important this piece was.  It is based on the King James version of the Bible which means it does not use inclusive language.  But it was written in English.  He said that remember when we sing it, there may be people in the  congregation who have never heard Messiah.  I could not believe this since I practically grew up singing Messiah because I have sung it in several choirs and in the Christ Church choir many times.

I asked my voice teacher Martha Elliott about that and she said remember that classical music is her blood and my blood but there are many people for whom this is not true.  I thought about that and now know it is true.  Because as I listen to contemporary music on the radio or TV I do not recognize the music or the singers.  I turned on the concert that was broadcast on 12/12/12 and heard the first act.  I did not realize that the singer was Bruce Springsteen until it was point out to me.  Having said that this means that it is very important that our choir give a good performance of Messiah.  But not just for the music, but for the words as well.

Speaking of singing, my teacher is the author of a book "Singing in Style".  I looked in the book to see what she says about Messiah. She says " One of best known works of Baroque vocal music, Handel's Messiah has be performed virtually every year since its first performance in Dublin in April 1742."

Handel rewrote the music for difference voice parts pending on the singers which he had available at the time so many of the solos are written for different voice parts in different keys.  ( I am currently learning something usually sung by the base)   The size of the orchestra varies as well as the size of the chorus.  Because of this since the her book is for vocal soloists, she advises those singing Messiah to essentialy go with the flow and sing the style that the conductor or other singers are singing.

Messiah is still a fundraiser.  This season The Masterwork Chorus is singing it's 250th Messiah in Carnegie Hall on December 24.  The New York Philharmonic is doing a series of Messiah's as is the New York Choral Society.  Princeton Pro Musica of New Jersey sponsored a Messiah in New Jersey and the Princeton Amature Singers read through the piece last Sunday.  There are also Messiah sings where people bring their music and join the chorus.

Messiah was originally sung at Easter but now it is mostly sung at Christmastime. 

So we hope that you will come and hear us sing Sunday December 23 as a way to start the Christmas Season.

Jeannette Brown
Christ Summit New Jersey
UCC Representative
461 Springfield Ave.
Summit, New Jersey.

Incidentally the title is not The Messiah,  the title is Messiah.

A Resource for Helping kids cope with Death

Here is an article from the UCC News about books sent to Newtown CT.

Jeannette Brown
Christ Church Summit NJ
UCC Representative.
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The UCC and The Pilgrim Press overwhelmed with donations for Connecticut children’s campaign

Written by Emily Mullins
December 18, 2012

The United Church of Christ and The Pilgrim Press quickly surpassed their goal of sending 1,000 donated copies of the Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children coloring book to NewtownUCC members, partners and supporters.
"The members of the Newtown Congregational Church UCC and all who are affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy would like to thank the people of the United Church of Christ for the gift of 1,000 copies of Water Bugs and Dragonflies," said the Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba, UCC Connecticut Conference Southwest regional minister. "These coloring books will help our church minister to families and children facing the grief of these horrible events."
On Dec. 18 – in the wake of the tragedy in Newtown – the UCC and its denominational publishing house, The Pilgrim Press, coordinated an online campaign to send 1,000 Water Bugs and Dragonflies coloring books to Newtown Congregational Church UCC. These 1,000 books have been shipped to the church for distribution to Newtown parents, teachers, families and friends.
"The UCC and The Pilgrim Press are thrilled with the response we received from this effort," said Ann Poston, publisher of The Pilgrim Press and director of communication for the UCC. "Since it was first published 30 years ago, Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children has helped explain the mysteries of death to those both young and old, and we hope the people of Newtown will also find some comfort and peace through this resource."
After surpassing the goal of 1,000 coloring books, additional copies will be sent to other area churches in coordination with the UCC Connecticut Conference.

