Forward-Looking or Forward-Thinking in 2020?

Aside

Webster’s Dictionary defines Forward-Looking as “concerned with or planning for the future.” A forward-looking individual is someone who is particularly focused on the future and making plans for it–someone who looks ahead. Is there a better definition of musician than that?

The actual definition of musician, “one who is skilled in music,” leaves out so much of who and what we are! By necessity and practicality we are forward-looking individuals. We have to be focused on the future and making detailed plans for it. Most of us lack the qualities and skills of a Bach or Mozart and are unable to compose, perform, or teach without weeks, months, or sometimes even years of planning and preparation. That is who we are. This week, the first full week of the New Year, is littered with forward-looking meetings, encounters, emails, and practice.

As a church musician, the wonder and glory of the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany celebrations are behind us, and the forward-looking work of preparing music for Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week and Easter services has arrived.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”– Pablo Picasso
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Dr. Jeannine Jordan, organist, and her husband, David Jordan, media artist of Pro-Motion Music , are the creators and presenters of the dramatic story-driven organ and multimedia concert experiences, From Sea to Shining Sea, Bach and Sons, and Around the World in 80 Minutes.  Subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter for more intriguing and engaging articles – click here  #DrJeannineJordan  #OrganAndMultimediaConcert

Feast of the Epiphany

Aside

A season of four to nine weeks, from the Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The length of the season varies according to the date of Easter. The gospel stories of this season describe various events that manifest the divinity of Jesus. The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Epiphany. The Baptism of our Lord is observed on the Sunday after Epiphany. The gospels for the other Sundays of the Epiphany season describe the wedding at Cana, the calling of the disciples, and various miracles and teachings of Jesus. The Last Sunday after the Epiphany is always devoted to the Transfiguration. Jesus’ identity as the Son of God is dramatically revealed in the Transfiguration gospel, as well as the gospel of the baptism of Christ. We are called to respond to Christ in faith through the showings of his divinity recorded in the gospels of the Epiphany season.  (From An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church – A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians by Armentrout and Slocum)

To explore the scriptures of the Feast of Epiphany, the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 is a superb resource:

Epiphany Sunday – Hymn #124 – What star is this that beams so bright – Puer Nobis
What star is this, with beams so bright, more beauteous than the noonday light? 
It shines to herald forth the King, and Gentiles to his crib to bring.

The Baptism of our Lord – Hymn #121 – Christ, when for us you were baptized – Caithness
Christ, when for us you were baptized, God’s Spirit on you came,
as peaceful as a dove and yet as urgent as a flame.

The calling of the disciples – Hymn #661 – They cast their nets in Galilee – Georgetown
They cast their nets in Galilee just off the hills of brown;
such happy, simple fisherfolk, before the Lord came down.

The Transfiguration – Hymn #129 – Christ upon the mountain peak – Mousley
Christ upon the mountain peak stands alone in glory blazing;
let us, if we dare to speak, with the saints and angels praise him.  Alleluia!

Let us respond to Christ in faith through the showings of his divinity recorded in the gospels and brought forth in the beauty of the hymnody of the Epiphany season. 
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Dr. Jeannine Jordan, organist, and her husband, David Jordan, media artist of Pro-Motion Music , are the creators and presenters of the dramatic story-driven organ and multimedia concert experiences, From Sea to Shining Sea, Bach and Sons, and Around the World in 80 Minutes.  Subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter for more intriguing and engaging articles – click here  #DrJeannineJordan  #OrganAndMultimediaConcert

The Spiritualities of Christian Hymns – a synopsis

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Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:19-20

Several weeks ago, I had the privilege to attend the Diocesan sponsored workshop, The Spiritualities of Christian Hymns presented by Dr. Carl Daw, Episcopal priest and past Executive Director of the Hymn Society in the US and Canada.  It was an inspiring, educational, enlightening, and spiritual day as we explored and sang our way through many of the glorious hymns of our 1982 Hymnal.  (As Dr. Daw questioned whether we had sung each hymn, I was able to answer in the affirmative each time thanks to the two marvelous Hymn-a-thon experiences we held at St. Bede!)

Dr. Daw reminded us that hymns

• are sung prayer (singing with and for others is praying with and for others)
• are a recollection of the readings
• reinforce the thoughts expressed by the sermon (as was so evident with the hymn sung following Marlene’s sermon several weeks ago, “Come thou o traveler unknown” #636)
• express enthusiasm for our faith
• present scripture in new ways
• are wonderful ways to teach our faith
• help us experience God’s presence
• are never simply “decoration” or “moving music” in our service but are sung in praise and glory to God

The oft quoted phrase attributed to St. Augustine, “Those who sing pray twice” means that singing adds to our praise and worship of God—that our voices are gifts, with which we can make music to the Lord.  Sung prayer expresses the joy of the heart, the happiness resulting from one who has encountered Jesus Christ and experienced his love.  St. Augustine was right—he who sings prays twice.  May we sing together—in holy worship, and in our homes—in praise and thanksgiving for all that God has given us.  (Bishop James Conley)

Dr. Jeannine Jordan, organist, is the Minister of Music at St. Bede Episcopal Church in Forest Grove, Oregon. She and her husband, David Jordan, media artist of Pro-Motion Music , are the creators and presenters of the dramatic story-driven organ and multimedia concert experiences, From Sea to Shining Sea, Bach and Sons, and Around the World in 80 Minutes.  Subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter for more intriguing and engaging articles – click here  #DrJeannineJordan  #OrganAndMultimediaConcert

Blessed to be a blessing

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I was richly blessed by being a worship participant at the Chautauqua Institute’s morning worship services. A participant in six prayerfully designed, carefully crafted, lovingly presented worship services. It was a balm, a joy, and an inspiration, leaving me with the knowledge that God is with me and among us every day. Now that we are home, I realize that the blessing I received from the musicians of Chautauqua must be shared with my congregation and with my students. I was blessed to be a blessing. I pray each of you seek out ways to be blessed so your music and work will be a blessing to your congregations, your friends and your family.

If you’d like to learn more about Chautauqua, and I encourage you to do so, visit chq.org.

Dr. Jeannine Jordan, organist, and her husband, David Jordan, media artist of Pro-Motion Music , are the creators and presenters of the dramatic story-driven organ and multimedia concert experiences, From Sea to Shining Sea, Bach and Sons, and Around the World in 80 Minutes.  Subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter for more intriguing and engaging articles – click here  #DrJeannineJordan  #OrganAndMultimediaConcert