Fee Fee Baptist Church

Tag: Traditional Worship

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 25

    Holiday Playlist

    Did you think I had forgotten about my Christmas listening list? No way! When you receive this list actual Christmas day will have been celebrated, but the “12 days of Christmas” will still be going on! And to tell the truth, Christmas music is appropriate all year long.

    Here are some Christmas songs for you to enjoy this Holiday season.

    • Mary’s Boy Child by GENTRI
    • Where Are You Christmas? by Voctave
    • We are the Reason by David Phelps
    • Jingle Bells by Wynton Marsalis Jazz Big Band
    • White Christmas by Michael Bublé
    • Personet Hodie by Oakville Choir for Children & Youth
    • Up On The Housetop by Pentatonix
    • Sleigh Ride (An Appalachian Christmas) by Mark O’Connor
    • O Holy Night, Minuit Chrétien (Cantique de Noël) by Andre Rieu
    • Little Drummer Boy (African Tribal Version) by Alex Boye ft. Genesis Choir

    You can listen to this festive playlist here: https://bit.ly/3Wj4xi7

    Reflections

    There are so many to thank as we reflect on our recent Christmas Production, Hope is Born, Emmanuel! Obviously, a production such as ours is no small undertaking. So many contributed to the completion of this project. If recognition was expressed for everyone who gave of their time and talent, it would take every page of this Forerunner to list names and contributions.

    So many gifts were shared to bring this project to fruition. We count on the talents of singers, instrumentalists, narrators, announcers, choreographers, dancers (angels), actors, various directors, technicians (sound and lighting), visual designers, decorators, and greeters to bring everything together! As some would say – it truly takes a village – and we at Fee Fee are very blessed with people of such diverse talents! Thanks also to our Fee Fee family who offered words of encouragement along the way!

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 23

    Greeters Needed

    Once again, we will need greeters for each performance of our Christmas Presentation. Please sign up in the Connection Center if you would be available to help in this capacity.

    We have three opportunities to serve this year:

    • Friday, December 16 – 7:00 p.m.
    • Saturday, December 17 – 3:00 p.m.
    • Sunday, December 18 – 3:00 p.m.

    Those serving would need to arrive 30 minutes before performance time to be in place and receive any last-minute instructions. Thanks in advance to those who will be able to serve.

    Advent is Here!

    Let’s think about a very special carol. Of all the various carols, one of the most popular is O Come All Ye Faithful.  It’s a carol that has stood the test of time. One of the reasons for its popularity is the joyful character of its words and music. “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.” The music has a joyful triumphant lilt to support the text. The invitation to “come all ye faithful to Bethlehem” places the singer both among the shepherds who rushed to see the Christ child, and in the long procession of the “faithful” that have journeyed to Bethlehem in their hearts for over 2,000 years.

    Christmas is a busy season, and we have a thousand things on our mind and a thousand things to do. Even so, let’s remember to come and adore the Christ who came into the world to bring light to our darkness – and joy and life eternal. Listen to this beautiful rendition of O Come, All Ye Faithful: http://bit.ly/3V7HeGQ

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 22

    Playlist with a Thanksgiving Theme – I hope you enjoy listening to these pieces. Some are old; some are new; and some are old with a new spin, but ALL are beautiful and interesting.

    1. Thank You, Jesus, for the Blood –  Charity Gayle

    2. How Great Thou Art – The Tenors

    3. King of Kings – Hillsong Worship

    4. Amazing Grace – Scottish Bagpipers with symphony orchestra

    5. God So Loved – We the Kingdom

    6. Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Wes Hampton

    7. Goodness of God – CeCe Winans

    8. All Creatures of Our God and King – Mormon Tabernacle Choir

    9. 10,000 Reasons – Gaither Vocal Band

    10. My Tribute (To God Be The Glory) – Andrae Crouch

    Listen to this Thanksgiving playlist on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/3G3jSOv

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 21

    Inspirational quotes by great composers

    I recently read an article on the spiritual lives of great composers. Many of the greatest composers acknowledged that their musical inspiration came from God and the Bible, thus believing in the essential Christian doctrines. I would like to share a few of the quotations from the article reflecting their inspirational thoughts:

    George Frideric Handel – This is one of my favorites: “A servant of Handel swings the door open to Handel’s room. The startled composer, tears streaming down his face, turns to his servant and cries out, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself.”  Handel had just finished writing a movement, which would take its place in history as the Hallelujah Chorus.”

