The church programming season has ended and we have much to be thankful for in this Centennial year. We have an amazing level of talent in this church, and are blessed by all the folks willing to share theirs!
Choirs are taking a break for the summer and worked very hard right up to the end, recording special anthems for our centennial CD on Saturday, May 31. Then they led the Hymn Festival services on Sunday, June 1. The same Milwaukee company that does all the Kantorei recording in our Worship Center recorded our choirs. David Nethery recorded our worship teams and organ separately. The CD should be available for purchase by Rally Day. A huge thank you to all our choirs, ensembles, directors and accompanists for another wonderful year of worship leadership!
Many thanks to Jeff Wessman who designed the beautiful Centennial Worship Banner, Deb Bobzien who created it and Ted Breidigam who built the wonderful stand to display it! It is a great addition to the Worship Center during this centennial year of celebration.
We are grateful to Paul Laprade, director of choral activities at Rock Valley College for writing “Upon This Rock”, our second commissioned work of the centennial year. (The first commissioned work, “We Are Alive” was written by Pastor Reid Matthias and sung as our Hymn of the Day on May 3 and 4. It will be sung again when Pastor Hub Nelson preaches on July 12 and 13.) Paul Laprade’s piece was our Hymn of the Day for the June 1 Hymn Festival services. Paul spent considerable time researching and writing the text, which is based on our Values and Vision. Another arrangement for choirs and brass will be forthcoming this fall.
Finally, thanks to John Wahlquist and Kaare Nevdal for creating “Den Himmelske Lovsang”, (The Heavenly Praise Song) which was our anthem for June 1. Kaare sang the tune and dictated the Norwegian words to John, who translated the text and created a beautiful arrangement sung by our Sunday School children and choirs.
Rest well everyone, and return invigorated for service again this fall. All our choirs and ensembles are eager to invite new members, so please think and pray about where God might be able to use your musical gifts at Our Savior’s.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Many Thanks
Many thanks to all who responded to our 2008 Worship Survey regarding how we utilize our new A/V system in worship. While only a small percentage of the congregation completed a survey, most respondents said they appreciated how the system is used in various ways. Many shared thoughtful ideas, in some cases expressing highly- detailed feelings regarding our new technology. We are grateful for the input, and the feedback we received will be used to help us make decisions regarding how the system is utilized in various worship services.
Our beautiful new Evangelical Lutheran Worship books were delivered, placed, and dedicated in the Worship Center one week ahead of schedule. God is faithful and we surpassed our goal of 500, receiving gifts for 575 books. There was no cost to the church, since all the ELWs were donated, most in honor or memory of loved ones, Others were given simply as gifts. In fact, the church will save quite a bit of money over the years by using these worship books. Savings will come from substantially reduced bulletin sizes (a “green” effort that also saves trees) and less staff time required to create them each week. Bob Kinney organized the effort to place the ELWs in pews and remove the LBW and WOV books. Thank you to all who donated or helped in any way with this important project!
By the way, LBW and WOV books are available until approximately mid-June to anyone in the congregation who would like to have one at home. Just pick up one or both from the book rack in the atrium. The remaining books will be donated to a small or mission church requesting them, as determined by the Worship Cabinet.
Our beautiful new Evangelical Lutheran Worship books were delivered, placed, and dedicated in the Worship Center one week ahead of schedule. God is faithful and we surpassed our goal of 500, receiving gifts for 575 books. There was no cost to the church, since all the ELWs were donated, most in honor or memory of loved ones, Others were given simply as gifts. In fact, the church will save quite a bit of money over the years by using these worship books. Savings will come from substantially reduced bulletin sizes (a “green” effort that also saves trees) and less staff time required to create them each week. Bob Kinney organized the effort to place the ELWs in pews and remove the LBW and WOV books. Thank you to all who donated or helped in any way with this important project!
By the way, LBW and WOV books are available until approximately mid-June to anyone in the congregation who would like to have one at home. Just pick up one or both from the book rack in the atrium. The remaining books will be donated to a small or mission church requesting them, as determined by the Worship Cabinet.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Healing with Music
Don Wingate passed away last month at the age of 90. He was a good friend and faithful member of the Chancel and Men’s Choirs for many years. In fact, Don was a charter member of the Men’s Choir and sang with the group for 38 years, right up until his death! Don worked as a volunteer at SwedishAmerican Hospital, even on the day he died. He went home feeling tired that Thursday, went to bed and never awakened. Don loved singing and he loved the camaraderie of the choirs. He used to tell me “Larry, I just don’t understand why more people don’t want to sing in the choirs. It is so much fun and such a joy to make music that praises God”.
Don shared an article from SwedishAmerican’s Worksite Wellness newsletter from June, 2005. It talked about managing stress, and healing with music. Music Therapy is “the use of music to induce relaxation, promote healing, enhance mental functioning, and create an overall sense of well-being”. Most people experience a visceral reaction to music: a burst of energy upon hearing an upbeat song or a sense of calm during a soothing classical piece.
Music is used to communicate, and in the church we certainly use it to communicate the truth of the Gospel and the love of God at all our worship services, through widely varying styles and musical ensembles or instruments. Don told me he thought the music at Our Savior’s fit into the music therapy thoughts expressed in the article.
We will miss Don Wingate, his dedication and enthusiasm. I urge you to consider attending a rehearsal of one of our fine choirs or ensembles. You don’t have to make a commitment – just check it out. See if you can experience the fun and joy that meant so much to Don.
Don shared an article from SwedishAmerican’s Worksite Wellness newsletter from June, 2005. It talked about managing stress, and healing with music. Music Therapy is “the use of music to induce relaxation, promote healing, enhance mental functioning, and create an overall sense of well-being”. Most people experience a visceral reaction to music: a burst of energy upon hearing an upbeat song or a sense of calm during a soothing classical piece.
Music is used to communicate, and in the church we certainly use it to communicate the truth of the Gospel and the love of God at all our worship services, through widely varying styles and musical ensembles or instruments. Don told me he thought the music at Our Savior’s fit into the music therapy thoughts expressed in the article.
We will miss Don Wingate, his dedication and enthusiasm. I urge you to consider attending a rehearsal of one of our fine choirs or ensembles. You don’t have to make a commitment – just check it out. See if you can experience the fun and joy that meant so much to Don.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Larry's Blog
Welcome to Larry Runestad's blog on Worship & Music at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Rockford, IL
Please comment on any aspects of our worship & music
Please comment on any aspects of our worship & music
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