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Dec
05
2011
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Posted 164 days ago ago by Bob Burroughs  0 Comments
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3 likes
Quote
“The joy that you give to others...is the joy that comes back to you.” John Greenleaf Whittier
Scripture
“David ordered the heads of the Levites to assign their relatives to sing in the choir, accompanied by a well-equipped marching band, and fill the air with joyful sound.” 1 Chronicles 15:16
Prayer
Great Redeemer, Creator of all things beautiful, Giver of Your Son, Jesus, to make us fit for heaven, I give you praise and glory this day for the joy that Christmas brings to us, especially those who have the rare and unique privilege and honor to present the music of Christmas to our people and to honor You. May You, the Great God of the Universe, be pleased with our offerings during this season of glorious singing, playing, acting, and worship. In the strong name of the One who came to save us from our sins and to put His joy in our hearts, Jesus. Amen, and Amen.
The Joys of Worship
There are so many great joys in the worship experience for God's people - Sunday after Sunday, month after month, and year after year. We could never be able to recount all of the joyous times that worship exploded into mystery, celebration and rejoicing--without our knowledge or planning! The Lord just showed up! Know what I mean?
There is also no greater time for joy in worship than the Season of Christmas! There seems to be more smiles, humor, good times, family blessings, love, grace, mercy, and peace at this time of the year than any other! People seem to go out of their way to be joyful, to radiate warmth and do things for others. And--one of the greatest joys of the Season is the thrilling opportunity for musicians to present the Christmas Story through music: choirs, dramas, handbells, orchestra, praise teams, keyboard instruments, children's choir, soloists, ensembles and more.
We prepare music for our church family--yes, but many also prepare music for the community, and some go to sing in hotels, malls, nursing homes, hospitals, children's hospital wards and even airports! What weary traveler would not pause a moment to hear a choir sing the music of Christmas!?!? Most airport administrators will allow choirs and instrumental groups--especially handbell choirs--to perform, if you ask ahead of time and preparations are made in advance. What a glorious gift you will be giving to those weary travelers who hear your groups.
Each of us can tell at least one great Christmas story about the music of the season. How about making this a real "season of joy" and make a great memory for you and your people--and challenge them to go above and beyond what is expected of them! You will be happy and experience a large dose of Christmas Joy!
One final thought: don't neglect your family in Christmas preparations! Block out special times with your sweetheart and your kids - together and separately. Your Christmas joy will be fuller if you include your family and spend quality time with them.
What think ye
Leadership
True Leadership
Only those leaders who act boldly
in times of crisis…and change
are willingly followed
(Jim Kouzes)
Leaders LOVE progress! This is what keeps a true leader on the move. The leader's “rule of thumb” is: if things don't move forward within a certain time frame, it may be time to move on to something else.
Progress requires change and for any church organization worth it’s salt, change must come along the way. Look at common, ordinary things around you—and how they have changed—most of the time, for the good. Those organizations that refused to change with the times have closed their doors for good. Think of typewriters and even outdoor phone booths!
Aldous Huxley’s words are so very true: The tendency of the masses
is towards mediocrity.
This is particularly true within the church. Why are certain classes, groups, or ministries allowed go nowhere and seem to be dead-on-arrival? Nothing is happening of any spiritual value, so it seems. Then comes these familiar words: Because we've always been done it that way!
- Accepting the status quo in an organization, class or ministry is the equivalent of accepting a death sentence—or failure
- Where there is no progress—there is no growth. Where there is no growth—there is no life
- Leaders often find themselves in the precarious and sometimes, career-jeopardizing position of drawing attention to the need for change
- Courage for a leader is a non-negotiable quality
The main job of a leader is what? Andy Stanley says it this way: "Leaders challenge the people for the sake of what could and should be!" This takes guts! The leader is the one who has to act on what he sees. Courage is essential to the leader. To be the first one to step out requires courage. Courage to act defines a leader and in turn, the leader’s initiative gives those around him courage to follow.
Consider the following:
- WESTERN UNION Internal Memo, 1876: This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.
- DAVID SARNOFF’S associates, in response to his urging for investment in the radio: The wireless music box has no imaginable
commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody particular?
- THOMAS WATSON, Chairman of IBM, 1943: I think there is a world market for maybe five computers and each will weigh 1.5 tons.
And my favorite:
- In 1900, CHARLES H. DUELL, then Commissioner of the U.S. Office of Patents, after compiling all the new patents for the turn of the 19th century, sent this letter to the President of the United States, and would he ever be embarrassed today:
Dear Mr. President:
It is my high recommendation that you consider closing the US Patent office...because...everything that could possibly be beneficial to mankind...has already been
invented!
Leaders have the responsibility to take people where they have never been before! It is the task of a leader to provide the people a future vision and ask them to follow…to embrace the unknown…with no guarantee of success. It takes guts, nerve and courage. Leaders must lose the fear factor.
Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage assumes fear! Courage in leadership is the willingness to strap on your fear and move ahead. The leader who refuses to move until the fear or risk is gone will…never…move.
