Thanksgiving & Living

For as long as I can remember, 

the autumn season ranks in the top 10
of the more serious loves of my life. 

I'm so glad God promised the changing of seasons till He comes again.  

Even more glad to know how He keeps all His promises!  :)

The air is crisper, cooler and colours seem to explode out of nowhere.  

Pretty much every day of every year, I come to the end of this driveway, glance quickly to the left and right and pull out onto the road.  

Then comes this one day (in every year!) that I come to the end of this driveway -- stop dead in my tracks and stare straight ahead, utterly transfixed by a sight that takes my breath away... 

WOW is woefully inadequate.   HALLELUJAH is more like it!

I see something more in this archived picture today.

I see a laneway marking a journey with a portrait of great beauty at the end. 

At the risk of sounding like yesteryear's flower child, that is precisely how I would describe my feelings as we come to the end of our Getty rehearsals.

It has been a season of adventure, excitement, growth, routine, commitment and then *poof* all sprinkled over with JOY like Tinkerbells' fairy dust.  

I am always surprised by the measure & quality of JOY infused by these projects and thus I am also going to miss our not-so-little Getty gatherings.  

So. That said?  I've decided that our final regular rehearsal: 

Wednesday, October 16th at Calvary CRC from 7:00 pm -9:30 pm 

is going to be a bit more special.  

I propose we sing our way through the set list and leave at least an hour for fellowship and conversation with each other.  

Have yourself a light supper but leave room for some schmoozing afterwards! 

After my Thanksgiving Walk with my beloved family today, I'm going to post the new and final set list of songs (which has changed again, yes indeed).

Stay tuned but have a beautiful day first.

 *********************************************************************************
Please put your music in this order.
Final Set List as provided to us a few days ago and as far as I know, fixed and no longer negotiable.
(sorry Derek - please know that I did lament the exclusion of O Church Arise!)

First Half
Northwinds
Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
By Faith
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
A Mother's Prayer
Before You I Kneel (Worker's Prayer)
Lift High the Name of Jesus
When Trials Come

Second Half
Village Reel
Oh Shout for Joy
Perfect Wisdom
Gethsemane
The Power of the Cross
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
See What a Morning
Holy Spirit Living Breath of God
In Christ Alone
Encore:
Nothing But the Blood

New copies of this set list will be available for pick-up at rehearsal as well.

Final Extra-Special Rehearsal will be on Monday, October 21rst at Hamilton Place from 7-9pm.
Details to follow.

Rehearsal Reminder & IMPORTANT news

Well choir peeps?  We're getting down to the wire now.  Spoken like the true electrician I'm not.
Remember the venue change for the three remaining rehearsals please:
Calvary CRC  Wednesday 7 - 9 pm or 9:30pm for the hardy types.
(I'm reserving the last half hour for any section wanting to pound notes)
Hit the link for directions and google map it.

Guess what?  The CD order arrived all the way from Nashville!
Three big 50lb boxes worth.
Enough to send my hubby to the chiropractor :)  He's a good egg, that one.
Bring your $$ and you can go home with your stash of fabulous vibes and a huge thank-you for supporting Getty music ministry.

Here's some exciting developments regarding dress rehearsal...
We can meet on the risers at Hamilton Place on Monday, October 21rst the week of the concert!
I'm not sure when we'll start yet but it could be 6pm or 7pm and it goes till 9pm.  They'll even play our soundtrack over the hall PA system so we get a good feel for the stage positioning and our sound quality.  Carpooling is advisable since it costs $ to park in the underground (or nearby above ground for the big van drivers).  Hit this link: Hamilton Place for directions.

And finally!
On concert day you are expected to arrive at 4pm with your concert clothes on your back or in a backpack (change rooms available) and your non-crinkly refillable water bottle in one hand and your music binder in the other.
Supper will be provided in a large back stage room.  We kindly ask you to consider chipping in $5 to help defray the cost of the catering but will feed you regardless...because you are much loved for the contribution you have made and are making for this glorious event!

See y'll on Wednesday.
Bring your non-crinkly water bottle.
Sleep sweet.
Pray please, for His blessing and for health in body and spirit.

