Dinner Theater Scripts

We are beginning to read possible dinner theater scripts. We need anyone who is willing to read. Most of the scripts have between 11 and 22 parts. We began "Death by Chocolate" Wed night and will finish that script this week. We had to double up on reading parts, so it would be good to have several more people there to read. 6:30 in room 1102.

Vote and Dinner Theater

Ok, Drama folk, remember three dates:
Monday night 6:00 — prayer time for the election at church
Tuesday — if you haven't already, VOTE
Wednesday — I have rec'd the possible dinner theater books. We will begin to read these in our time at 6:30 to find the one for next year. Please try to be on time so we can get these read soon. See you Wed night.

Sanctuary Choir and Christmas!

Tomorrow night, we will begin work on our Christmas music for this year! Our presentation, which will be presented on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 & 14, will feature some new music and some favorites from past musicals. The choir will be seated on the platform in chairs ("Gaither Homecoming Style") and there will be soloists, dialogue, and a whole bunch of great music! We are presenting Saturday night primarily for our community - area churches, friends and neighbors. So begin inviting them now! If you'd like to participate in this event, please come to choir tomorrow night. We begin at 6:30 p.m. in the choir suite!

K-Dub

The K-Dub program on Wednesday nights has now been running for about a month! THANKS to everyone who is making this program a huge success. We have averaged over 50 children for the first month. The children begin work tomorrow night in earnest on the Christmas production. However, I am excited that they've been able to work in many different areas of Fine Arts Ministry. If you'd like to be involved in this ministry, please call the church office. K-Dub meets each Wednesday Night at 6:30 p.m. in Room 204 upstairs (near the Salt House).

KidArts Workshop

As fall speeds toward us, so do the usual fall activities. Brother Michael has done a splendid job with the children's productions since his arrival; however, as a music-related function, I will now be overseeing this program. I love working with children's choirs and look forward to some huge things over the next few years! The problem is that I direct the Sanctuary Choir rehearsal at the same time that this program occurs on Wednesday nights. Therefore, I need some help! I don't want to lose choir members - though some have offered their services. So we need others to step up and lead this effort. We are calling it "K Dub" (KW) - KidArts Workshop! We will be learning our Christmas musical and as the program grows, we will hopefully spread our wings to several different arts-related endeavors. We have had some quality people step forward, but need more! If you are interested in assisting, please call me (615.876.0527). I will lend as much assistance as is possible. No previous experience, or music/drama expertise is required - just God-led people who love children and have workman-like attitudes. K-Dub meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. beginning September 3rd!

Upcoming Worship

You will notice a subtle shift in our worship over the next few weeks. The early morning service at 8:30 a.m. will feature at least a couple of hymns, combined with some familiar praise and worship songs. The later service (11:00 a.m.) will feature more progressive praise and worship music. Then, the evening service - beginning in a few weeks - will feature a variety of different styles, including a "vintage" or "traditional" service at times and an acoustic style of worship, at others. We are also working on a couple of Sunday Night concert events. You can find more details right here as we move forward and I would love to hear your comments.

Choir Officers and Section Leaders Meet Sunday!

Because the First Fruits event begins at 5:30 p.m. this Sunday evening (July 27), we will have our Choir Meeting for all officers and section leaders at 4:30 p.m. in the Choir Suite. Please be present or have someone represent your position - if you cannot attend.

This Choir is Amazing!

If you had asked me to pick a mid-day time frame on a Thursday, during a regular work week, after a Holiday week, and said, "Have a great representation of your choir for a special event that will only take about ten minutes", I would have been shy about any predictions regarding participation! However, the Sanctuary Choir of First Baptist Church Joelton made a "believer" out of me concerning what we can accomplish! We had fantastic representation - even with many of our regulars out-of-pocket or at work - and the enthusiasm was contagious. The choir loft was filled to overflowing (literally) and the sound was awesome! I have been promised a "pre-airing" DVD for our enjoyment and the jingle itself will begin appearing in the late fall. Thanks to everyone who made this happen! I look forward to bigger and better things in the near future from the choir. Begin praying now about opportunities to spread the message of our Lord and to present our church in fresh and exciting ways! Stay posted for further opportunity!

WSMV Shoot TODAY!!!

Don't forget: We are taping a Holiday jingle for WSMV-TV Channel 4 today at the church. We will rehearse the song beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Music Suite and recording begins at High Noon! Bring someone with you and be ready to sing! Lunch is immediately following the shoot!

You Say Music, I Say Music

I have been intrigued to watch the "evolution" (if I may use that word) of music in the church over the past few years. I am old enough to remember when Andrae Crouch, Lanny Wolfe, Bill Gaither, and other "classic" writers and artists were considered the "new music of the day". They developed a new contemporary sound that melded the traditional components of Black Gospel, Southern Gospel, Traditional Church, and Inspirational music, with elements of modern pop music of the day.

In some ways, I believe they ushered in this new chapter of church music history. It's ironic that many of those who appreciate and follow Bill Gaither's music are the ones who fight against new modern music infiltrating our churches today. It was Bill Gaither himself who brought a contemporary edge to church music a few decades ago. In today's church, the word contemporary takes on a brand new meaning. Changes in church music and worship practices have caused a boom in growth at some churches, while bringing deep hurt and division in others.

