Thursday, May 3, 2012

Well, so much for the once-a-week updates.  I hadn’t realized that it’d been almost two months since I last updated.  My apologies.  So, here’s what’s been happening.

Holy Week went very well, especially “Last Words from the Cross” on Good Friday.  The Shepherd’s Choir stepped up to the plate and made the music come alive for the service and for the congregation.  For any of you choir members reading this, I give you a great big THANK YOU!!!

“Jesus Is My Shepherd” has been sung during the Kid Friendly Worship at Good Shepherd the past three Sundays.  I had the opportunity to hear it sung by the children and their parents for the first time this past weekend.  Jaime, the Youth and Family Ministry Director, developed actions/sign language to go along with the first verse.  After singing with the group twice, I listened and watched on the third time through.  I’ll be honest.  I choked up just a little bit.  How great it was to hear children singing my music, especially with words sung to God.

“Jesus Is My Savior” is the second song to be completed.  The text was written by my mom and I am truly blessed and honored to have the opportunity to set this and two other texts she’s written for the children’s song project.    An idea for “beefing up” each of the songs came about after the second tune was finished.  Once a song is complete, I will set the music in a variety of idioms to be used within worship.  “Jesus Is My Savior” has already been arranged as a round; as a lead sheet; for handbells and for solo piano.  The final setting will be a fugue.

Needless to say, the direction of this project has taken a rather delightful turn.  I am looking forward to presenting each of the songs in the original version and in the alternate arrangements.

With God’s grace and patience, I will update sooner next time.

God’s Peace!