Calling ALL Choristers

Next Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 7pm - 9:30pm
Rehoboth Church
(Strathroy crowd may be leaving at 9pm)
It's imperative that everyone with the privilege of serving in the Getty Choir show up for this rehearsal.

Let me say this again:
It is important that you show up.

It's crunch time and sacrificing in the best interest of our "best possible" at Hamilton Place lies at stake.

I will be taking attendance and will count on your presence unless I hear otherwise from you by email.

• I have actually heard it said that some of you feel you have missed too many rehearsals over the summer to be of any good to the choir.
• Not true.
• Bailing now is infinitely worse for the choir.
• Be there.

Do I feel like this?

Yes.

But a girls gotta do what she's gotta do.

*sigh*

Sign up on the side bar.  

It helps me determine whether the blog is still viable as a communications tool.  

• Promo video's will be shown
• Visiting Rep's from Edu-Deo and Campfire!Bible Camp Ministries
• Posters and tickets made available
• New music for binders
• Information about location/venue change for the remaining 3 rehearsals!

Rehearsal Reminder

A little late I know.  Sound the alarm!

One more sleep till next rehearsal.  

Wednesday, September 18, 7:30-9:30pm 

(that IS tomorrow, yes)

Didn't we just see each other?

Got some news from Nashville and some new music (easy peezy stuff) to share.  I'll be there early again as will my very efficient SIL, Sonya --- Manager Extraordinaire of the Getty CD offer.   She volunteered for the job and I am ever so thankful because it's going like well-oiled clockwork and she makes it look so effortless! (which it definitely would NOT be for me!)

Doors officially open just before 7pm but rehearsal begins at 7:30pm sharp and runs till we've sung through all the repertoire.  We'll start with a sit-down session for In Christ Alone and then stand & sing with the soundtrack again.
 
If you can, bring a water bottle in a real water bottle (as opposed to the disposable crinkly ones) - as we decided at last rehearsal, no crinkly water bottles will be allowed at Hamilton Place, so we might as well invest in one and get used to carrying it about for these last few rehearsals.

Sleep sweet.
Joanne  

p.s. our lovely choir secretary had only one note for us this week:  HYDRATION.
Hence the real water bottle  :)

Isn't "crinkly" a cute word?

Rehearsal Reminder (again)

Hey peeps?  I know I said 7:30pm (and we will definitely start rehearsal at 7:30pm) but we also have a lot of extra things to do and talk about such as:

• pick up tickets
• sign up for the CD offer
• work out some concert day protocol
• get into a comfortable singing position at the front of the sanctuary etc... 

So.
If you can come a bit earlier to sort through all that stuff, Linda and Lilly and myself will be ready to welcome you by 7pm!
See you after one more sleep, D.V.
Joanne

Rehearsal Reminder

You are all hereby reminded of rehearsal at Rehoboth, 

Thursday, September 12

from the hours 7:30-9:30pm.

(that's two more sleeps)

I will be taking orders for the CD offer at this rehearsal and the next one only before placing the order.  It's imperative that you let me know before Monday, September 23rd!

We'll be singing through the repertoire along with soundtracks 

played over the PA system in the church.  

I think it's going to be a lot of fun!

Rehearsal Reminder

Beloved Choir:
It's been a lovely different sort of summer hasn't it?
Not different in that it didn't ROAR past because, shucks, THAT detail never seems to change.
I thought the temperature and the timely rains were sublime parts of this summer though.  (hey, settle down you ardent campers & beach lovers...)
The rain and sun both came in abundance and I trust that somehow worked in your favour too.

But now?
Now we must keep our nose to the grindstone as the saying goes.

You may have read in an earlier posting that we will no longer be pounding notes at rehearsals - which loosely translated means we'll be doing FAR far less of this than we have been.  The focus will be singing (in position!) up front in the church on the "risers" like the bona fide choir we are and getting ourselves accustomed to the sound and feel of standing next to each other.
Those who are rock solid in their notes will be forthwith known as "ringers" and placed strategically in his/her section for the benefit of all.
(This is NOT cheating, it's simply 'savvy' and every choir worth their salt does the same!)

