St. John's United Methodist Church 5312 Backlick Road Springfield, VA 22151 Return Service Requested
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St. John's United Methodist Church 5312 Backlick Road Springfield, VA 22151 Return Service Requested fJfie a numtf1zhJ pttD.lieatwn ot Boutique and Bake Sale Tell all your friends and neighbors that on Saturday, December 3, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon, a Christ• mas Yard Sale/Bake Sale will be held in Donaldson Hall to raise funds for 2012 missions. We will have all kinds of items for sale including things for the men. The committee is asking our St. John's family for donations of gift items, Christmas decorations, toys, games, children's books, jewelry/accessories," guy stuff", and kitchen/household items (no furni• ture). Please drop off your donations, including your pies, cakes, cookies, breads, and brownies, at the church on Friday, December 2. Contact Kimberly Strong, Betty Johnson if you have any ques- tions. Thank you. A Notefrom ~ ~ ~ Our Pastor's Message ou,~ CHRISTMAS IS SOMETHING TO SING ABOUTI Every year I either say or hear someone else proclaim that Christmas preparations are a little earlier than the previous year. This year I heard a local radio station play "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on No• vember 10th. And why not? Christmas IS something to sing about. It has been said that there is magic in this season, and although I'm not certain that "magic" is my word of choice, it is a time of miraculous events. Music helps communicate God's story it in a way that is memorable and fresh. It has been said that the earliest Christmas Carols were considered pagan by a Church Council in the mid-Seventh Century and therefore Christians were prohibited from singing these tunes. By the Sev• enteenth Century everyone was having so much joy in singing these carols that the Puritan English Par• liament decided to abolish Christmas altogether. In spite of the fact that the Christmas Holiday was eliminated, people continued to celebrate the birth of Christ. The popularity of the Christmas Carol in• creased and it was in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries that many of our favorite carols were created. That brings us to a fascinating Carol Story regarding one of the most prolific songwriters of all time. His name is Charles Wesley. During Charles' lifetime, he wrote over 600 songs. One of his most famous lyrics is Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, something some theologians proclaim is the entire Gospel of Je• sus in one song. The music for this carol was composed by Mendelssohn almost a hundred years after Charles Wesley wrote the words. How did this come about? Wesley nor Mendelssohn would not have wanted this music to be joined with these words. Mendelssohn, a Jew, had made it very clear that he wanted his music only to be used for secular purposes. Wesley, made it known that only slow and solemn religious music be joined with his words. In the mid Nineteenth Century, long after both composers were dead, an organist named Dr. William Cummings,joined the joyous Mendelssohn music with Wesley's beautiful words to create the carol we know and love today. But what about other works such as The Twelve Days of ChristmaS? That song was originally written as a catechism song for young Catholic children to learn about their faith. The True Love in the song represents God and the many gifts He offers to believers. The partridge in the pear tree is also sym• bolic. Mother partridges will act as decoys to lead predators away from their young. So, the partridge in the carol represents Jesus. Other images also appear: Two turtledoves are symbolic of the Old and New Testaments. The Three French hens are the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. The Four calling birds represent the four Gospels. The Five gold rings are the first five books of the Old Testament reminding us of the Creation Story ....and the images continue throughout the song. Once we know the story behind The Twelve Days of Christmas it is difficult to hear it without being reminded of a deeper meaning. The stories of Christmas Carols are abundant. I think that the message here is that Christmas is something to sing about. As you experience and feel all the wonder of this glorious season, let us re• member why we celebrate and then let those wonderful feelings flow into our carols and songs. Merry Christmas. Pa4tott ~dt A "Note" about Music Ministry St. John's Organ - Past and Future Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concert During August, 1973, Casavant Freres of Canada installed The Ars Nova chamber orchestra is an innovative the first unit of St. John's pipe organ. Official use began 30-member self-conducted chamber orchestra. with the first Sunday of September that