Thank you for your Donation to the FoodBank

 

Here is a story about a woman who worked in corporate America.  The company decided to run an early retirement plan and it was suggested that she partake in this plan.  She took the offer.  She then found out that because she had a loan on her 401K the company would have to take back the loan money out of her last paycheck.  This happened to be the month of December so that she had very little money for Christmas.  She happened to be a HomeSharing provider  and client so she was able to take the food basket that HomeSharing  donates for Christmas.  Someone had donated Christmas trees that year so that she was able to have a Christmas tree that year.  It was a sad Christmas but made better because she had access to food and a Christmas Tree. 
Note: The Board of World Fellowship currently supports HomeSharing and the agency is active in Union County.  The agency will be giving out food baskets and donated items at a lunch for clients that have requested them tomorrow at the office.

As you may have guessed by now I was that woman.  But I shed a tear as I remembered that year.

I thought of this as I delivered the food  to the Somerset County Food Bank in Bridgewater New Jersey.  This was the food that you had donated and had been sitting in the atrium for about a month.
I guess I jumped the gun as Pastor Chuck said they were to deliver the food to the Hillside Food Bank.  But I heard from the volunteer who helped me deliver the food that Hillside Food Bank is the main Food Bank.  The one in Somerset County would have to BUY food from them when the run out of food.  It would be a a low rate but their funds come from monetary donations.  They prefer direct food donations to the local food bank.  They also take monetary donations because they can purchase food at a lower rate than a regular person could.  They also need volunteers to help stack the shelves.

 While I was there I saw several clients coming in to shop.  They had shelves with food and bread and even some fresh fruit.  I saw oranges on the shelf.  In the parking lot there were Christmas Trees free for the taking that someone had donated.

As we were unloading the car an older African American woman was driven in by a car service.  The driver got her walker out for her and she was wearing red shoes.  The volunteer and I commented on her read shoes and called her Dorothy (Wizard of Oz).  She made a quick trip into the Food Bank to "shop" and came out and got into the car and was driven away.  I waved goodbye to her.

I was wished Merry Christmas by the volunteer who helped me who was also a retired chemist and his wife is also a Shawl Ministry knitter.

All in all it was a good experience and I am glad I jumped the gun and was able to help people who need food.  As I saw on a sign in the Food Bank, "Hunger Does Not Take A Holiday"

The manager of the Food Bank was surprised that I came from Summit.  I told her I go to church in Summit but live in Hillsborough.  Christ Church Summit got the credit for the donation.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DONATION!

Jeannette Brown
Christ Church Summit
UCC Representative.

 

Let us place our trust in God, not in guns

Today was a horrible day.  I expected to go shopping for Christmas but then I heard on the TV the news of the massacre in Newtown CT.  The whole day the TV talked about nothing but the problem.  I sent out a prayer to the prayer chain.

I am so upset that we are now in a period where we can't go shopping, to the movies or even to elementary school without fear of a crazy person shooting you.  Let's pray for the victims and for all of us to see that something can be done to stop these things.  Get rid of the easy access to guns.

 

The prayer from my church was We pray, O God, that you are present with the poor families of those victims of this devastating shooting spree in Newtown, Connecticut.  It's really unfathomable what has happened

 

People talked about it on  Facebook all day.  None could believe this was happening to young Innocent children.  The President came on air and broke down because he was thinking of his two daughters and the children whose lives have been cut short.

 

Here is the report from the UCC about the massacre.

 

The National Officers of the United Church of Christ issued this reflection and prayer in response to the elementary school shooting in Connecticut which resulted in the deaths of 27 people, the majority of which were children under 10 years old.

Reflection from Amistad Chapel:
This afternoon, we gathered in the Amistad Chapel to pray, to share our grief and our frustration. We gathered to lament the loss of life that has taken place today in Newtown Connecticut. This loss of innocent lives is a national tragedy. It took place in Connecticut, but it affects the whole country. Of course, we identify with the people of Connecticut closely. We grieve for the children who died, for the teachers and administrators who died, for their families and their schoolmates. Our prayers are with them today, and in the coming days and weeks.
As we grieve we are aware that this kind of tragedy happens over and over again in this country where for some the gun has become God. We must renew our efforts to control guns and thereby prevent violent tragedies such as this. We must learn how to place our trust in God, not in arms. We must turn swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks.

