Grace notes November 2013

OUR TEAM

Stan McKinnon Rector

stan@gracesiloam.or

Lora Walsh Curate, Director of Christian Formation

& Youth Ministries lora@gracesiloam.org

OFFICE Bay GreenHill

Office Administrator Hope Johnstone

Communications Administrator Anne Jones

Financial Administrator

CHILDREN Ben Bergstrom

9am Children’s Chapel Coordinator Meredith Bergstrom, Godly Play Director

Angie Chaney Kitchen and Nursery Coordinator

Travis Chaney 11am Children’s Chapel Coordinator

MUSIC Liesl Dromi

Assistant Choirmaster Dr. Jan Wubbena

Director of Music & Organist Terri Wubbena

Children’s Choir School Director

MINISTRIES Altar Guild

Episcopal Church Women Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Meals on Wheels Prayer Chain

VESTRY Shereen West, Sr. Warden (2013)

Ben Rhoads, Jr. Warden (2013) Meredith Bergstrom (2014)

Curtis Smith (2014) Grace Davis (2015)

Rob Lambert (2015) Mike Moss, Treasurer

Hope Johnstone, Clerk

COMMITTEES Building & Grounds Christian Formation

Community Life Finance

Outreach Worship

WORSHIP SCHEDULE SUN Holy Eucharist, 9:00 AM Christian Formation (all ages), 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, 11:00 AM WED Holy Eucharist & Healing, 12:10 pm MON Morning Prayer, 7:15 AM

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

A NEW PERSPECTIVE Sometimes we need to see things differently in order to see them at all. I’m sure you’ve

seen those pictures that can look like two completely different images depending on your

perspective: Is this a picture of a young woman or an old woman? Yes, it is both.

In the same way, we need a shift in how we view this time of year known in most Episcopal

churches as stewardship month. That season when we ask you to make a commitment to

the church in the form of a pledge for the next calendar year in order to plan our ministry

together.

But this year, rather than looking at our giving as a way to primarily fund our budget, I’d like

for you to consider a paradigm shift - to look at what you give not as something the church

needs in order for us to worship and serve together, but as something you need in order to

grow in your love for God and your neighbor. Yes, the church needs your gifts in order to

“make our budget,” but that is secondary to our need to give as an expression of our

gratitude and dependence on God for everything we have and are. As the Psalmist says,

With a freewill-offering I will sacrifice to you;

I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. Psalm 54:6

This week, many of you will receive a stewardship packet in the mail. Look at the materials

with new eyes and see if you can see your need in the midst of the church’s needs. Then,

make your pledge as an offering of thanks to the Lord.

Peace,

Rector’s Reflections

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC STAFF Perhaps you will recall that my column last month was a partial answer to the question, “Why does the choir

sometimes sing a piece in a foreign language? What’s the point?” I wrote of the difficulty of writing a

translation that both fits the music (with regard to the number of syllables and the placement of accents that

coincide with the accents in the music) and is a translation in idiomatic English that does not alter the meaning.

Perhaps you will recall trying to sing Fe-liz cum-ple-a-ños a usted [or tu], querido Juan to our “Happy birthday”

tune – and struggling.

Perhaps you will also recall my promise to complete the story this month. This time, let’s think about the music

that the composer designed for the text. This point is as applicable to texts in the vernacular language as it is to

those in another language.

Composers aspire to enhance the meaning of the text through their music. They have the desire (some would

say, the “conceit”) to think that the text may carry more weight, be more memorable, if set to appropriate music.

They give careful thought to the shape of the text, beginning with the big picture. They ask questions: How is

this text organized? Are there any changes of topic, of point of view? Were this written as prose, would it be

broken into more than one paragraph? (In long pieces, those suggest new sections in the music.) If it’s written

as poetry, what is the structure? Quatrains, couplets, or other organization of lines? Rhyme scheme? Any

rhyme within a particular line (as there are in limericks)?

Composers pay attention to the possibility of writing a melodic line to reflect some aspect of specific words, and

it’s called word painting. E.g., caeli et terra and “heaven and earth” are common phrases in Latin and English,

respectively. Caeli/heaven is always set to higher pitches than terra/earth: the heavens are above the earth, in

music as well as in our physical reality. Word painting is a device sometimes not noticed even by the performer,

for it may have meaning only to the composer, and, as such, hold deeply personal significance.

An example I often use in the classroom is the German metrical paraphrase of Psalm 130, Aus tiefer Nöth. I think

the German literally means “In deep need,” whereas our common English translation of the psalm is “Out of the

depths.” Already you can identify some change in meaning, however slight. The word tiefer means “deep,” with

the accent on the first syllable. It’s the second syllable of the German phrase, whereas the English equivalent is

the fourth syllable of the English version. The Reformation-era tune composed for this text has a rather large

downward skip for the second note – it truly is “deep”! – and then it skips back to the first note for the third

note, and then moves up again for the fourth note. When that text is translated into English as “Out of the

depths,” the word “depths” is on the highest note in the melody, not the lowest! The music contradicts the

meaning of the text when translated into idiomatic English, whereas it reinforced the meaning in the original

language.