year. The concert given in celebration of this event featured organist Nor• The musicians take on the role of the conductor, man Scribner, Director of the Choral Arts Society of which produces a more collaborative approach to Washhington, D.C. Mr. Scribner served as primary con• orchestral performance. The Ars Nova is made sultant for St. John's new organ project. Thereafter fol• up of members and former members of the Bos• lowed a series of public concerts featuring the organ with voices, instruments and as a solo instrument. ton Philharmonic, U.S. Marine Band, and Indian• apolis Symphony. The group also includes other In 1977 the Dyer family presented a memorial to Harold distinguished D.C.area musicians. Dyer in the form of a "ChimeAtron". Although not a part On Saturday, December 3 at 3: 00 p. m. of the organ, these two octaves of chime sound function Ars Nova will perform a holiday concert with through the great keyboard of the organ. organist Kitty Yang at St. John's. The program In 1983, the Music Committee at that time began re• includes J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.3, searching feasibility of additions to the organ and began Arcangelo Corelli's Christmas Concerto, Albinoni's the drive for funds. The success of this drive was assured famous Adgio in G Minor, and Elgar's with a generous donation from Esther Goerg in memory of her brother, Thor Ohman and contributions from St. Serenade. ~~ John's interested members. Mr. Scribner recommended .;J~ Ed Hammons for consultation and subsequently the firm St. John's 2011 Christmas Concert ~, "~ of Irving G. Lawless and Associates signed the contract with St. John's for the additions. The additions, com• St. John's 2011 Christmas Concert Ch~'nstmas c'~oncert "Nine Lessons and Carols" will be on pleted in November 1986, brought the original organ to the state we currently use. Irving Lawless and Associates Sunday, December 18 in the worship service. did the maintenance of the organ since then. A new Zim• The Annandale Strings, a community string or• blestem (cymbal wheel, a "bell-star" light sound) was chestra directed by Ms. Ruth Erbe will start the also added in 1986 in loving memory of Elizabeth Bracey performance at 10:00 a.m. All of St. John's by family and friends. choirs will present special music in this program. From 1986 to 2011, St. John's organ served the congrega• There will be a reception after the worship ser• tion faithfully on every Sunday. Many musical events of vice. St. John's also feature this brilliant sounding organ in ac• companying the choir, performing with orchestra, or as a Advent Special Choral Concert solo instrument. The award-winning Annandale Singers, directed In September 2011, after almost forty years since the first by Ms. Jessica Lardin, from Annandale High use of St. John's organ, the Lawless & Associates needed School will perform a special Advent Choral Con• to repair the two air reservoirs of this organ. With careful cert at St. John's on Monday, December 19 at assessment, the company also indicated the problems with 7:30 p.m. the relay and combination action systems of the organ. They said: "Weare not looking at immediate failure, but this is something that should be addressed before too Christmas Eve Special Music long." St. John's Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir, Youth Instrumental Ensemble, and Bells of Praise will On Friday, January 6 at 7:45 p.m. Dr. Kitty Yang will present special music in the Christmas Eve 7:00 perform an organ concert to establish a special fund for St. John's organ upgrade in the near future. p.m. worship service. Three special concerts featuring St. John's organ in 2012 Lenten season will also receive offerings for the organ upgrade fund. News Around the Church Prayer Ministry GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE, DONATE BLOOD Focus: Sharing thanks during the Holidays MAKE YOUR LIFESAVING APPOINTMENT TO• Question: How do we share our thankfulness? DAY TO DONATE BLOOD AT ST. JOHN'S ON DECEMBER 4. 6 St. John's is Looking for a Director of Everyblood transfusion.three secondsTheresomeoneis no substituteneeds a BLv~t/VE~ Christian Education for human blood. Approximately 32,000 St. John's Pastor Staff Parish Relations (PSPR) pints of blood are used each day in the United Committee has initiated a job search for a Direc• States. One out of every 10 people entering a tor of Christian Education. This individual will hospital needs blood. Anyone who is in good plan, initiate and oversee all Christian Education health, is a least 17 years old, and weighs at least programs within St. John's United Methodist 110 pounds may donate every 56 days. All blood Church including: Adult, Youth and Children's Sun• types are needed but the blood center is often day School; Confirmation Class; Sunday Children's short of types and A.