If all goes well, we will once again have the luxury of Rita our rehearsal pianist.
We'll take it from where we left off, probably singing through these songs:
8.   Before You I Kneel
9.   Kyrie Eleison
10. When Trials Come
11.  Hear the Call of the Kingdom
15.  The Perfect Wisdom of our God

Looking forward to seeing you,

• This Thursday evening at Rehoboth from 7:30-9:30pm

The Lord bless you and keep you till then,
Joanne

Oh, with respect to everyone carving out their fall schedules here's what I'd like to propose:

• Please note that our options are Thursday and or Friday evenings only in Rehoboth and YOU are going to decide collectively whether we meet weekly or bi-weekly from mid September till show time.  
• Unless someone covers for me, there is no rehearsal in the first week of October.  With that week out of the picture, our schedule might look like this:
• Thursdays September 12, 19, 26 and October 10, 17.  We can alternate Thursday and Friday evenings but again, that decision will be yours.   

Happy Wednesday Getty Peeps.  Sorry for this 11th hour reminder.
I've been on holiday with extended family - an annual mass converging at Chesley Lake which includes campfire comaraderie far beyond the midnight hour - which in turn requires another week for recovery.  Not a complaint mind you.  :)
But I am SO looking forward to seeing you tonight at Rehoboth 7:00-9:30pm.
We'll be doing some review first and then separate into two groups, men downstairs (thanks Evelyn!) and ladies upstairs for an hour to go over:

1.  Kyrie Eleison
2.  When Trials Come
3.  Hear the Call of the Kingdom

Then we'll join forces and voices for the final hour.
VBS is being held in our church building so we'll likely have to respectfully dodge and operate around some "stuff".  I think we'll have a short refreshment break outside the back door tonight, weather permitting.
Lilly is willing to record our session and post it as a rehearsal tool for our future private sessions.
Bring a water bottle, dress comfortably and bring a willing spirit to go to "work" on our lovely project.
Love y'll!

Rehearsal Time!

Rehoboth Can. Ref. Church from 7:30 - 9:30pm    
1225 Dundas St. (aka Hwy#5)

North Winds
Christ is Risen
Gethsemane
Holy Spirit
Kyrie Eleison

Looking forward to seeing you all again and singing with you!  Sleep sweet.

Next Rehearsal Deets

Greetings to all!  It appears that many of you have been making yourself at home here at the choir blog.

I am grateful for this as it relieves the traffic to my email address 

and the subsequent time it takes to respond to them all!

Having said that, I am still welcoming a steady stream of new tenors & basses to the choir and would appreciate hearing from anyone who still finds himself to be without a music binder and listening CD.  

I make them to order nowadays.  Email me please :)

Thanks as well for participating in the democratic process by voting on the side bar of the blog.  

The winning date? (according to the 56 voters) 

Monday, June 17th 2013 at Rehoboth Church from 7:00pm - 9:30pm   

I hope to see most of you then.  

The importance of these monthly mass gatherings cannot be over-stated.  

I trust you recognize that on your own.  

Be sure to submit your email address in the side bar to your right -- the one that says Follow by Email.  This ensures that you will receive email notice whenever something new shows up on the blog.  Sometime soon, I hope to be able to publish some rehearsal tracks on the blog with the help of a volunteer from each SATB section.  I can see a great benefit in providing choir members the luxury of hearing and singing along with their own voice part in virtuality (did I just make up a word?) but not at the expense of singing in community.   I know our comrades from Providence Reformed Collegiate are kept busy with examinations this month and I wish them success - also as they rehearse with their own director for June.
Ah yes!  That means I am in need of two volunteers.  One fellow to do what Evelyn did for us last time, taking the guys downstairs for their own jam session...
AND a rehearsal pianist to help me with the final hour when we're all together singing whilst I attempt to direct you.  Hopefully I can sweet-talk my friend into perching in the balcony again with her iPad to snag more of those awesome audio files.  What say Lilly?  Pleeease?

Tentative schedule for next Monday June 17

1.     North Winds (vocalizing)
2.     Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
16.   To See The King of Heaven Fall (Gethsemane)
20.   Holy Spirit (Bar 70 to End)
9.     Kyrie Eleison (time permitting)

Tip of the Week:
Mark or number your music with tabs or post-it flags for easy referencing.
I haven't pulled a single hair out of my head since marking mine with these lovely coloured flags.

I think that's all I have to say.
Probably not.
But this will do till the next time.
Shalom and sleep sweet.