Category: Ronna Paden, Director of Music

Opportunities to Serve

Christmas choir and angel rehearsals have begun and are going very well. However there are still many ways you can be involved with our Christmas presentations December 6th and 7th at 3 p.m.  We will have need for the following volunteers:

Greeters

Greeters at the doors and greeters for guest musicians

Stage Hands

To set up props for Children’s Nativity in addition to Stage Presentation including votive lantern placement and setting up for Manger Scenes.

Child Supervision

Especially for Children’s Nativity and as Angel Managers.

Assistance with Orchestra Set-up

Stands, lights and chairs

Technicians

Sound and Lighting (Including spotlight operators and running of screens)

Assistance with costuming

Especially Children’s Nativity and Angels

Characters for the Nativity

Let us know of your desire to represent any of the traditional characters of the              Nativity.

Many of you have skills that will benefit this event.  Please step up and let us know of your areas of expertise.  Thanks for considering the gifts you can share.  Please respond to Ronna@FeeFeebc.org

Christmas Choir

Rehearsals are getting under way Labor Day weekend for our Christmas music program which will be presented on Dec, 6 & 7.

Everyone is invited to come and check us out.  No audition is required for participation.  If you can commit, you will be assigned music and given a rehearsal schedule.  We will be listening and reading through the music.

We are hoping for many singers to join us.  As always singers do not have to be regular members of our choir or even members of Fee Fee.  We welcome singers of all ages and ethnicities.

Again, performances will be on Dec. 6 & 7.  Start time for each will be 3:00 p.m.

Please plan to attend rehearsals Sunday afternoons  at 3:30 p.m.  Bring a friend with you.

As a renowned minister and gospel singer, Charles Graham traveled around the world before returning to his roots.  As a child, Charles lived in Dermott, Arkansas where he and his family worked in the cotton fields.  Charles grew up, left for college and lived away for 34 years.  He worked and traveled around giving concerts in

Europe, Africa and the Americas,  only returning to Arkansas for visits.  He thought he would never live in Arkansas again, but he knew he wanted to make one final move.  As God was leading he made plans to move back to Arkansas and purchased the property where his family had worked when he was a child.  He had always dreamed of seeing inside the house he now owns.  The home and grounds is known as “The Fountains” and it exists as a retreat center for ministers.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the rich baritone voice of Charles Graham in

concert at 6:00 p.m. on August 3.  The concert will be held at Fee Fee Baptist Church in the worship center.  There is no charge for this concert, but you will have an opportunity to contribute to the ministry.

Please plan to attend and invite friends to this event.

Remaining Summer concerts

July 6 – The Lesters

Here is some information about the Lesters gospel singers that you may not know.

The founding members of The Lesters were Harvey and Opal.  They met at an old fashioned singing school.  Shortly after they were married they moved to St. Louis where they began their gospel music ministry.  They presented their music in churches, on street corners, tent revivals and local missions venues.

July 20 – Fee Fee Folk(s)

The July concert will feature a sampling of Fee Fee members who are involved in our music program.

August 6 – Charles Graham

August 6 will bring the rich baritone voice of Charles Graham to our summer

concerts.

Charles made his Fee Fee debut as a college student from what was then known  as Southwest Baptist College.  He was part of a student led revival team and was

warmly received by our church.

Here is an overview of the summer concert dates.

The Sunday evening concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and are expected to run an hour.  There is no charge for these concerts, but an opportunity to give a love offering will be given.

July 1 –  Timothy and Hosanna Noble                                                                          Timothy and Hosanna – a singing pianist and singing violinist

The program is meant to share the gospel of Jesus Christ as they bring honor and glory to our great and mighty God.

July 6 – The Lesters

The Lesters love music and use it as a vehicle to introduce others to Jesus.

The ministry began with grandparents Harvey and Opal in 1925.  it continues to this day through the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations.

July 20 – Fee Fee Folk

This concert will feature many of the talented musicians from our church.

You will hear a concert of diversity featuring music old and new.

August 3 – Charles Graham

Charles is a minister and gospel singer now residing in Dermott, Arkansas ( his hometown). Before settling in his hometown he raveled all over Europe, Africa and the Americas singing the gospel message.

Upon returning to Dermott Charles purchased a property where he and his family had worked picking cotton.

He uses his new home to promote fellowship and community in the area and provide a place of recreation and relaxation for pastors.

SAVE THE DATE

Don’t miss our presentation of Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass on Sunday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. in our worship center.

When Robert Ray was attending college at Northwestern University, he was commissioned to write an experimental setting of the Mass using rhythms and harmonies of African-American music.  In Ray’s mind, God lead him in the writing of this now famous work.  “God controls everything I do,” said Ray, a conductor, composer and music educator.  It was written at a time when Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of inclusion felt fresh and white audiences were eager to embrace gospel music.

