Category: Ronna Paden, Director of Music

Christmas!

Seems Christmas is all I think about these days.

We are still in need of volunteers to be greeters for our Christmas program.  We also need decorators, stagehands, 1 spotlight operator and an environmental projection operator.

If you can help be a greeter, please sign the list in the connect center or contact  Ronna@feefeebc.org  Text message at 314-941-8711 to volunteer for the other positions.

Share Your Musical Talents

 Please let us know about your musical talents.  You may have singing abilities or a skill for playing an instrument.  Please identify yourself to Ronna@feefeebc.org

Music is a Gift

The purpose of music and singing is to rejoice and worship the Lord,   Psalm 95:1-2

Music Spreads the Word of God

Music shares the gospel of Jesus Christ through song and encourages believers in their walk with Christ.

Will You Sing Unto the Lord?

The music ministry of Fee Fee is open to all who have the desire to sing and worship the Lord.

If you play an instrument and would like to use your talent for the Lord, Fee Fee has a place for you.  Join us to spread the Gospel through music!

 

Christmas Update

Things are looking up for our Christmas choir event.  Our angels are off to a very good start.  The choir is sounding great and our instrumentalists are all on board.

Now we need to think about other important jobs.  We are looking for greeters, ushers and parent volunteers, as well as decoration  and wardrobe personnel.  We also need assistance with PowerPoint, lighting and other technical roles.

It takes the expertise of many to contribute to the success of our production.

Please contact Ronna@feefeebc.org to let us know how you can help.

Make a Joyful Noise

There is always a need for more singers and instrumentalists in our music department.  Don’t let your musical gifts lie dormant.

We would love to have more singers in our choir and it would be a blessing to have more guitarists, keyboardists or players of other instruments – strings, brass or winds. Whatever you play – we can find scores for you.

Don’t hesitate to come forward and identify yourself.  Multigenerational singers and players are welcome.

Contact Ronna if interested.

Thanks, everyone.

 

Christian Music comes in many different flavors (genres).

Here is a list of several types of Christian music. You may enjoy multiple styles.

Praise and Worship

Yet Not I But Christ in Me (Live)

Selah

Alternative Rock

Newsboys

That’s How You Change the World

Indie

Fire Fall Down

Hillsong United

Folk

Deep Enough to Dream

Chris Rice

Jazz

Kirk Whalum

Sunday’s Best Gospel

According to Jazz – Chapter IIV

Inspirational

David Phelps

We Shall Behold Him (Live)

Blue Grass

The Isaacs

Daniel Prayed (Live)

Gospel

Kirk Franklin

I Smile

Christian Blues

Jonathan Butler – Live

Falling in Love With Jesus

Christian Country

Josh Turner

Me and God (Live from Gaither Studios)

 

Christmas Choir Rehearsals

As you know we are nearing the time to start our weekly Christmas choir rehearsals.  Our first rehearsal will be the afternoon of September 15 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.  At our first rehearsal you will be assigned your Christmas music score and we will listen and read through the music.

We are hoping for many singers to join us.  As always singers do not need to be regular members of our choir or even members of Fee Fee church.  We welcome singers of ALL ages.

In planning for our Christmas production we need many volunteers.  Among these we need greeters, ushers, actors, managers of children, sound and light technicians as well as decorators and costumers.

Additionally if you are unable to fulfill any volunteer roles we would gladly accept monetary donations.  The cost of this production includes music products such as scores, orchestrations and part specific rehearsal recordings. There are costs to hire musicians, a choreographer and a transcriber.  So many expenses do not meet the eye.  You may contribute with a check to Fee Fee designated for Christmas production.

Here is a reminder of the dates and times.

Dress Rehearsal

Wednesday, December 18 – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Performances

Friday, December 20 – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 21 – 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 22 – 3:00 p.m.

The music that has been selected centers on the JOY of the season which gives us something wonderful to celebrate!

See you in rehearsal!

Ronna

 

Fee Fee Choir

It’s OK to sing in our choir if you are under the age of 30.  The role of our choir is going through some changes.  Yes, we will sing some stand alone anthems, but our main focus will be to lead out in congregational music as we learn new literature to bring to the worship table. To sing in our choir there has never been an audition process.  All are welcome to participate.  Rehearsals are more important than ever.  We rehearse in the choir room on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.  Rehearsals run for about one hour. Multigenerational participation is preferred.  Please consider using your voice in leadership.  You were gifted by God to lead in praise.

Upcoming Opportunities

Impact Week:

We will again have a Friendship choir to sing for residents in assisted living and nursing facilities during Impact Week in September. We will also do hymn caroling for some of our homebound members. Bringing joy to others always brings joy to you.

Christmas Choir:

Plans are underway to prepare for our Christmas choir.  Projected dates for this year are December 20 (7:00 p.m.), Dec. 21 (3:00 p.m.), and December 22 (3:00 p.m.)

Singers have regularly scheduled rehearsals and are given rehearsal recording for their part. Please consider being a part of this event.  Invite friends to participate with us.  Singers do not have to be members of Fee Fee.  They just need to desire sharing the miracle of the Christmas story and the message of the cross.

We need you!

Thanks.

Ronna

 

Music Musings                                                 Ronna Paden, Director of Music

 Thanks to all choir members who participated in the Noble concert on June 9.

We had some beautiful arrangements to sing and although they were challenging, they were well worth the effort. It was a beautiful event and a privilege to be included.

Be sure to save the dates for future concerts in our summer series.

July 7 – The Lesters

The Lesters are well known in the St. Louis area.  This gospel singing family is in its 90th year of ministry with members representing the 3rd and 4th generations.