Our Prayer:
Loving God, our hearts are broken as we take in the tragedy at Sandy Hook School in Newtown. Tears flow as we see the pictures of young children, teachers and parents fleeing a scene of terror and fear, and as we hear the shaken voices of those who escaped. But mostly, Holy One, we are simply stunned that this kind of violence has once again erupted in our nation. We lift our prayers to you now, prayers that your comfort will surround the families of those children and teachers who lost their lives, and prayers for the community of Newtown. We pray for the hope brought afresh to us by the birth of the Prince of Peace this time of year. May it be born in us and infuse all of our relationships. May your hope and peace touch this world as never before. May your love crowd out our despair and feelings of helplessness. May the star which rested over that manger light the way we take as peacemakers. In the name of the One who is to be born we pray. Amen.

The Collegium of Officers of the United Church of Christ
The Rev. Geoffrey A. Black 

General Minister and President

W. Mark Clark 

Associate General Minister

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess 

Executive Minister, Local Church Ministries

The Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo 

Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries

The Rev. James Moos

Executive Minister, Wider Church Ministries

 

I visited Amistad  Chapel when I was in Cleveland.  It is a peaceful place/

The Connecticut Conference of the UCC is weeping for the people of Newton.  Here is the link to the prayers. http://www.ucc.org/news/connecticut-weeps-for-the.html
The conference minister is Rev Chuck Wildman who used to be a minister in the New Jersey Association of the UCC and I have met him.

Jeannette Brown
Christ Church Summit NJ.
UCC Representative.

 

American Fantasy

Here is an article written by the UCC minister of public education, Jan Ressinger.  She is my friend and we had breakfast together when I was in Cleveland last fall.

Jeannette Brown

Christ Church Summit

UCC Representative

____________________________________________________________________________

American Fantasy

Written by Janice Resseger
December 10, 2012

Our society also holds tight to a second narrative that features the individual freed from the bonds of the commons. This is the American Dream—the idea that we live in a meritocracy where all Americans can succeed if we work hard—where we all play by one set of rules and if we are strategic and patient, we can all win—where we rise or fall pretty much on our own.

In a fascinating book, The American Dream and the Power of Wealth, sociologist Heather Beth Johnson explores how citizens explain the narrative of the American Dream. Johnson and a group of researchers conducted in-person interviews. Here is one transcript:

Interviewer: “Do you think there are some ethnicities, races, groups in this country that are more disadvantaged than others? Responder: “Yeah.” Interviewer: “So you think there are certain groups… as a whole that have a harder time making it today?” Responder: “Sure. Definitely.”

Interviewer: “Okay, now, what about the American Dream? The idea that with hard work and desire, individual potential is unconstrained… everyone gets an equal chance to get ahead based on their own achievement?” Responder: “That’s a very good definition.” Interviewer: “Do you believe that the American Dream is true for all people and that everybody does have an equal chance?” Responder: “Yes. Everybody has an equal chance, no matter who he or she is.”

In interview after interview participants tightly hold both beliefs: some people have it much harder in America, and everyone has an equal chance. Johnson concludes the contradiction persists because we rarely openly discuss money. Mentioning wealth is taboo; “the intergenerational transmission of it and the purposeful use of it are normally hidden from public view.”

Today’s Congressional debate about the so-called fiscal cliff and the federal budget is as much about the narratives we believe as about actual dollars and their allocation. Extreme versions of the American Dream castigate those who use government services as lazy, even though millions of those citizens are veterans or public school children, or senior citizens who have paid into Social Security through their entire working lives.

The American Dream does not describe today’s America, where child poverty is 22 percent, highest in the developed world. Seven million of those 16 million poor children are trapped in extreme poverty with annual family income under $10,000. Social mobility has stalled, residential segregation by income increased, and inequality skyrocketed, while federal revenue is lower, as a share of GDP, than any time since 1950. Congress will need to shape the federal budget based on fact not fiction; realities about poverty and wealth must underpin choices about taxation and government’s responsibility.

