A Note from Pastor Michael:

   

As we begin to prepare ourselves for the Christmas season, let's reflect on one of our all familiar Christmas Carols, "Joy to the World". I was looking through one of my devotional books that give the background to many of the hymns and thought this would be nice to pass along to you.

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

As one of the most joyous of all Christmas hymns, this carol omits references to shepherds, angelic choirs and wise men. It emphasizes instead the reverent but ecstatic joy that Christ's birth brought to humanity. For centuries hearts had yearned for God to reveal Himself personally. At last it happened as "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The entire Christmas season should be filled with solemn rejoicing as we contemplate anew God's great gift, providing the means whereby sinful people might live eternally.

"Joy to the World" is a paraphrase of the last part of Psalm 88:
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praises...Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (v 4-9)

Although it was originally a song of rejoicing for Jehovah's protection of His chosen people and the anticipation of the time when He would be the God of the whole earth, this psalm was intended by Watts to be a New Testament expression of praise. It exalts the salvation that began when God became incarnate as the Babe of Bethlehem who was destined to remove the curse of Adam's fall. The text was originally titled "The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom" when it first appeared in a hymnal of 1719 by Isaac Watts. The music for this popular carol is some of the phrases used in parts of George Fredrick Handel's beloved oratorio, The Messiah, first performed in 1742.

Through the combined talents of an English literary genius of the eighteenth century, a German-born musical giant from the same period, and a nineteenth century American choir director and educator, another great hymn was born.

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let ev'ry heart prepare Him room, and heav'n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hill, and plains repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love."
Source: "Amazing Grace" by Kenneth Osbeck

May the joy of our Lord fill us as we prepare to minister in many places and many ways this Christmas season!

Serving with you,
Pastor Michael

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Choir practices for Sunday service music are held every Sunday evening 5:15 PM and 15 minutes before morning service. Occasionally we also include a Monday evening practice (6:30 PM to 8:30 PM) to learn new music. During Cantata seasons Choir Cantata practices are also held on Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 PM. Practice dates (Choir, Drama, Praise Team) are posted in the Maranatha newsletter, the Choir Notes newsletter and also Cantata practice schedules are passed out to those participating.
All are welcome to join the choir...no audition required! We're not just choir members...we're Worship Leaders!!!

Choir members...please let Michael know when you are on vacation or other reasons that you will not be singing in choir.

Praise Team practices are held at 8:30 AM Sunday mornings before Sunday School and 6:00 PM Sunday evenings before the evening service. Occasionally there is an extra evening scheduled to learn new music, etc., usually on a Monday evening.

Those singing/playing special music for the service should arrive for their sound check 1/2 hour before the service is to start. Check the Choir Notes newsletter for the Special Music schedule.

Note: Those who are scheduled to sing on a holiday or for communion...please choose a song that fits the event the best you can. Thanks!

Please call Pastor Michael if there is a conflict with the time you are scheduled or ask someone else from the list to fill in for you. Thanks !