So what are we to do? If we really want to perform a specific piece of music, we usually opt to honor the

composer’s intent by singing it as he conceived it, including the language which he set to music. And so that all

of us might know its meaning, we offer as literal a translation in idiomatic English as can be found.

The legacy of choral music for worship left to us includes much music in Latin and other languages of

extraordinarily fine quality. It is coincidental that I am writing this for the newsletter for November, the first day

of which is All Saints’ Day – but this point is particularly apropos for this month. Using music in other languages

(indeed, any music of the past) also serves to connect us to the communion of saints, that is, the whole Church,

the entire body of Christ, both the living and the dead. It’s not inconceivable that at least one of us here at

Grace Church is descended from a singer in Palestrina’s choir at the Sistine Chapel, Bach’s choir at the

Thomaskirche in Leipzig, or the Chapel Royal in the time of Elizabeth I, led by William Byrd and Thomas Tallis.

When we sing music by these composers or dozens of others, we might be singing something first sung by an

ancestor.

At the very least, we are singing something composed and sung by Christians of a former time and often a very

different culture. We are connected! May our singing a text in a different language always serve to remind us

of that.

Jan Wubbena

Acciaccaturas

All Saints’ November 3

Our choir will sing a litany of our loved ones on All Saints’ Day,

Sunday, November 3rd

. This day stems from Ancient

Mediterranean communities who did not record birthdays. This

made death dates, especially of notable persons, more likely to

be remembered. On the anniversary of the death, loved ones

would gather at the tomb and give thanks for the person’s life.

The early church adopted this custom of remembrance

celebrating a feast day known as All Saints’ Day.

To lead worship on November 3rd

at 9:00 a.m.

The Grace Children's Choir School (GCCS) will lead worship

this Sunday, November 3rd, at the early service under the direction of

Terri Wubbena. GCCS is comprised of 2nd

-8th

graders in our

community. Join us Nov. 3rd

to support these young choristers.

There will be a small reception after the program, all are welcome

to attend!

GCCS takes a very educationally-focused approach, giving its young

choristers musical skills and an understanding of worship that will

last a lifetime. Through its participation in the Royal School of

Church Music (RSCM), the GCCS provides a structured and leveled

learning environment individualized to each chorister's heart and

voice.

GRACE CHILDREN’S CHOIR SCHOOL

November 3rd

at 2:00 a.m.

Remember to adjust your clocks this Saturday night before you

go to sleep in order to account for Daylight Savings. We will

"Fall back" and gain an hour so move your clocks back one hour

in preparation for the new time table.

Holiday Scheduling

Will you be available

to serve during the

Thanksgiving and

Christmas holidays?

Please let the office

know of any

scheduling

preferences or unavailability. Requests for serving in special

holiday services will also be accommodated. Thank you!

November 24th

at 6:00 p.m.

Join us for a special service of Evensong on November 24th

,

Christ the King Sunday, at 6:00 p.m. We invite you to celebrate

with a heart thankful for the past and present, and a heart

hopeful for the future.

Thanksgiving Office Hours

The Grace Church Office will be closed from Nov. 27-29 for the

Thanksgiving Holiday. We will still have our Holy Eucharist and

Healing service on Nov. 27th

at 12:10 p.m. Choir will not meet on

Nov. 27th

. Please contact the office before those dates if you

need anything.

OFFICE HOURS

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

TIME & TALENT

EVENSONG

“Each of you must

give as you have made

up your own mind, not reluctantly or under

compulsion”

2 Cor. 9:7

November 10th

at 9:45 a.m., Stewardship

Potluck Brunch

Our annual stewardship potluck is Sunday,

November 10th

at 9:45 a.m.. Stewardship

packets will be mailed to you and are also

available in the church office. We look forward

to fellowship as well as learning more about

being good "Stewards of God's Grace". Please

bring an entree, side dish, or salad and join us

at 9:45am, all are welcome!"

This is also a great time to update or take a

photo for the directory board. Please see Hope

if you would like to be included on the photo

directory wall.

The holidays are a difficult time for the children and youth at the NWA Children’s Shelter (14100 Vaughn Road,

Bentonville, AR 72712) . Many are not able to return home to their families or a home environment during the

holiday season.