Even though the music was expected to be a one-time performance, after the first performance it caught on and was wildly successful.

The work is different with each performance depending on the nature of the choir and the creative improvisation of the soloists and instrumentalists.

The traditional movements with classic texts include the genres of rock, jazz, blues and pop.  The music retains the ability to fascinate listeners with a freshness of vision each time it is sung.

Carve out time in your schedule to attend this concert.  Invite friends and neighbors.  You will be glad you did.

About Maria Ellis

 Maria Ellis from UMSL will be conducting our Gospel Mass presentation.

Maria holds roles of Artistic Director for both The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus and the University 0f Missouri-St. Louis Voices of Jubilation Ensemble.

The award winning radio programs “Bach and Beyonce” and “American Gospel ” are both hosted by Maria Ellis.

Maria made her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall conducting The Gospel Mass.”

She has won numerous awards locally and internationally.

It is no wonder she is in such high demand.

Gospel Mass

Reminder:  Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons 3:30-5:00.

Part specific rehearsal recordings are available.

It is not too late to join.  Come sing with us and bring afriend.

Christus Victor (Amen)

Christus Victor (Amen) is a new”ish” hymn written by Keith and Krysten Getty.  It is believed that this hymn will rival In Christ Alone in popularity. This hymn celebrates Christ’s victory over sin and death drawing from scriptures in Exodus 15 and Revelation 15.

The hymn celebrates The Song of Moses as referenced in Exodus 15 and The Son of Man described in Revelation 15.

A three-fold Amen is incorporated is incorporated in the hymn.  This technique is a way for people to respond to the message.  It is essentially saying, “Yes, we agree; may it be so!”

The hymn  brings forcus to the Trinity:

V.1 – God the Father

V.2 – God the Son

V.3 – God the Spirit

The chorus brings these ideas together in praise to God, the three in one.

It is easy to hear this hymn if you search for Christus, Victor (Amen)

– Keith and Krysten Getty Cochren & Co.

Our choir will soon be introducing this hymn and hopefully we can incorporate it into our congregational repertoire.  You will be blessed.

Sing, Play and Praise – An Invitation

We welcome adults, youth and children to share their God-given talents with our music ministry.

We are calling for instrumentalists – strings, brass and woodwinds – to enrich our worship. Adults, youth and children (skilled and in-training) are invited to use musical gifts in service to God.

We also invite singers of all ages to join our choir.  Whether you are new to choral singing or have years of experience, your voice is a gift to be shared.  Join us to proclaim God’s glory through music.

For all inquiries, contact Ronna Paden at Ronna@feefeebc.org or 314-941-8711.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Holy Forever

Holy Forever is a worship song we have been singing for several months in our church.  This song by Chris Tomlin has ranked high on the Billboard charts for around 59 weeks.  It has captivated worshippers all over the world.

The song’s inspiration comes from the New Testament book of Revelation 5:13, which declares, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.”

Celebrating the eternal power of God and His unchanging nature, this song recognizes that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  It is delightfully “singable” for the entire congregation.

Hello Everyone

As you know we are taking some time in our church to focus on the power of prayer.

I thought you might appreciate the following listening list of worship songs and traditional hymns that are prayers.

The arrangements here are very diverse in genres and style.  i believe you will find it an

interesting array of songs devoted to the theme of prayer.  They may all be found on YouTube.

Alan Jackson – What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Live)

Tauren Wells – When We Pray (Live)

Leaning On The Everlasting Arms (Live) (Old Time Gospel)

The Blessing (Live from Elevation Nights)

“In Jesus’ Name (God of Possible)” By Katy Nichole

Refine (feat. Chandler Moore and Steffany Gietzinger) Maverick City Music) TRIBL

How Great Thou Art – Pentatonix featuring Jennifer Hudson (Official Video)

Jehovah Shalom Acapella – How Great Thou Art

“The Lord’s Prayer” By Hillsong Worship

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah – Shalom A capella / Christ inHymns

I hope you will enjoy these beautiful arrangements of these “prayer hymns.”

Thank You!

 I cannot say thanks enough to all who made our Christmas program, Joy Has Dawned, a success this past holiday season. If I tried to thank everyone by name I would run out of room on this page.

Whether you were a singer, actor, stagehand, lighting and sound technician, computer operator, musician, narrator, angel, choreographer, stage director or someone who otherwise volunteered your time and talents in any of these areas, from the bottom of my heart, Thank you all.  This couldn’t have been done without you.

Also, don’t forget, 2025 is your year to join the church choir. Whether you have a voice like Frank Sinatra or Frankenstein, all are welcome. Choir rehearsals are Monday nights from 7:00-8:00 in the choir room located in the hallway behind the worship center. I hope to see you there.