July 14 – Doug Mickan

Doug is a ventriloquist with a crazy cast of characters using comedy to teach Biblical truths.  This will be a very entertaining concert.

August 4 – Charles Graham

Charles is a minister and gospel singer who has sung in Europe, Africa and the Americas.  He has now returned to his hometown of Dermott, Ark where he

serves his community by providing drama camps and educational opportunities.  You will want to hear his amazing life story.

All concerts are free and start at 6:00 p.m.  Ice cream will be served afterward.

Invite your friends and neighbors. A love offering will be collected to support these ministries.

Thank you.

Ronna

 

Summer concerts – SAVE THE DATES!

Our summer concerts are fast approaching.  This summer we have scheduled 5 concerts of some of our favorite artists.

June 9 – TIMOTHY AND HOSANNA NOBLE – (Singing Pianist and Violinist)

This young couple will present a themed concert , Jesus Changed Everything.

The concert will feature Timothy , his wife Hosanna, and his sister Amanda..

Timothy has also invited our choir to join with him in singing some numbers .

July 7 -THE LESTERS – (Southern Gospel)

This family started their gospel ministry in 1925 and it has now in2024 endured          to the third, fourth and fifth generations.

July 14 – DOUG MICKAN

Doug is a comic ventriloquist with a cast of lovable and unique characters.

Doug has a heart for ministry and is also an accomplished songwriter and musician.

July 21 – DR. KRISTINE HARRIS

Trumpet player extraordinaire of international fame.

We welcome Kristine back to our concert series. She has always been very well received in her past appearances in our series.

Aug. 6 – CHARLES GRAHAM – (Music Minister and Gospel Singer)

Charles is from Dermott, Arkansas where as a child he worked with his family in the cotton fields. Before returning to Dermott, Charles traveled world wide singing concerts and ministering in Europe, Africa and the Americas. His life has been a testimony to his strong faith as he shares fellowship with his community.

Please plan to attend these concerts which feature a variety of musical and entertainment genres.

Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and run about an hour.  We have a time of refreshment (ice cream! – no less) and fellowship following each concert.

There is no charge for these concerts, but you will have an opportunity to share a love offering for each ministry.

 

Come Join Our Choir

There is nothing like a volunteer choir.  Here are some top reasons.

MOTIVATION – A rare and special dynamic is created among people who don’t have to be there.  Church members show up, week in and week out, out of love.  The only compensation they receive is the joy of being a part of this unique ministry and the joy of making music together.  That is enough to keep them coming back.

INSPIRATION – The members of a volunteer choir seek opportunity they have to be part of something far greater than the sum of its parts.  You can’t experience the thrill of an ensemble by singing by yourself.  In a church choir, ordinary people can experience the thrill of a text coming to life as they sing an anthem, hymn or psalm.

FELLOWSHIP – A volunteer choir creates a community unlike any other.  As a choir meets together week in and week out, they “do life” together.  They pray for one another – celebrating births, mourning deaths, welcoming new members, and grieving the departure of good friends.  A healthy choir can be one of the strongest small groups in a congregation.

LOVE – Love is what makes a volunteer church choir:  love of music, love for each other and especially LOVE OF THE SAVIOR.

Nothing wil ever replace the volunteer church choir.  Choral music itself will never be a thing of the past.  Why don’t you give our choir a try.  Anyone can be involved multigenerational participation is encouraged as well as varied musical abilities.  Our main purpose is to glorify God with our singing.

We meet on Monday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the choir room.

 

Focus on a Popular Worship Song

Billboard’s Hot Christian Song Chart currently features the inspirational song “Holy Forever.” This worship song, written by Chris Tomlin, invites us to lift our eyes and immerse ourselves in the awe-inspiring splendor of the King of Kings as we ponder the magnificence of God’s glory.  The song’s inspiration comes from 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.”

Easter Hymn

The title of this familiar old hymn is “In the Garden.”  In the words of its author, C. Austin Mills, “Easter is not limited to a happening almost 2000 years ago, but it is a daily companionship with the Savior that makes up the Christian’s daily walk.

Here is the story behind the writing of the hymn in Miles’s own words.

“One day in March 1912, I was seated in the darkroom where I kept my photographic equipment. I then experienced a vision where I saw and heard Mary Magdalene crying outside the tomb.  I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when we knelt before her Lord and cried ‘Rabboni.’”  Under the inspiration, I wrote as quickly as the words could form the poem that I later set to music. The hymn is a great reminder that the Lord will care for us as we journey through this life.

 

Irish Hymns Inspire

The month of March causes me to think of all things Irish.  Irish hymns stand out with their beautiful melodies and lilting rhythms.

Two timeless Irish hymns are St. Patrick’s Breastplate and Be Thou My Vision.

St. Patrick had a high view of art and beauty.  He had a strong belief in the power of music to speak to the soul.  He was the lyricist for the following Irish hymn.  Memorable lyrics of the song – “Christ within me, Christ around me, Christ below me.” Listen to this hymn on YouTube.  Key in Hymn of St. Patrick – Lyric Video – YouTube

Be Thou My Vision is another beautiful hymn of Irish origin.  It has been arranged in many creative ways.  Following are two arrangements you are sure to appreciate.

Be Thou My Vision / BYU Noteworthy (feat. Keith Goodrich, violin)

Here is a contrasting version of the same hymn.

Rend Collective – You Are my Vision – Live Official

This hymn – no matter the style – is a perfect reminder that God is always in control.

I have set the Lord always before me.    Psalm 16:8

Two Newer Praise Songs by Irish Artists 

Keith and Kristyn Getty Feat. The Getty Girls – Press On

Rend Collective – I Will Be Undignified – (Live in Belfast)