People are certainly passionate about the styles and modes of music utilized and that's a good thing. However, our likes and dislikes amount to nothing more than just that - our preferences. There are no clear cut methods outlined in Scripture regarding music in worship. We only know that it is indeed important.

There are a few Scriptural hints that Paul and some of the Disciples did know and sing a few songs themselves. The songs probably didn't sound like what we have grown accustomed to and were definitely not performed on synthesizer, guitar, or pipe organ. Peter didn't step over to a Korg Keyboard, tap on a microphone to be sure it was "on", and then belt out a praise and worship song for the group.

I will pursue some thoughts on worship music in coming days right here and Brother David will talk about this in his upcoming sermon Sunday as well. For now I want to ask a couple of questions and hopefully we will get some responses:

How does a church determine what to do musically-speaking to reach new people and still satisfy the masses that already attend? What things are important to consider?

WSMV TV Opp THURSDAY!

Don't miss an outstanding opportunity to "shine" for FBCJ this Thursday! Our choir has been invited to sing a jingle for WSMV-TV Channel 4's Weather Team! The song is to the tune of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", so it'll be easy to learn. We need about 50 to sing it. We'll work on the song Wednesday night, Thursday morning starting at 11:30 a.m., and then will perform it for the cameras Thursday at High Noon. We are wearing robes so you don't have to wear Christmas clothes to work in July (this will air during the Holidays). The Fine Arts Department is providing childcare and lunch. Be here and BRING SOMEONE with you!

Services on Sunday April 27th

Many thanks to Richard Harris for filling in yesterday. As always, we can see his heart for worship and his passion for excellence in how he leads us. It is wonderful to have so many capable people ready to step in and help out.

Ensembles, Dinner Theatre and a Work Day

The three ensembles are now in full swing. There's a Ladies Ensemble ( doing contemporary, neat harmonies, up-beat music ), a Men's Ensemble ( doing good old hymns and Southern-gospel ) and a Mixed Ensemble ( doing some Christ Church/Brooklyn Tabernacle style music ). If you'd like to help out in one of these, contact John.


The Calvary in Motion drama team is starting work on this Summer's Dinner Theatre. If you'd like to try out for a part or you're interested in helping out with props, or painting or other behind-the-scences work, contact Doug Bain or Nancy Comeaux.


There is a work day planned for this Saturday, April 26th from 8:00am until...

We'll be cleaning up in the Choir Suite, updating the labels and folders to match the robe numbers, and organizing the music in the Music Library. We'll also be storing scenery and stage props and costumes. There will be some shelving units constructed and we'll be moving some boxes around. So, come and help and stay however long you can.

FBC Joelton Fine Arts Ministry

Upcoming Events
Sunday the choir is presenting "Eyes of Faith: The Fanny Crosby Story". It's a mini-musical of songs by Fanny Crosby ( just a few of them, since she wrote over 8000 ) We need to fill our choir loft with folks!

Ensemble practices:Sundays at 4:30pm Ladies Ensemble in the SanctuaryThe Hymns ( the men's ensemble) in the choir suite
Sundays at 6:30pmMixed Ensemble in the choir suite

Prayer Requests
Shirley Ray's husband ( Martin ) is going in for hernia surgery on the 21st

Others with health concerns:
Richard Harris
Jim Gibson
Jennifer Campbell
Clyde Bell

Continue to pray for the Lord's guidance upon John and the Choir.

Devotional Thought
Satan is always trying to create turmoil among us, give us peace and understanding for the direction that the great "I AM" is leading us to. Let us become the true servants we should be for Christ and use ourvoices for praise and worship, not bickering and complaining. Ask yourself this question, who are you trying to glorify? Is it yourself or the one who died and shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins? To paraphrase a John Kennedy quote, "Ask not what the choir can do for you, but what can you do for your choir."
Pray that God gives us each the answer to that call so what comes out of our service is pleasing to him and not entertainment for ourselves.

( Thanks to Rick Cecil for this week's devotional thought )

Stories Behind the Songs
When Joseph Scriven was asked who wrote the words to the poem he had on his wall he said, "The Lord and I did it between us." The poem was "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Joseph Scriven (1819-1886) learned early in life to give his griefs to the Lord. On the eve of his wedding day, his bride was found drowned. This crushed him. He left his homeland of Ireland and moved to Port Hope, Canada. He found Jesus to be his best friend and decided to give his life to be a friend and a help to others. He became known as the "Good Samaritan of Port Hope." He wrote the poem "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" as an encouragement for his sick mother. We, like Scriven's mother, are reminded again that we have a friend who wants to know our cares, griefs, burdens, temptations, trials, sins, pain, and sorrows. Jesus is that friend. Have you spoken to Him today?

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows over every weakness,
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.


Something Funny
A young man asked an old rich man how he made his money. The old guy fingered his worsted wool vest and said, "Well, son, it was 1932, the depth of the Great Depression. I was down to my last nickel. I invested that nickel in an apple. I spent the entire day polishing the apple and, at the end of the day, I sold the apple for ten cents.
The next morning, I invested those ten cents in two apples. I spent the entire day polishing them and sold them at 5:00 PM for 20 cents.
I continued this system for a month, by the end of which I'd accumulated a fortune of $3.50.
Then my wife's father died and left us ten million dollars."