Veteran leaders will tell you this: “I wish I had taken more risks!”
Fear--not a lack of ideas--is what keeps many leaders on the sidelines. Eventually, a leader’s lust for progress overwhelms his reluctance to take risks.
Failure is part of success. Seasoned leaders view failure as a necessary step in their story. Ask such a leader this question: How did you overcome fear of failure? He probably can’t give you an answer because—he’s never even thought about it! So the common man, leaders appear to be fearless.
The truth is: true leaders simply do not fear what other men fear!
(Article is based on the out-of-print book, THE NEXT GENERATION LEADER, by Andy Stanley. If you can find a copy, get it!)
This Idea Will Work
Rules of Success
The rules of success have not changed in thousands of years. Sure, we may rearrange the wording and fit the examples to suit our situation. Fundamentally, the rules for living well and achieving some measure of success are the same as they have always been. Try these on in 2012 and see if they will work for you:
1. Work hard.
2. Work smart.
3. Tell the truth
4. Patience and persistence are good things.
5. Put in a bit more than you take out.
6. Save regularly and invest it wisely.
7. Live with integrity.
8. Love well, and be worthy of being loved.
9. Set your own goals.
10. Follow your heart.
Humor
A Politically Correct
Christmas Greeting
Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all.
Additionally, we wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2012, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.
(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)
To read more of this week's MME, including new music reviews, please look to the right.
© 2011 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
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Ministry
Tools
by Bob Burroughs
Joy of Worship Anthem Reviews
New Product Reviews
Anthems
Beckenhorst Music Press presents four new anthems for your consideration especially for the Easter Season, but of course, usable any time in the church calendar. Four outstanding and well-known composers are featured in these reviews. Enjoy these fine pieces. You can see and hear them on the website. Just click on the titles. Enjoy!
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee, Arr. Mark Hayes; SATB, Keyboard; BP1944; $1.80
 Mark Hayes is one of the best-known composers/arrangers around these days. He has taken the familiar Gladden text and set it to a new melody. This is typical Hayes--very good choral voicing and excellent and playable keyboard! I so admire his work. The opening chorals are in unison, breaking into easy four-parts in measure 19. The keyboard writing fits the choral lines so very well, a trademark of Hayes. A change of pace occurs in measure 47, a bit slower and then proceeds to a glorious key change in measures 51-55. Again, the keyboard writing puts one almost in a daze and then, the sopranos and tenors take off on a descant supporting melody line, sung by the altos and basses. The ending is so gorgeous - quiet, reflective and gives the conductor lots of time to "milk" the last measures! Get this one!!
Crucified, Craig Courtney; SATB, Keyboard; BP1953; $1.95
 I never cease to marvel at the gift of musicianship and composition the Father has given to Craig Courtney. This very fine Easter anthem is breath- taking from the very beginning. Your choir, as well as the congregation, will be captivated by this opening unison line by the women's voices. It is so dramatic! Be sure to keep it at his suggested tempo and dynamic level of mp. The conductor would be very wise to carefully go through the anthem and mark the tempos and dynamics Craig has provided - and insure having a performance worthy of the text and music! As expected, Craig's keyboard writing is profound. It will take a very good pianist to bring it to life. Measures 27 through 32 are electric! Cue carefully and with assurance. The pianist will love measures 43 through 47! The ending is such a statement of sadness. Go ahead and purchase this one. You will not regret it one bit.
O Blessed Cross of Calvary, Lyrics by J. Paul Williams; Music by Lloyd Larson; SATB, Keyboard; BP1952; $1.80
If you are seeking a fresh, no-nonsense Easter anthem--medium-easy, with enough challenge to make it interesting and meaningful, look no further. J. Paul Williams passed away recently--much too young and with so much to give, but left behind a bounty of texts that have been set by some of today's great composers! This is no exception. Lloyd Larson knows how to undergird his choral writing with supportive and quality keyboard writing. The women open this piece, with the men join in measure 12 and it is pretty much SATB from there. There are some exciting writings throughout the piece, such as measures 51 through 54, as the key changes dramatically. This is very fine writing and will be an excellent addition to any choral library.
Beautiful In His Time, Dan Forrest; SATB, Keyboard; BP1955; $2.10; Optional Flute or Cello - BP1955A
 Dan Forrest, the very gifted composer/arranger, has resigned his position as Composition Professor at Bob Jones University, to take the position as Assistant Choral Editor for Beckenhorst Music Press, effective June 1, 2012. He will remain in Greenville, South Carolina, with his family. This is a great move to be able to work along side Craig Courtney. Dan is one of the up-and-comers in the Choral realm these days and everything I've seen from Dan is quality material.