With your help, NWA Children’s Shelter’s staff and volunteers can provide a warm and happy holiday season to the

children in their care. To individuals or companies who would like to help: listed below are the items that would be

greatly appreciated for the holidays especially support in the form of gift cards from any of the following businesses:

Walmart

Old Navy

Target

Kohl’s

Payless Shoes

You may also make a donation by sending a text message. Text CHILD10 to 20222, to donate $10 to NWA Children’s

Shelter (standard texting rates apply) If you choose to provide an actual gift item (rather than a gift card), some age-

appropriate suggestions are listed below. (NOTE: If more gifts are received than can be used this holiday season, we

may utilize your gift to help celebrate birthdays or other special occasions throughout the year — but it will be used

to help the children at the shelter.)

Infant & Pre-school Wing (ages birth to 4)

Super hero toys (for under age 3)

Imaginext toys

Dress-up clothes (for boys & girls)

Dora toys

Thomas the Tank Engine toys

Puzzles & games

Girls’ Wing (ages 5 -12)

Littlest Pet Shop toys

Tinkerbell toys

Disney princess toys

Dress-up clothes & shoes

Barbie clothes

Kitchen & cooking toys

Monster High dolls

My Little Pony toys

Care Bears toys

One Direction toys

Electronics: MP3 players, digital cameras, karaoke

machines

Science kits

Puzzles & games

Any new movies released in 2013

Boys’ Wing (ages 5-12)

Legos

Dress-up clothes

Action figures (especially super heroes)

Pokémon Toys

Spiderman toys

Remote-control vehicles (cars, helicopters, etc.)

Beyblades

Star Wars toys

Sports equipment: rollerblades, skateboards,

basketballs, footballs, etc.

Science kits

Puzzles & games

Teen Wing (ages 13-17)

Perfume & body spray

Flat irons, Hair dryers

Purses

Jewelry sets

Art sets (appropriate for adults)

Craft kits (knitting, scrapbooking, etc.)

CDs: (must be edited versions) Taylor Swift, One

Direction, Justin Bieber, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry,

Justin Timberlake, Selena Gomez, Bruno Mars,

Mumford & Sons, Pink, etc.

Science kits

Puzzles & games

MINISTRY OF THE MONTH

Holiday Donation hours:

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday

We would like to have all holiday gifts delivered to the Shelter by Dec. 17th.

www.nwacs.org

Save the Date: February 2014

Winterstar, the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas’

annual winter retreat for Jr. and Sr. High

students, will take place on two different

weekends at Camp Mitchell: Senior high

Winterstar will be Feb. 24–26; junior high

Winterstar, March 2–4. Both weekends will

begin on Friday evening, with registration at 8

p.m., and end Sunday morning, with a closing

service at 10:30 a.m. For more information or

to register, visit the Winterstar website.

Feb. 7th-9th Jr. High Winterstar

Feb. 28th-March 2nd Sr. High WInterstar

Click here to visit a link from the previous Winterstar

camp with photos so you can see what to expect.

Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. from December 1st – 22

nd

Advent begins Sunday, December 1st! We will have evening

prayer services at 5:00 p.m. each Sunday in Advent, Dec. 1st –

22nd

. Evening prayers are a great way to steady our hearts and

minds in the face of the holiday bustle. Childcare will be

provided.

WINTERSTAR 2014

ADVENT EVENING PRAYER

Additional details will be available closer to each date

Nov. 10, 2013 Stewardship Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

Jan. 06, 2014 Epiphany Pageant & Chili Supper

Apr. 19-20, 2014 Champagne Breakfast & Easter Sunday

July 2014 Summer Potluck & BBQ

Aug. 14, 2014

Rally Day Potluck

NOVEMBER 3RD

Daniel 7:1-3,15-18

Psalm 149

Ephesians 1:11-23

Luke 6:20-31

NOVEMBER 10TH

Job 19:23-27a

Psalm 17:1-9

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Luke 20:27-38

NOVEMBER 17

TH

Malachi 4:1-2a

Psalm 98

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

NOVEMBER 24TH

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

2013/2014 POTLUCK SCHEDULE

LECTIONARY READINGS

Our building is 34 years old this month!

“…through the dedicated support of some 26 charter members,

the Rt. Reverend Christoph Keller, bishop of Arkansas, officiated

at a ground breaking service for a new church building on

December 10, 1978, and also officiated at the dedication and

consecration of the building on November 11, 1979..”

Siloam Springs Music Festival, Nov. 16th

at 7:00 p.m.

Fall Concert produced by the Siloam Music Festival Series,

headlined by internationally known saxophonist Grady Nichols,

a Siloam native, with two gospel choirs and over 50 local

talented musicians. Great variety, this is a must-see event.

Saturday night, November 16th, 7:00 PM, Camp Siloam

Auditorium (formerly the Baptist Assembly). Please

visit http://SiloamMusicFestival.com/ for more details.

DID YOU KNOW?

FALL CONCERT