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Of his compositions he once shared his secret: “I prayed to God for His mercy that all might go well, to His greater glory, and the symphony began.”

    Johannes Brahms – “The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach, and Beethoven drew their inspiration is the same power that enabled Jesus to do His miracles. I know several young composers who are atheists. I have read their scores. I assure you that they are doomed to speedy oblivion, because they are utterly lacking in inspiration.  Their works are purely cerebral (intellectual). The great Nazarene (Jesus) knew that law also, and He proclaimed it in John 15:4: “the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine.” No atheist has ever been or ever will be a great composer.”

    Olivier Messiaen – “I’m a composer because I love music, and a Christian because I believe.”

    Johann Sebastian Bach – At the manuscript end, Bach routinely initialed the letters S.D.G. (“Soli Deo Gloria,” To God alone, the glory).

    Franz Joseph Haydn – “Never was I so devout as when I composed The Creation. I knelt down each day to pray to God to give me strength for my work…when I was working on The Creation I felt so impregnated with Divine certainty, that before sitting down to the piano, I would quietly and confidently pray to God to grant me the talent that was needed to praise Him worthily.”

    Bonus – Halloween was yesterday, but here is a little leftover tidbit for your enjoyment: Epic Halloween Organ Solo, Bach’s “Toccata in D Minor” by Richard Elliott – https://bit.ly/3UkDQIz

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 20

    Christmas Production Needs

    We still would like more angels in our “Heavenly Host” for our Christmas production. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons at 1:15 p.m. in Room B3. Angel participants do not to be regular attendees of Fee Fee. We welcome those from other churches and any from our community. Also we would like a few participants who will not have spoken lines, but would appear briefly near the end of the pageant. Sign up in the Connection Center if interested.

    Prayer… A Subject for Many Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

    A lot of music (Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs) for Christian use has been written as actual prayers. The following is a playlist of examples from each category.

    Psalms
    • Psalm 5 by Maranatha Singers (inspired by Psalm 5)
    • Psalm 4 (When I Call) by Melissa Breems (inspired by Psalm 4:1)
    • Psalm 139:23-24 Song “Lead Me in the Way Everlasting” by Esther Mui
    Hymns
    • Have Thine Own Way, Lord by Fountainview Academy – This hymn was written by Adelaide Pollard in response to having been unsuccessful in raising funds to make a trip to Africa for missionary service.
    • I Must Tell Jesus by Mom Winans (Gaither Music) – This hymn was written by Elisha Hoffman, a preacher who used these simple words to encourage a distraught lady.
    Spiritual Songs
    • Battle Belongs by Paul Wickham – This song was inspired by 2 Chronicles 20. The people of God stood firm and sent men singing worship songs at the head of their army. As they gave thanks to the Lord for His enduring love, their enemies began fighting each other.
    • God So Loved – by We the Kingdom – The music highlights different countries and cultures united by the love of Christ. The text simply expands on the familiar verse, John 3:16.
    • Lord, I Need You – Matt Maher  – Jesus desires to meet you everyday.  He is ready to meet you whenever and wherever you can step back and say “Lord, I need You.”

    You can listen to all of these prayers, plus a BONUS prayer song called Cleanse Me, using this link: https://bit.ly/3Ti22uh

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 19

    Music We Love Based on The Psalms

    This week I am sharing with you a playlist taken from the Psalms. It includes different artists – old and new. The music is beautiful, and I hope you will enjoy it.

    1. Psalm 130 – I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130) by Shane & Shane

    2. Psalm 34 – Psalm 34 by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

    3. Psalm 8 – How Majestic is Your Name by Sandi Patty

    4. Psalm 113 – Praise the Lord by Russ Taff

    5. Psalm 62 – My Soul Will Rest (Psalm 62) by Matthew Zigenis

    6. Psalm 91 – Psalm 91 (On Eagle’s Wings) by Taryn Harbridge

    7. Psalm 23 – Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone) by People and Songs ft. Josh Sherman

    8. Psalm 16:8 – Be Thou My Vision by BYU Vocal Point

    9. Psalm 145:3 – Great is the Lord by Michael W. Smith

    10. Psalm 24:10 – Come, thou Almighty King by Keith & Kristen Getty, Tommy Bailey

    11. Psalm 119:114 – My Defender by Jeremy Camp

    12. Psalm 139 – Find You by Audrey Assad

    13. Psalm 46 – Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts) by Capital City Music

    14. Psalm 66 – Psalm 66 (You Are Great) by Robbie Seay Band

    15. Psalm 42 – Psalm 42 by Tori Kelly

    You can listen to this great music taken from Psalm texts here: https://bit.ly/3xZhqDB

