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FRANKLIN COMMUNITY CHURCH...“UNITED METHODIST IN AFFILIATION, ECUMENICAL IN SPIRIT” For Electronic Contribution Our Staff In This Issue... Pastor: Rev. David Huseltine Director of Music: Maria Cimarelli Message Pastor David 2 Worship Music Maria Cimarelli 2-3 Director of Discipleship: Dr. Althea Simpson Discipleship - Dr. Althea Simpson 3-4 Early Childhood Ministries: Kim Greidanus Letter from the Editor 5 Mission and Outreach 6-7 Office Administrator: Delia Price-Rice WSCS 8 Church Announcements 9 Bookkeeper: Karl Heiss Prayers and concerns 10 Custodian: Bill Prazuch Calendar 11 Katie Rourke & Stepha- Scavenger Hunt 12 Preschool Director: nie Cochrane All Members of the Ministers: Congregation Our Mission: Franklin Community Church is a beacon of faith, embracing each individual, and nurturing the development of Christian discipleship. A Message from Pastor David Stay Safe! That has become the more conscience of washing our hands and covering parting word that we have been our mouths when we sneeze. More folks will get the using during the Coronavirus pan- flu vaccine. I also hope this concern for the health demic. We say it to family and and well being of others will be sustained. friends, but we also say it to the How much better we would all be if we honestly cashier at the grocery store, the cared about the wellness of others. This would im- carry-out delivery person and the person we pass on pact not only how we thought about viruses, it our walk. Those two words express our wish that would also deal with diet and living conditions. we all can avoid catching the virus. What we have learned with the Coronavirus is that I believe it is wonderful that we are being mindful of what impacts one person can have a rippling effect the well being of others. Not only are we concerned touching others. May we come to see the well being about those that we know, we are also expressing an of the group depends on the well being of each empathy for others. That love for others is exactly member of the group. what Jesus taught. Stay safe! Can it become more than well meaning As we eventually move past this crisis, there will be phrase that we say to others? Can it be a driving some changes that will happen. I believe we will be force in how we view and treat others. Worship Music by Maria Cimarelli, Director of Music The local classical music radio station, ner, particularly concerning the dogma of various WRCJ, recently spent some time fea- denominations. Yet, biographer Walter Niemann turing the music of Johannes Brahms. asserts that “Brahms was a convinced and believing This seventeenth century German composer wrote in virtually every member of the Lutheran Church…Not as regards form of serious music — symphonic, dogma, not in the letter, but in the spirit.” solo instrumental pieces, chamber music, solo vocal music, and large and small choral works. His music in particular has always spoken to me and reached a One only need study the various compositions of deep place in my soul. Although Brahms never Brahms to note numerous testaments of his faith in wrote hymns his musical output reverberates with a holy Scripture and in God. Written over the sec- deep spirituality and affirmation in the power of ond movement of his Piano Concerto in D Minor he God. inscribed, “Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini” (“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord). Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany One of Brahms’s later works, Four Serious Songs, in 1833. He was born into poverty and began earn- ing his living at a young age playing the piano. speaks of life’s mysteries as noted in Ecclesiastes. Brahms’s parents were God-fearing Protestants. The final song in the work references the theme of He developed a love for the Bible, (particularly the jubilant love, faith, hope and charity from Corinthi- German translation by Martin Luther), and sacred ans 13. music under the tutelage of Pastor Geffcken at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. Johannes was a sincere Brahms wrote his greatest choral work, Ein believer but held his beliefs in an unorthodox man- Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) in 1868, while living in Vienna. The composition’s title re- 2 Worship Music by Maria Cimarelli, Director of Music fers to the German text used in place of the more the three most important questions pertaining to common Latin text. Brahms drew much of the our life here in this world — whence, where- text from the Lutheran Bible. Requiems, or fore, whither…Straightaway the ideas flow in masses for the dead, are typically solemn pieces upon me…clothed in the right forms, harmonies filled with echoes of mourning and fear. and orchestration… A year later Brahms died. Brahms’s work, however, was written for the According to a newspaper, “All musical Vienna living. It presents themes of challenge and followed the great man to the grave. defiance, but ultimately peacefulness, acceptance and solace. The choral work was inspired by the death of Brahms’s close friend, composer Robert It seems apparent upon listening to the musical Schumann. compositions of Johannes Brahms that he was a man inspired by the divine. I urge you, especial- ly during these sad and frightening times, to find In 1896 Johannes Brahms had occasion to meet a recording of Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem to with writer Arthur Abell and violinist Joseph Joa- listen to. You need not understand the German chim for lengthy discussions on the topics of in- text (although there are many recordings in Eng- spiration, religion, and the Bible. Many years later lish as well) to gain a sense of wonder and peace. the contents of these talks were published in a Even many years after the composer’s death God book entitled Talks with Great Composers. is using Brahms’s music to offer comfort. How Some memorable quotes from Brahms include: mystical and divine that we can hear the voice of “…all truly inspired ideas come from God…I God through the music of a composer long gone begin by appealing to my Maker and I ask Him from this earth. Dr. Althea Lynn Simpson, Director of Discipleship Music has always been an important Growing up surrounded by music, I bore witness to part of my life. As a girl, I was sur its power. I watched music heal, soothe, comfort, rounded by music. My mother inspire laughter and joy and sometimes inspire out- would often hum songs as she read rage or serious disagreements, if “that song” was or cooked. My brothers and I al- played. I remember having the latter sentiment as I ways had music playing on the radio, stereo, 8 track listened to Celine Dion sing “My Heart Will Go or cassette player. At their homes and in cars, my On” over and over again as my broken-hearted family always had music playing. The interesting thing friend crooned along. As we head into the month of is that the style of music was never predictable. My June and continue to Shelter in Place, I find that family had a variety of musical tastes. So, I grew up music is now more important to me than ever, es- hearing all kinds of music including the country of pecially the music of the church. Eddie Arnold, the Queen of Soul, the Blues of Mr. BB King, the unmistakable voice of Sinatra, the jazzy Ni- Everyday, I am supplied hope, encouragement, and na Simone, the electrifying MOTOWN sound, the peace in the midst of these unprecedented, unpre- gospel sounds of James Cleveland and lots of musical dictable times by Church music. The genres vary styles in between. from Old Time Gospel to Contemporary Christian to hymns to anthems to Contemporary Gospel to 3 Gospel Quartets to Gospel Rap and beyond. As the deer pants for the water While these genres of music differ, I find that each So my soul, need You Lord song has lyrics that use scripture and spiritual When thirsty God, You're the living water truths I need to hear. I have decided to share lit- And my soul, need You Lord tle snippets from a few of my favorite songs from I need You Lord my morning worship medley: “Reckless Love” (Contemporary Christian) by Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson “Love Lifted Me” (Hymn) by James Rowe (verse [Performed by Cory Asbury] 3) [Performed by Alan Jackson] O, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love “Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely of God saves, O, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves He will lift you by His love, out of the angry the ninety-nine waves. I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still, You He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, give Yourself away He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. O, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love Love lifted me! Love lifted me! of God, yeah When nothing else could help Love lifted me!” I pray these snippets inspire you to explore your “Psalm 42” (Contemporary Gospel) [Performed hymnal, You-Tube, and your radio to find songs by Tori Kelly] that uplift your spirit and bring you comfort and There's a quiet place joy. That gives me peace when I'm alone with You There's a hiding place Stay safe and take care. Your Spirit's always there when I'm confused Blessings, Only You can purify Althea All this world won't ever satisfy My heart, it cries 4 Letter from the Editor: I hope all is safe with everyone.