Dan has taken Ecclesiastes 3, paraphrased it to bring forth a wonderfully delightful anthem that is filled with surprises and enhanced by either flute or cello, in addition to Dan's very excellent keyboard writing. I think I would be inclined to use cello rather than flute, if a good player is available. The congregation hears "flute" a lot, it seems, but a cello is something dramatically different and adds so much to this piece. The 'open score' writing in measures 50-58 is very good. A soaring soprano descant shows up in measures 96-104--and they need to be strong sopranos! The ending is nice and allows the conductor lots of time to mold the conclusion to a very fine anthem! Well done, Dan!
New Product
Love Unknown, A Festival of Passion Readings and Hymns, Michael Burkhardt; Readings by Max Lucado; Reader, SATB Voicing, and Optional Children's Choir; Preview Pack: $16 (70-150P); Choral Score: $7.95 (70-150); Leader's Guide, Organ Score, Full Score and optional congregation. Instrumental, Handbell Parts and other information about this work is available by clicking on the cover below or the title above.
 If you are looking for a festival of hymns and readings centering on the events of Holy Week, look no further. This is a very traditional, yet an exciting 50 minutes worth of fine music and outstanding organ writing, as well as very well-written vocal lines, brass, and handbells! The congregation gets to sing along in several of these very familiar Easter hymn tunes.
Burkhardt has chosen the writings of the well-known writer, Max Lucado, from an adaptation of The Final Week of Jesus, taken from his outstanding book, And the Angels Were Silent. The opening pages of the choral score provides some very good Performance Notes, and a word from the composer. All of the pieces in this collection can be performed individually as well as collectively. This is a grand way to introduce the work to the congregation before the hear it performed all together, with the readings. The CD in the Preview Pack has a very fine performance of this work that we suggest you hear carefully as you make your decision to purchase the work. It will be well worth your time, and you'd still have time to get your order in and the piece learned in time for Holy Week!
New Book
Surprised by Worship, Travis Cottrell, with Forward by Beth Moore; Zondervan; $16.99; 160 pages
 Travis Cottrell has released quite a few CDs and he is also a Dove Award-winning artist! Travis' main claim to fame perhaps is that he has been the worship leader for Beth Moore and the hugely successful Living Proof Live! Conferences for some 20 years.
I just finished this book--in one setting, because it was extremely well done! Throughout the Bible, there are stories of fear, suffering, and joy in which those involved unexpectedly fall into a genuine moments of worship. In her introduction to this short book, Beth Moore helps to show how to fully experience God’s presence at surprising times and places in your own life.
This surprise may come as the good news for which you have been waiting, an unhappy e-mail from a friend, a near-miss accident on the freeway, special recognition you weren’t expecting, or a scary diagnosis from the doctor. No matter the circumstance – in every surprise of life – a celebration can happen. An uplifting, meaningful, life-changing celebration of worship. In his book, Cottrell shows how to fully experience God’s presence at surprising times and places. By joining Travis in this exploration of biblical and modern-day examples of people who were surprised by worship during life’s travails and triumphs, you’ll discover greater meaning in your own circumstances. God’s voice can be heard, His hand can be felt, and His heart can be seen. Especially when you least expect it. Open yourself to Him...and get ready to be surprised.
Conferences
It is time to consider attending The Annual Calvin Symposium on Worship, a three-day conference, sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching, Grand Rapids, Michigan from January 26-28, 2012.
This ecumenical conference brings together a wide audience of pastors, worship leaders/planners, artists, musicians, scholars, students, and interested worshipers, with people coming from around the world to gather for a time of fellowship, worship, and learning, seeking to deepen and integrate all aspects of worship, develop gifts, encourage each other, and renew their commitment to the full ministry of the church.
The theme for this symposium will be: The Psalms: When Life is Prayer
You can see the entire program by going to: http://worship.calvin.edu/symposium/program.html, and register online by going to: http://worship.calvin.edu/symposium/register.html
This is a world-class ecumenical conference and would be a great symposium for the entire staff of your church to attend! It will be well worth your time and expense. Don’t miss it!
Bits 'n Pieces
Christmas comes whenever we do something for someone who is not expecting it…when we go out-of-our-way - on-our-way to be the presence of Christ to someone else. Amidst all the rehearsals, final polishing, and preparations, remember:
• who's you are
• who you represent
• whom you serve
• who has called you to your task
• who goes before you, above you, behind you, under you, and is in you
Be patient, kind, understanding, gentle, merciful and the presence of Christ in all you do this season!
Final Thought
Here are some Christmas thoughts to get you in the season! It's never too early!
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. (Oren Arnold)
•••••
Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. (Attributed to a 7-year-old boy, named Bobby)
•••••
This is my grown-up Christmas List
No more lives torn apart
That wars will never start
And time will heal our hearts.
Everyone will have a friend,
That right will always win,
And love will never end. (Anonymous)
•••••
One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. (the late Andy Rooney)
•••••
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. (Burton Hillis)
•••••
Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you--to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old? Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world: stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death? Then you can keep Christmas! But you can never keep it alone. (Henry van Dyke)
•••••
Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. (Charles Schulz)
Merry Christmas from Monday Morning Email!
Bob Burroughs
© 2011 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
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