World Communion Sunday

This week we celebrate the fact that the worldwide Christian church is diverse and colorful. Our anthem will be sung during communion, A Festival Gathering. It is a medley which includes an Hispanic praise song, an African-American spiritual, and a contemporary hymn that focuses on being welcoming to all people.

Join us for the unusual rehearsal time of 9:00. We only have one hour as we will be breaking at 10:00 to attend the church congregational meeting. We will be singing for 11:00 worship, but we will not be wearing robes this week.

A Week Off...But Not Really

This Sunday is Mission BreakOUT, where we leave the comfort of our church and venture out into the community to work. There is no choir rehearsal this Sunday, as we will gather at 9:30 for a brief worship service, organize our work teams and go out into the community.

If you have not signed up for a work site, we have three opportunities that still need to be filled.

The Great Plains Food Bank 1720 3rd Ave North, Fargo. Volunteers are needed to work with packaged food items

Luther Hall (Lutheran Social Services) 1505 5th Ave. South, Fargo. Painters are needed to paint a garage. Supplies will be provided.

New American Services 1325 11^th Street South, Fargo. Sorting warehoused clothing and materials for new members of our community.

Please remember to dress casually and appropriate for the work that you are planning to do. Bringing a pair of work gloves is always a good idea.

This is a week off from singing...but it's not really a week off. This is an opportunity to carry our faith into action and out of the church doors.

On October 17th, First Pres is hosting an American Guild of Organists concert, Basically Brahms. Our choir will be one of the anchor choirs for this event. Please let us know if you plan to participate. Visit the Basically Brahms Blog for concert and rehearsal information, as well as printable music scores and rehearsal resources. Consider using this event (and email the blog link) to invite a friend to join you in this community opportunity.

No Longer Mine

This Sunday we are singing the old hymn text "Take My Life, That I May Be" in two distinct ways. With the congregation, a bright hispanic-styled setting will be sung that projects a feeling of the joy found in commitment to Christ. For the adult choir's anthem, we will be using a very introspective, personal setting of the same text that reinforces the idea of the personal nature of that same commitment to Christ.

"Take my will and make it thine;
it will be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne"
--Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

On October 17th, First Pres is hosting an American Guild of Organists concert, Basically Brahms. Our choir will be one of the anchor choirs for this event. Please visit the Basically Brahms Blog for concert and rehearsal information, as well as printable music scores and rehearsal resources. Consider using this event (and email the blog link) to invite a friend to join you in this community opportunity.

He shall gather the lambs in His arms

Rally Day, Sept. 12, will focus on God's love and gathering of us--God's sheep. It is a fitting image as we come back together from our busy summertime, ready to minister through music once again.

Join us at 9:00 for warm-up and run-through, then walk in to the 9:00 service to sing our anthem (without robes), leave and take part in the brunch potluck, then resume our rehearsal before singing at the 11:00 service. This will be a meaningful way of starting our year, sharing our gifts with both the 9:00 and 11:00 congregations.

We have an exciting year of music planned; it is a rather ambitious one. (Note: the fall schedule and rehearsal resources are posted on this blog page.) If you have been considering singing with the choir, now is the perfect time to venture forward. The more people we have singing, the more interesting and beautiful choral music we can sing. Your place in this choir is important and valued.

See you on Sunday.