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 17

    Christmas Choir Rehearsals

    Christmas Choir rehearsals will begin on September 18 from 1:15-2:45 p.m. in the Choir Room. You will be assigned music scores at our first rehearsal. Rehearsal recordings that highlight individual parts will be available. Recordings without highlighted parts will also be offered. If you haven’t sung for a while – no worries. Your vocal muscles just need a little exercise. It will come back to you – kind of like riding a bike – you never forget!

    Impact Week Hymn Caroling

    You may still sign up in the Welcome Center to participate in our “Friendship Choir” that will be hymn caroling on Wednesday, September 14 and Thursday, September 15, from 12:00-5:30 p.m. You may choose to participate one or both days as we go hymn caroling for some of our homebound folks. We will meet at the church at noon both days and take our bus to each home so we can all stay together. We will simply sing a few favorite old hymns and invite them to sing along.

    In the past it has been a delight to see the expressions of joy on the faces of those who have missed singing these old familiar favorites. Trust me! You will be blessed!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 16

    Looking for Baby Jesus

    As you know in our Christmas presentation of the Nativity we always want a live baby for the part of baby Jesus. We like to have a tiny baby about 3 months or a little younger. We would not necessarily need the same baby for each performance. The presentation dates are Friday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 18, at 3:00 p.m. Please let me know if you might know of a baby who would be in an age range to represent baby Jesus. Please contact tara@feefeebc.org.

    Seeking and Praying for Laborers: In This Case – SINGERS

    Please come forward and join us in singing. We always need singers committed to the main choir. However, there may be some who want to “test the waters” and do a short stint to see what it’s all about. Choose a four-week window to participate and sing in worship when you feel comfortable. We welcome you on your terms. Just show up on any Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the choir room. Still others may wish to participate in special events such as the Christmas choir.  Please consider being a “laborer” in the harvest.  Singing will give you an opportunity to share His love.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 15

    Christmas Choir Sign-ups

    We will soon begin rehearsals for our Christmas choir. Our Christmas musical this year is titled Hope is Born EMMANUEL. The music celebrates HIS coming and gives voice to our yearning for HIS promised return. This musical contains many beloved Christmas music selections. There are excerpts from Handel’s Messiah as well as stunning arrangements of many familiar carols.

    We need a large Christmas choir to have the best presentation for our community. Please consider joining us as we sing this spectacular music. You do not have to sing in choir on a regular basis to sing with us. Singers for this project do not need to be a member of our church or any church for that matter. Rehearsal part specific recordings will be provided, and the rehearsals will be held on Sunday afternoons 2:00-3:30 p.m., (date TBD).  Dates for the Christmas presentation will be Friday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 18 at 3:00 p.m.

    Please consider singing with us. We need you. Sign up in our Connection Center or contact ronna@feefeebc.org or tara@feefeebc.org.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 14

    Final Concert of 2022 Summer Series

    First of all, let me thank you for your support of the concerts we have had this summer. Your attendance and appreciative comments have been so encouraging. It has been interesting to see the varied talents of these gifted artists, from excellent playing and singing, to ventriloquism and blue grass and Southern gospel. And of course, we don’t want to forget the amazing contribution of our handbells and choir as they presented the Patriotic concert.

    Our final concert on July 31 will be presented by The Lesters. This family group of gospel singers is very familiar to our community. The family organized their gospel ministry over 90 years ago and the descending generations have kept it going! While the family lineup has changed through the years, the present group is made up of Brian Lester, his son Jonathan and wife Bailee (along with their children who make an appearance now and then). This family singing group has endured through five generations. Don’t miss this concert. It will be a blessing! Invite friends and neighbors. This is a free concert, but a love offering will be taken.

    Thanks, too, to our Socials Committee who has provided yummy ice cream treats following each concert!

    God Sings Over Us

    Here is a favorite verse of mine:

    “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;

    He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love;

    He will exult over you with loud singing,” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV).

    God’s love for us is unending. He sings over us to take delight in us.  He sings over us to calm our fears. Think about this: When we sing to God, we are reflecting the image of our Creator, the God who sings over us.