Morning After Message - Reminderd for Sunday, January 26, 2023
Elizabeth Norton
Dearest Choir,
You were FABULOUS last Sunday. I hope you all were showered with appreciation, as I was. Deep gratitude to our “fab five” who spent extra time getting that lead part together . And nailed it. Ella’s Song was the right container for that service and I appreciate all that you did to make it happen on short notice. Believe me, I do not plan to do this to you every week! You’ll see below that we have solid plans for February.
Thank you to the 25+/- folks who came to Zoom rehearsal last night. A bit of déjà vu, non? I apologize for any confusion the change caused and appreciate the grace extended by most of you. We got it wrong. I hope we’ll be able to revisit our policy and practice for deciding when to close the building. So much has changed since we last had to make these decisions. In the meantime, we muddle through. Practicing imperfection . . .
I think we made good use of the time and the medium last night. I know we’ll be able to pull Sunday’s anthems together in our time before the service. And we got a good preview of “coming attractions.” Please see below for links to Rutter Requiem info and to videos of “This is Me.”
Reminders for Sunday, January 29:
9:15 (promptly!) – Warm up in the front of the Sanctuary
9:45 - Break
9:55 – Gathering Hymn
10:00 – Service.
Wear: All black with colored scarf or tie
Music
One Voice
We Are All Bound Up Together
Hymn #1000 – Morning Has Come
Hymn #145 As Tranquil Streams
Hymn #1028 The Fire of Commitment
Pastoral Concerns:
Peggy Brace broke her hip and is in rehab at The Commons at Lincoln. She would love cards from her choir friends!!
3 Harvest Circle, Room 23
Lincoln MA 01773
The Memorial for Peggy Gallo will be on Thursday, February 9 at 11:00 am. More info to come about a role for the choir in her service.
Announcements:
From Sara Ballard:
The November 2 - 5 directory photo sessions that we had to cancel have been rescheduled for January 24 - 28. Everyone’s participation os important: if you haven’t been photographed yet, please go to https://firstparish.org/wp/church-directory-photo-session-sign-up and sign up for a session.
From Joy, Pam, Sally & Tammie: The Nashoba Valley Chorale is pleased to announce The Chariot Jubilee – Celebrating Black Composers, featuring music by the 18th century Brazilian composer José Maurício Nunes Garcia and several contemporary Black American writers. Performances are February 4 at the Acton Congregational Church and a pay-as-you-can concert on February 5 at the Groton Dunstable Performing Arts Center. For details and tickets, visit nashobachorale.org.
RUTTER REQUIEM! – we have a date! The plan is to build the worship service around it on Sunday, April 30. Please also reserve Saturday morning, April 29 for rehearsal with instruments. I am so pleased to have this on the calendar!! So please, put it on yours!!
Music Links for your edification and pleasure:
This is Me is one of our anthems for 2/26. Here’s a link to the recording I played for you last night of the a capella version we’re singing. And here’s the very moving trailer from “The Greatest Showman.”
Rutter Requiem info: This is the link to the choir website with all the information I put together about the Requiem back in 2020. The site is still under re-development, but this page should work.
Virtual Choir Folder: Please bookmark this link if you haven’t done so already. Or, make it a favorite or just save this email!! This is especially important if you plan to be attending rehearsals on Zoom because I post scores in this folder. It also contains the attendance sheet.
Beth
Wednesday nights:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/226003979?pwd=RnpDV3B0ZjBpRHJHZFZaQjY3Q0VEQT09
Meeting ID: 226 003 979
Passcode: singing#
|
DATE |
PREACHER |
MUSICIAN(S) |
MUSIC |
|
1/29 |
Liz Weber |
Choir |
One Voice, We are All Bound Up Together |
|
2/5 |
CB Beale |
Choir |
I am Willing, Show Us How to Love |
|
2/12 |
Liz Weber |
Choir & Gospel |
Deep Peace (choir) |
|
2/19 |
Seth Carrier Ladd |
Conchords |
Esto les Digo, Set Me As A Seal |
|
2/26 |
CB Beale |
Choir |
Do Not Leave Your Cares; This is Me |
COVID POLICY UPDATE – Middlesex County (and most of Massachusetts) has moved back up to the level of high community risk for COVID transmission. Following our First Parish policies, we are returning to universal masking throughout the building. .This link to our website has the latest First Parish policy info https://firstparish.org/wp/first-parish-covid-19-information/
Returning after COVID exposure/infection POLICY UPDATE: The staff has updated our policy for returning to work after a COVID exposure or infection. I would like to apply this policy to returning to choir. The policy is in the linked document. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Airqueen Masks: Here’s a link to the website for the Airqueen masks that I recommend. https://airqueen.com/ I also have some in the office if you’d like to try one out. We continue to mask when singing, no matter what the location in the building.