“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Phillipians 4:6-7

Did you know that there are at least 31 hymns in our hymnal having to do with Thanksgiving and Gratitude? A topical index is found in the back of each hymnal and although the heading of ‘Light’ doesn’t appear in the hymnal index, many hymns talk about light with ideas that “truth bursts forth in radiant light” and the gospel will “lighten our minds with its rays”.

Let’s make this a season of light and thanks with songs and hymns.

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MY CALLING

Directing Music in Sacrament Meeting

What a blessing to have congregational singing in our church services. To have our membership express devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ through hymns is a holy pattern. You are instrumental to this important feature of worship.

3 Things To Do

• Start and Stop the Congregation & Organist, preferably at the same time!
• Look Welcoming . . . Try to SMILE and make EYE CONTACT when you can.
• Keep the Beat . . . Use your ears to listen. Let your hand come down on the first and strongest beat of each measure (or rhythmic pattern).

It’s good to review the hymns before you conduct them. You might want to practice conducting in front of a mirror. Meet with your organist to go over the songs together to talk about tempo, introductions, interludes, etc.

If you are new to conducting music you will want to be trained. In person training is available from the Stake, basic instruction can be found in our Hymnal p. 383 , and the Church website has a free Basic Conducting Course.

A magnification of your calling might include paying attention to your congregation and noticing who is watching, then thank them for their singing. Another way to magnify is to meet with your organists and together, go over the hymns.

Here is an older but good video titled “How to Conduct a Hymn”. Craig Jessop is the guide.

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WHAT’S NEW?

Piano Medley by Janice Kapp Perry for intermediate level.

Shawna Edwards Music Sheet music and videos about gospel topics.

40 Minutes of Relaxing Piano Music for Thanksgiving Day

Visit and Explore our Stake Music Website coalstakemusic.com

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UP AND COMING

Music/Organ Workshop – Nov 6th 10:30 AM

Coal Mountain Stake Center. For beginners through advanced. Please contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com if you are thinking of coming.

“If you put your prayerful heart and soul into your work, you will bear testimony to all who worship just as surely as those who stand at the pulpit” Clay Christiansen, retired Tabernacle organist

What can you learn?

• Use your current piano skills to begin playing the organ. Sit at the keyboard and experience the differences and similarities.
• You can push our buttons!!! All those knobs and numbers and names…..which ones are essential?
• How to choose and use prelude music to set a reverent tone.
• Take home a free Christmas Prelude
• Receive a Church produced ‘Organists’ Hymnal for your ward.
• What if you want to learn more? We’ll steer you in the right direction.

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Concerts Galore at ‘UNG’ University of North Georgia this month. Includes:

• Nov 3, 5 – Student Music Performances at 12 noon. Free
• Nov 4-5 – Music Theatre Ensemble at 7:30
• Nov 8 – Handel’s Messiah Christmas Portion in Cumming at 7, 3740 Holzclaw Rd
• Nov 9 – Vocal Recital of Honors Students at 7:30
• Nov 13 – Piano Celebration Performances at 4
• Nov 14 – Handels Messiah at 4
• Nov 15, 17 – Junior Vocal Recital at 7:30
• Nov 17 – Student General Recital at 12 noon
• Nov 18, 19 – Chorale Concert (check for place & time)

Get all the details at UNG’s Music Calendar Webpage here.

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“Joy to the World” Stake Christmas Music Program, 5th Dec 6PM

Note that performers, their families, and guests are invited to the Stake Center while the rest of the Stake is invited to watch the broadcast. If you would like to be in the choir that night to help sing carols, contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com

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HYMN HIGHLIGHT

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The “Prayer of Thanksgiving” Hymn 93 is also known as “We Gather Together”. It is a Christian Hymn of Dutch origin whose lyrics are attributed to Adrianus Valerius. The Dutch title is “Wilt heden nu treden”. The hymn was actually written in 1597 to celebrate the Dutch victory over the Spanish forces in the Battle of Turnhout. The lyrics acknowledges the triumph over the nation’s turbulent history. The song came with the Dutch settlers when they came to the new world in the early 17th century.

We are accustomed to singing this hymn at Thanksgiving and the opening line reminds us that God can be with us no matter what. But the hymn speaks more about God’s providence through the trials of life.

The hymn tune is known as “Kremser”and is attributed to Eduard Kremser.

Listen for the Stake Choir singing this Hymn at our upcoming Stake Conference on November 7th. Listen to this solo/guitar version:

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WATCH THIS

Sing along with this choir version of Josh Groban’s “Thankful”