. . . I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift . . . Moroni 10:30

This April is full of invitations to ‘come’. There are 21 songs in our hymnal that start with the invitation to “come”. Below are a few of the hymns with invitations:

• General Conference is a time to “Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” (#21)
• The weary and concerned are called to “come to the mercy seat” and bring their wounded hearts to be healed in “Come, Ye Disconsolate” (#115)
• Easter invites us to “Come with high and holy hymning” as we rejoice and celebrate Christ’s victory over death and sin. “He Is Risen” (#199)
• We invite the coming of the Savior as we sing “Come, O thou King of Kings” (#59)
• ‘Come follow me’, the Savior said to inspire us to be more like him (#116)

Let us heed Moroni’s exhortation to come unto Christ. See Come Unto Christ page.

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My Calling

Ward Music Leader

What a great calling it is to be a Ward Music Leader. Your’e the one who conducts the congregational hymns for sacrament meeting . . . and other ward meetings as requested. You help the organist or pianist and the congregation start and stop the hymns together. You may be invited by the Ward Music Coordinator to help select hymns for the meeting.

“Those who hold ward music callings use music as a tool to assist ward priesthood and auxilliary leaders to meet the needs of the ward.” from Handbook

Other things to consider:

• Coordinate hymn selections with the Ward Music Coordinator, Bishopric and Organist or Pianist. Vary the selection of hymns – length, tempo, familiarity, etc.
• Greet and thank the Organist or Pianist – they get busy! Your kind word can go a long way.
• Try to meet with your Organist or Pianist to review the hymns BEFORE sacrament meeting.
• Review the hymns BEFORE you conduct them: lyric, time, tempo, fermatas, etc.
• SMILE. Make Eye Contact with the congregation. Lead with joy and a testimony.
• Work with the Organist or Pianist to determine the best place to stand so they can see you and that you are visible to the congregation.
• If the congregation sounded especially good, or you noticed an individual or family singing with their heart, let them know how much you appreciate it!
• Be sure any substitutes are trained, if possible and inform the Organist or Pianist.
• Attend training as needed to improve self or help others learn.
• Attend the stake music training in May!! Plus, you can get training anytime during the year at request. Contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com

To learn or review the basic beat patterns and for more conducting help, see the Conducting Course. Besides the beat patterns, this course covers rhythm, tempo, fermatas, pick ups and cut-offs, alternate beat patterns and other tips. See the handbook for more information on being a “WARD MUSIC LEADER”.

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What’s New

• Looking for Ideas for Easter Sacrament Meeting? Consider: 1) Children’s choir or solo sining “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” or “He Sent His Son”. 2) Singing “Behold the Wounds In Jesus Hands” as a choir or solo, free. 3) Playing an Organ Free Accompaniment with the congregation on the last verse of “He Is Risen” $. 4) Playing a Piano solo ‘I Stand All Amazed” for advanced player, free.

• New from Jackman Music “That All May Be Edified”. Listen here. A gentle way to start singing again using unison melody with a lush piano accompaniment – especially friendly for choirs. $

• BYU students singing in Ukrainian:

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Up and Coming

• “Grateful Praise” Sacred Music Fireside April 24, 2022 6:30 PM Coal Mountain Stake Center – Be prepared to hear and sing beloved hymns & music. Invite friends.

• “Something All Can Give” 2022 Annual Stake Music Training For those with music callings and open to anyone interested in music. May 14, 2022 9:30 AM-12:20 Coal Mountain Stake Center. Find out more about the Sessions and Register by clicking on code below or contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com . Registration encouraged but not necessary for attendance.

• Stake Conference Choir – You are invited to sing in a special choir for the Sunday session of Stake Conference on May 15th. Since there will only be one practice on Sunday May 1st, 6:30, you will need to learn the music beforehand. Contact Sister Ginger Dean at coalstakemusic@gmail.com for the music.

• Musical Events from UNG (University of N. GA) in April include: Pop Choral Concert 4/24 3PM, Musical Theatre Concert, Percussion Ensemble, Guest Singer Indra Thomas, Piano Night, Jazz Band, and more. See the UNG Calendar for more details.

• Songs from “Handel’s Messiah” sponsored by the Roswell Stake. Sat- Sun Apr 15-16, 7 PM. See poster below:

• Sugar Hill GA Stake Choir and Gwinnett Band Perform “What a Wonderful World” April 23-24, 7PM. Click here for more information. Free

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Hymn Highlight

Redeemer of Israel #6

The Lyrics to “Redeemer of Israel” were first published as a poem in the first issue of the Church’s first newspaper,  “The Evening and the Morning Star“  in June 1832. This paper was published by William W. Phelps, who adapted his lyrics for “Redeemer of Israel” from another poem called “Oh Thou in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight” by Joseph Swain. “Redeemer of Israel” was included in the first LDS hymnbook in 1835.

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Watch This

Charles Wesley not only wrote the hymn ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’, but also the lyric to the great hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Listen to Jenny Oaks Baker, accomplished violinist, sometimes referred to as, “America’s Violinist” and Condoleezza Rice, accomplished pianist, former Secretary of State: