2009 ANNUAL REPORT

ASSOCIATE IN MINISTRY PAULA SMITH, MINISTER OF MUSIC

January

The New Year was started by planning the funeral of Shirley Bayles which was held on January 16^th.  It seemed as if the entire musical family of Grace came together to honor her memory.  I thank all who participated. Shortly after that, on January 20^th, Cathy provided music for the funeral of Peter Fox and on January 24^th we had another “musical” funeral for Fran Skogman.

Because it was the beginning of the year, special attention was given to items in the church that were being insured but not used.  That led to the sale of the piano in Jacob’s Ladder and the sale of the extra electronic keyboard that was not being used.

A component that is used in the sound board for the Contemporary Service was repaired and replaced by Broadway Sound. 

Conversations were had with Barger and Nix about adding some things to the organ, but that was put on a back burner for a later time.

Bell table covers were cleaned.

February

 “Unfailing Light” was the service chosen for Wednesdays during Lent. 

 “Covenant of Grace” was chosen as the program for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

 Plans were made for a group of Grace Members to attend the St. Olaf choir concert at UT.

March

 Becky Ball was asked to fill in for Cathy Whitten at the organ on Palm Sunday.  She agreed and we thank her for playing on the first Sunday in April!

 Thanks to Nelson Lingle for hanging a musical banner on the wall above the choir.

 Janet Allen agreed to be the music librarian for the Chancel Choir

 I led a short “sing-along” of Irish tunes at the Grace’s Greatest gathering.

 Music was provided for the funeral of Peg Heddleson.

April

 An exciting month to say the least!  The choir sang the first half of the Cantata on Maundy Thursday and finished it on Good Friday. Pastor Damos was hospitalized on the morning of Good Friday, so I contacted people to take care of Easter weekend after contacting the Synod Office and one of the Bishop’s Assistants. Eliza Wertenberger filled in for him during the Good Friday service and she also gave the message at the Sunrise Service on Easter morning.   Pastor Lorenz gave the message at all three worship services. The 8:30 service on Easter Morning had bells and special music provided by Katelyn Gurecki, Paul Gurecki and Mark Lassen. 11:15 had brass played by Dale Gedcke, Bill Schwenterly, Ingrid Busch and Michael Hulsey.  Janet Allen and Barbara Sparks accompanied the choir on their flutes. 9:30 had special music presented by Katelyn Gurecki. New Creation members led the singing at the Sunrise worship.

 Sarah Lorenz was added as a guitar player at the 9:30 worship service.

 The piano was tuned this month.

May

 Music was chosen and rehearsals began for the preparation of Friendship Sunday.

 Ringspiration played on Friendship Sunday, Break of Day sang the call to worship, Chancel choir offered up the anthem and New Creation led the Psalm.

 Meghan Brenner and Jenna Hulsey accompanied the choir on their violins on Pentecost Sunday.

 The organ was tuned this month.

June

 The month began with Synod Assembly where I accompanied the singing at the start of plenary sessions and was the pianist for the final worship on Sunday morning.

 Chancel choir was done for the summer and MorningStars began for the 11:15 service.

 Praise Teams and Break of Day continued rehearsals throughout the summer months.

 Music was planned for the funeral of Don Elam on June 8^th.

 I preached on the 21^st for Pastor Damos at the 11:15 service using his notes while he took a short vacation at the hospital.

 The opening service for the Ulster Project was here in the Sanctuary. I provided music for the service. It was done as the sun was setting and the electricity went out. Nice service.

July

 July seemed to be the magic month for special music.  Paul Gurecki, Katelyn Gurecki, Mark Lassen, Colette Boudreaux, Scott Joiner, and Barbara Sparks were among those offering their gifts of music this month.

 Music was organized for the funeral of Duane Larson.  Thanks to members of Break of Day, Barbara Sparks, Jane Williams, and as always, Cathy Whitten for the music.

 Vacation Bible School was going on this month.  I thank Natasha Patchen for filling in while I was busy in Ohio with the hospitalization of my father.

August

 I was gone for a little while at the beginning of August to attend my father’s funeral.

 Plans were made to attend a benefit concert in Knoxville with Colette Boudreaux and Scott Joiner as the main attraction. Our church was well represented at this function.

 A request was made from Paul Weber of the Lenoir-Rhyne University A Cappella choir to come and sing at our church during their tour in March of 2010.  I gave them the “go ahead” and the concert will be on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m.  There are many needs to bring them here, but it will be an inspirational evening of song that we will not soon forget.

 Jane Williams and John Munro offered special music this month.  Thanks to them for the offering of their talents.

 I preached on the 30^th.

September

The Chancel Choir was back at rehearsals this month. Music for the festival was rehearsed at the beginning of the Chancel Choir rehearsal and opened to anyone who wanted to sing. We also had a rehearsal following Break of Day rehearsals on Thursday evenings for those who wanted to join in.

The nursery is once again being staffed on Wednesday evenings during choir rehearsal.

We attempted to resurrect the Joyful Noises choir this year, with no luck as of yet. Natasha Patchen and John Munro are willing to lead this. Their willingness is greatly appreciated!

Funerals were held for Carol Willumsen and Dorothy Walsky. Cathy Whitten put music together for those funerals.  

I was the coordinator for Grace’s Greatest this month. A musical program was presented by Hugh Livingston on his Lowry Organ.

October

Final plans were put in place for the Music Festival.  The Messiah Sing-along was planned, a plea was put out for soloists, and soloists volunteered. The Family Christmas program was chosen and Corinne Sparks agreed to be the director this year. She is an Early Childhood Education Major at Middle Tennessee State University and is eager to work with the children.  Thank you, Corinne!

Becky Ball filled in for Cathy Whitten at the organ on the 18^th.  Thank you, Becky!

Paul Gurecki and Mark Lassen offered music at the 8:30 service for Reformation Sunday and Ringspiration played the bells at the 11:15 service.

Arrangements were made earlier in the year to have Anna and the Boys play for the Pet Blessing.

November

The Music Festival was a big success!  Churches attending were Kern United Methodist, Grace Covenant, and Chapel on the Hill.  The Mountain Breeze Quartet from Smoky Mt. Harmony offered extra music as did a trio of students from the University of Tennessee.  Lots of instrumentalists, talented singers and bell players and Lisa and Deryk Stilwell (narrators) offered up their many gifts. Thanks to all who attended, all who helped set up and those who were involved with the fellowship time following. 

The Contemporary Worship Service finally found a drummer!  His name is Jacob Hammond.  He is the grandson of Rose Hammond, who attends the 9:30 worship service.  Jacob is 10 years old. We thank him for his dedication and the offering of his gifts to God and the people of Grace!

The piano was tuned this month.

December

December began with the Messiah Sing-along on the 6^th at 3p.m.  We had only one soloist.  The others were fighting illnesses.  Matthew Bak was the director. Cathy Whitten and I accompanied on the organ and piano, respectively.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and the singing was great!

 Work continued on the Christmas Eve program and the Lessons and Carols that followed on the Sunday after Christmas. Lots of people offered to share their gift of music for both Christmas Eve services.  Children and parents gave up an hour every Saturday morning this month in order to offer the program “Starry Night, Noisy Night” at the Family Christmas Eve Service.

Music was organized for the funeral of Virginia Moore on December 15^th.

The organ was tuned this month.

Behind the Scenes…

There are always things happening in the area of music, even if they are “unseen” and “unmusical”. Planning for the next Music Festival begins almost as quickly as the current one is ending.

All of the services would be impossible to do without those “unseen” people who do things like the programming for the projector, those who run the projector, etc. (9:30 worship).  Others take care of finding liturgists, lectors and people who give the children’s message. 

One person, among many, who is very valuable to me, is Lois Szluha.  She comes in faithfully every quarter to wade through the worship guides that I have put together and puts the song sheets together for the 9:30 worship service.  Without her typing and computer skills, we would have nothing to hold in our hands during the 9:30 service. Thank you, Lois.

Thank you to all!  You may have figured out from this report that you don’t have to be a musician to be involved in the music ministry at Grace.  It’s all about God’s work, our hands!