The United Church of Christ has 5,194 churches throughout the United States. Rooted in the Christian traditions of congregational governance and covenantal relationships, each UCC setting speaks only for itself and not on behalf of every UCC congregation. UCC members and churches are free to differ on important social issues, even as the UCC remains principally committed to unity in the midst of our diversity.

Christmas is a time for Giving

Humm.  Even before I read today's UCC Daily Devotion I was thinking about the process of giving to a not for profit at Christmas time.  We have already had our Alternate Gift program at Christ Church where the members could chose a not for profit agency to donate to in the name of a friend and give a notice of the gift to the friend. But there are other ways we can give of ourselves and gifts to other agencies at this time of year or even all year long.

I receive the local Hillsborough New Jersey newspaper which is printed by the Princeton Packet.  There was a magazine attached which listed agencies in the Princeton area to which gifts could be given.  I just did a Google search and found a list of charitable organizations in Union County NJ. http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/geoShowOrgs.php?code=c34039&v=cf

If your mail is like mine, you are probably getting letters and phone calls from the organizations to whom you sent donations to last year.  This also includes Christ Church and I hope you have made your annual pledge.  I am about to start my campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because I did not do it earlier.

The point of this is that you should not only give presents to people you love and know, but to people whom you do not know but whom will benefit from your gift.

Also  remember that there are people who may be hungry.  You have been donating food to be given to the Food Book.  This week Mayor Cory Booker of Newark is trying to live on Food Stamps.  The story is on the front page of today's (Wednesday December 6, 2012) Star Ledger of New Jersey. http://www.nj.com/starledger/pdf/wednesday.pdf  It gives the statistics about the people who live on Food Stamps and how little food they can purchase with Food Stamps.  Food Stamps were meant to only supplement people's income, but some people use that as the only source of funds for food.  Something to think about as you eat your Christmas dinner.

Jeannette Brown

Christ Church Summit UCC Representative.

561 Springfield Ave

Summit, NJ

Services 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM Sunday

All Are Welcome

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Alternative Gift Giving

Acts 20:35
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus himself, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson
Heads up - tomorrow, December 6 - is St. Nicholas Day. The 4th century saint, Nicholas, is the patron saint of quite a line-up: sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children and students (by the way, who decides these things?). He is also a pre-cursor to Santa Claus, a.k.a. "Old St. Nick."

So gift-giving is associated with St. Nicholas, but gift-giving with a difference.

Nicholas had a thing about giving gifts secretly. He would slip a few coins into people's shoes while they slept - with no indication of who the gift came from.

One year our family decided to "keep St. Nicholas Day" on December 6. We were living in an apartment building then and decided to buy a Christmas wreath of greens to decorate the lobby. (This was not the kind of building where management decorated.) So we all went to the Public Market and picked out a most beautiful, large wreath. Later, as my sons kept watch, I hung the wreath in the building's small and spare lobby.

Subsequently, we had the treat of listening to people notice the wreath and comment. "Isn't that pretty," "I wonder where it came from?" and "What a beautiful wreath!" It was a sly joy to listen in. And it was also a challenge not to claim credit.

This experience brought home to me how often the gifts we give come wrapped, not just in bright paper, but in lots of other stuff: our needs for acknowledgment and affirmation, along with who knows what other "strings attached." It's all this extra wrapping that can make gift-giving such a fraught and complex matter this time of year.

So this year, consider an experiment. Keep St. Nicholas Day and give a gift secretly. Try it tomorrow or on December 25. Taking ourselves out of the equation, even just a bit, may allow for a renewed sense of the mystery and gifted nature of life itself.

Prayer

O God, giver of every good and perfect gift, thank you for holiday traditions new and old. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Called to Lead: Paul's Letters to Timothy for a New Day, and he is also the author of the just-published Book of Exodus: A God is still speaking Bible Study. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com by clicking on Weekly Reading.

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