Apparently I have been really busy the weeks before the other two quarterly business meetings and I have failed to write down why I was so busy. Now the task before me is to try to remember just what I was doing in from January to September! So here goes.
In January we began Epiphany with a Sanctuary installation that featured all of the mirrors in the church building and a few more that were borrowed! To this we added small mirrors that could go in our pocket to remind you that you are the reflection of God in the world every day. With these mirrors we were looking to reflect the light of God in each of our lives a bit more brightly each week. A feature in worship each week was the uncovering of a beautiful piece of artwork painted on a mirror by Rachel Laughlin. It was covered in blue paint and a different section of the work was revealed each week. Epiphany was a fairly short season this year as Easter was in March! Ash Wednesday was February 10 so we moved into Lent.
During Lent the mirrors were mixed with stones that became a pathway to the cross on Good Friday. Each Sunday in Lent the children filled in the “shadow” of the cross with stones and small mirror pieces. On Good Friday the shadow was destroyed and poured out on the offering table. Easter was then a grand celebration of lilies and gold fabric. The Sanctuary Choir, Children’s Choir and the Youth Choir sang a joint anthem and the choir loft was filled with people and song.
The Easter season featured the rocks and small mirrors slowly developing into a picture of a dove rising from the fires of the Holy Spirit to celebrate Pentecost. The season of Pentecost lasts a really long time! We are still in the Pentecost season until Advent begins. The fall season did begin a new with the Narrative Lectionary in Genesis walking through a set of Old Testament stories. The sanctuary installation consists of a large chalkboard with a road on it is a symbol of the road we walk along with God in life.
Through all of these seasons the Sanctuary Choir has been hard at work providing appropriate music for each season. We presented “Return to Me” on Good Friday followed by the joyous music of Easter. The choir sang for most of the summer. We sang “The Lord’s Prayer” a lot during the summer series on the prayer. The Sanctuary Choir is currently hard at work on music for Advent and Christmas.
In the spring, The Older Children’s Choir and Handbell Choir was led by Terry Witt, Jessica Corbitt, Laura Severns and Judy Fiske, the Preschool Choir was led by Helen Davidson and Judy Fiske and the Youth Worship Arts group was led Marty Watkin, Judy Fiske and Ron Simmons. Dylan, Kaeo, Kanoa, and Kekoa Burgess, Frances Lowery, Waysnah Htoo, Monica Iang, Christina Sung and Brynne Severns attended Virginia Baptist AllState Choir in January and February. Five youth and two chaperones attended Animate Worship Camp in June. In July we had 15 people attend Music and Worship Arts Camp at Eagle Eyrie. This fall the Older Children kept their same leadership and Larry Allen is assisting Helen Davidson with Preschool Choir.
This summer Susan Braden presented her musical “Because I Can Sir” in our Sanctuary. This musical tells the story of her battle with cancer. She has also presented this program in NYC at Metro Baptist, in Arkansas and in Roanoke.
It seems that perhaps I was busy. Now you are caught up a little—thank a musician, young or older, for their hard work in preparing to lead our congregation in worship each week.
Judy
