Music Newsletter – February 2021 | Coal Mountain Stake Music of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Covenants, Blessings, and Singing

The Lord taught his people about covenants in 3rd Nephi 20 and reminded them of “the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying that through him all people of the earth would be blessed.

Music and singing would be a part of the blessing . . . ” and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.”

Singing together is both a physical and mental expression of faith and unity. Speaking of unity, President Nelson explained, “There is room for each person who will fully embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ . . . Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes . . . God does not love one race more than another. . . He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female.” Oct 2020

Let us sing together in unity. Sing at home. Sing at church. Sing in your heart. Don’t withhold this great expression of praise and gratefulness for the Lord’s blessings through His covenants.

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My Calling

Attention: Conductors, Organists, Pianists, and Ward Music Chairmen

Selecting Music for Sacrament Meeting

Hymns selected should reflect the spirit of worship and remembrance. This will help establish the proper spirit to partake of the sacrament and listen to the messages given. Study the hymns and pray about them as selections are considered.

Members who serve in ward music callings work together to select appropriate music for worship services. When meeting topics are chosen well in advance, music can be planned to complement and reinforce the meeting topics. This also allows the bishopric time to approve musical selections, if needed.

The opening hymn may be one of supplication or praise; it may express gratitude for the gospel, joy in being able to gather together, or enthusiasm for the work to be done. Look at Hymn #3 Now Let Us Rejoice, #58 Come Ye Children of the Lord, #226 Improve the Shining Moments.

The sacrament hymn should refer to the sacrament itself or to the sacrifice of the Savior. Such as Hymn#181 Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King, or #187 God Loved us So He Sent His Son.

An intermediate hymn provides an opportunity for congregational participation and may relate to the subject of the talks presented in the meeting. The congregation may stand during this hymn as appropriate. Examples: Hymn #26 Joseph Smith’s First Prayer, #131 More Holiness Give Me, #232 Let us Oft Speak Kind Words

The closing hymn is an opportunity for the congregation to respond to the spirit and content of the meeting. Examples: Hymn #19 We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet, #116 Come, Follow Me, #137 Testimony.

Click here for more information about hymns and the hymnal. More information can also be obtained in the handbook.

Need help with a music calling? Contact Sister Dean at coalstakemusic@gmail.com

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What’s New?

New!! Monthly Performance Program – “Rise and Shine”

The Coal Mountain Stake is looking for musicians to participate in the ongoing monthly performance and recording program called ‘Rise and Shine’. You may submit one recording per month which includes any instrument(s) or vocal performances. Solos and ensembles welcome. You will be on YouTube to share your music with others. Children and youth under the age of 16 should perform with family or in a group.

Genres of music that fit within copyright and church guidelines will be accepted, such as: Inspirational, EFY, Religious, Secular, Classical, Self-Composed, New Age, Broadway, Choral, Pop, Country, Soul, Jazz, Etc.

To ensure quality recordings, the stake is happy to provide a recording studio setting at your home, local church building, or a professional home studio is available to us. We want to help you in anyway we can—just let us know what you need.

Simply contact us at coalstakemusic@gmail.com to have your music selection approved and and set up a recording time. Individual performances will be posted to https://coalstakemusic.com/ where you can invite friends and family to listen to your performance(s) anytime.

Individuals, families, and groups are encouraged to participate. Visit https://coalstakemusic.com/ for more information on this wonderful new program.

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Up and Coming

Rise and Shine– Now taking your musical submissions to be aired on the Coal Mountain GA Stake YouTube channel. Submissions will be added monthly. Contact: coalstakemusic@gmail.com
Youth Music Festival (Churchwide online) March 17, 8PM
Handel’s Messiah (Tab Choir online) March 26, 9:30PM
General Conference – April 3-4 (Easter)
Meet the New Organ Concert – Sunday, April 25th 7 -8PM at the Dahlonega Ward Building
Stake Conference – May 15-16
‘Piping Up’ Live Organ Concert every Wednesday 2PM EST from Tabernacle Square
Music Festival for the Stake – Aug 15th 6-9PM Stake Center (live or virtual TBD)
Stake Music Fireside – September 19, 6:30PM Stake Center (live or virtual TBD)
While in Phase 2 of worship services, remember choirs and hymnbooks are still on hold. Let’s hope and pray for this phase to end soon. . . for the better.

New Music – “Come Follow Me” by McBurney, arranged by Clegg. Arranged for piano and C instrument. Lovely for church or home. Could perform intermediate first verse alone or all three verses with key change.

Website – Visit CoalStakeMusic.com for ideas and links about church music and music callings. The site is growing and developing so check back often. You can follow it and enjoy the latest posts (blogs). This newsletter and past newsletters can be found there.

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Hymn Highlight

“Love One Another” #308

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The words to this hymn are taken from John 13:34-35.

Luacine Clark Fox, daughter of former First Presidency member J. Reuben Clark, composed this hymn. This song came to her while writing music for an Easter cantata.

In her words: “It is always my habit to pray before doing any writing or composing. This I did while in the process of working on Psalm of Easter, from which “Love One Another” is taken…As I jotted down the words from the above scripture, the melody to accompany them came into my mind and I wrote it down as well…The final results of the words and music was exactly the same as had come to me initially, with no variation whatsover. It is my witness that whatever is of worth in the song came from the Lord.”

Listen to two versions below