People are Talking - Have you heard what they are saying?

It is a privilege to sing in our choir because it is a way to give back to God. Singing God's praises is like praying twice. It's fun and never seems like work. We are always stretching to reach that perfect harmony with a great group of people, who share with each other as a family. I thank God for each of them and for our talented leaders, Bethany and Doug . Susan

The youth choir and bell choir provide another way to participate in church. It makes the kids feel more a part of FCC. As parents, Scott and I beam from ear to ear when the kids are up front singing or ringing. It brings joy to our hearts that our children are putting smiles on people's faces in the congregation that otherwise might not see a child all week, until they come to church.

Karen

I just had to take this opportunity to let you know how much the music program at FCC has meant to our family. Dory has been involved in the program since kindergarten and has thrived. She has built up her confidence due to the gentle guidance of our wonderful Choral Director. My daughter can now read music and has an understanding of how our Choir performs. She loves music and has been able to enhance her musical ability while growing in Christ through the wonderful hymns she has sung. The high point for her was performing her clarinet solo on Christmas Eve. She has always looked to the older children for inspiration and has especially found that with Beth Somerville as a wonderful example of growing her musical ability within the comfort of our Church. My husband, George, played the trumpet in school and has so enjoyed watching her hone her ability. For us, this program fosters our faith and strengthens our abilities and beliefs in what we can accomplish as Christians thru music.
Thank you, Bethany
JoAnne

I overheard Noah, age 4, telling his great grandmother that "he loved singing to God in the choir." Thanks for your gift of inspiring our children.

Rosalie

For me, singing is about body, mind and spirit. When you sing you relax your body, relax your mind and improve your spirit. You stimulate your lungs and improve your posture and decrease your stress when you sing. I consider singing my “chicken noodle soup for the soul”.

Singing leaves you with a sense of levity and contentedness. It is truly a form of meditation. When you sing with a group your learn how to blend in with the other parts of the choir and experience a sound you could never experience on your own. The whole becomes much greater than its parts. You stop becoming me and become us… this is when you experience harmony… isn’t that what life is all about?

Lee

I have always loved to sing and this is my way of expressing my love to God. Besides that, It is something I do for myself in a very busy week. It gives me a renewed spirit which sometimes can be lost by the end of the work week.

Lorraine

I have always loved to sing and this is my way of expressing my love to God. Besides that, It is something I do for myself in a very busy week. It gives me a renewed spirit which sometimes can be lost by the end of the work week. Lorraine

Holly

I originally joined the choir because I was new to the church and felt it
was a good way to meet church members. I remain in the choir because I
love to sing and enjoy the fellowship of my fellow choir members. Always
having a comfortable seat on Sunday is also a plus.

RuthAnne

I’ve always liked to sing and I sing with the youth group because they probably wouldn’t let me sing alone all the time!

Drew

I just love to sing, and have since I found out I could carry a tune. To anyone who asks, I usually tell them that when I no longer can sing it's time to start shoveling the dirt in.

A friend of ours recently passed away, and what made her more special was the fact that she started her choir career when she was 11 yrs old, and finally officially retired at over 80 yrs. I'm not saying this well, but singing is good for the soul and the body and the mind - it's good exercise for both the mind, lungs and diaphragm, and the soul.

Al

I feel closer to God when I sing praises to him than any other time or place in my life. Choir gives me the wonderful opportunity to combine my love of singing with my love for God, and it’s fun because my choir member are great people.

Vickie

Why I joined the choir is because, I wanted to have someplace besides the shower to sing, and to expand my circle of friends....(oh, and the comfy seats!)
Meghan

Wouldn’t you like to see that music can do for you and your worship? Come and find your spot in our musical family.

Bethany

Newsletter Article December 2008

The Huron Carol

'Twas in the moon of winter time, when all the birds had fled, that mighty Gitchi-Manitou sent angel choirs instead; before their light the stars grew dim, and wondering hunters heard the hymn: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In Excelsis Gloria.
Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found, a ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round; but as the hunter braves drew nigh, the angel song rang loud and high: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In Excelsis Gloria. O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou, the holy child of earth and heaven is born today for you. Come, kneel before the radiant boy, who brings you beauty, peace and joy: Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In Excelsis Gloria.

I have been intrigued with this hymn since I first heard it as a young child growing up on the Northern Maine border. Many of my friends had ethnic roots within the local Native American and Canadian First Nation tribes and this hymn played a prominent role in their Christmas celebrations. But at the local Scottish Baptist girl, I did not really understand the importance of this hymn within their Native community. Just this week, the hymn was brought to my mind again and I decided to do a little research into the history of the song. Here is what I learned from a website teaching about this and other First Nation Carols. http://www.rivernen.ca/legend_6.htm

“The very first Canadian Christmas Carol was written in 1643, by Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf, 1593-1649 It was meant as a gift and teaching aid for the Huron People. Father Brebeuf was a Jesuit Missionary and Linguist stationed at Ste. Marie among the Hurons. Written originally in the Huron language; the carol at some point in time, was translated into French. Mr. Jesse Edgar Middleton translated the carol into English in 1926, and gave it a new name. The music known as Jesous Ahatonhia is based on a 16th century French Canadian Melody

I had wondered about the differences in wording between the Huron Carol and Middleton's Twas In The Moon Of Winter. Mr Steckley; a translator at Humber College; pointed out, it was Middleton who created the lyrics for Moon of Winter probably because of difficulty with the flawed French Translation. Even when all the translation difficulties are taken into consideration, The Huron Carol or Twas In The Moon Of Winter Time does not lose Father Brebeuf's message.

Father Saint Jean de Brebeuf lost his life March 16 1649, during the Iroquois uprising of 1648/1650, when he was captured and slain by the Iroquois. On June 29 1930 Father Brebeuf was canonized by Pope Pius XI.”

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Soli Deo Gloria,

Bethany Kirkpatrick

Director of Music