Musical Notes – December 2017

Can you believe that December has arrived? The final month of 2017 is here. I believe that Main Street United Methodist Church is one of the most beautiful places to celebrate Christmas. The choirs are all prepared to present some wonderful selections at the worship services.
 
The Junior Handbell Choir will be playing at the morning worship service on Sunday, December 17. The featured piece is Janet Valey and Susan Berry’s Variations on “Away In A Manger”.
 
Seasonal hymns, solos, and instrumental pieces will be offered at all the morning worship services and at the Christmas Eve Service on December 24.
 
Main Street’s Annual Service of Lessons and Carols will be at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, with a reception, which is hosted by the United Methodist Women, following the service in Asbury Hall.
 
The Sarah Allen Handbell Choir, The Charles Wesley Choir, guest singers, and instrumentalists will be presenting a magnificent collection of pieces celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
The service will begin with The Sarah Allen Handbell Choir playing Lloyd Larson’s arrangements of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.
 
The Charles Wesley Choir, under the direction of Shaw Thompson, will be accompanied by Organist Robin Thompson; Pianist Melle Sensibaugh; Flautist Kristen Slaughenhoupt; Oboe and Clarinetist Roderick Brown; Cellist Preston Watson; and Trumpeter Kurt Slaughenhoupt.
 
Musical selections include A. H. Mann’s arrangement of Henry Gauntlett’s classic carol “Once In Royal David’s City”; Pepper Choplin’s anthem “Star of Advent”; Dan Forrest’s anthem “The Shepherd’s Carol”; Larry Shackley’s (the composer of Main Street’s commissioned Centennial anthem “I Am Coming Soon”) arrangement of “Born where the Shadows Lie”; Dan Forrest’s anthem “The Hands that First Held Mary’s Child”; Jane Holstein’s anthem “Under the Stars”; John Rutter’s arrangement of “Three Kings of Orient”; Donald Fraser’s anthem “This Christmastide” (known as Jesse’s Carol” written for operatic soprano Jesse Norman); John Rutter’s anthem “Jesus Child”; and an arrangement of Adolfe Adam’s masterpiece “O Holy Night”.
 
The above service is entitled “Jesus Child”, and Gerry Berry will provide readings between the musical selections.
 
Please “come and worship” at Main Street this December. Merry Christmas!
 
Robin