Second Sunday in January. We are meeting.

2nd week of the month. We are meeting. hope to see you there.

Nat will be issuing his "report" on where we have been....where we are going. Don't miss it!

Andrew

Shalom

Last night I was at a workshop lead by composer/arranger Eleanor Epstein. This was during rehearsal time for Women's Voices Chorus which is directed by Mary Lycan. Over the course of the evening we worked on two songs. One was Mizmor l'David, Psalm(23)of David, and the other was Hafleh Va-feleh, Wonder of Wonders, a song based on the book of Exodus. The experience of a Jewish woman who speaks and reads Hebrew, who read us the psalm in Hebrew and provided us with English translations for both songs was amazing. The passion in the text was magnified many times by her emphasis on the tune, which is the most important part. In the Hebrew culture you can't sing a song with any effect without the deeply emotive aspect of the tune. There are even Jewish keys, for instance augmented 2nd/minor third, and so forth. Best of all, I now have a much enhanced understanding of the 23rd Psalm! Little nuances such as how the word for "restores" in Hebrew also means "returns", and the word for "paths" means "circles"-think about that one! And lots more. It was the best sermon and Old Testament study I've had in awhile. After all this I'm wondering why we don't sing any Jewish songs at CHBC. I'm wondering how we could not, given our heritage. These two songs would be a little much for the choir as they are demanding of dynamics that are not notated, but felt or understood from tradition in Jewish culture. The words of these particular pieces are as difficult as the music, possibly more so. But, there's got to be some stuff out there. Also, I've encountered a few Messianic Jews in the CHBC congregation who might be of help, if needed. Please consider this.

Marilyn

BIG PICTURE

Greetings All,

I have been corresponding with Mark Acuff about him attending the meeting this weekend. He has notified me that he is not able to attend but given the busy season of life for many of us I am going to suggest that we meet this Sunday.

Big picture here....I feel we have gone through a very productive "goal setting" phase over the last year, but we now need to talk about how we implement some of the goals deemed most important.

Right now we talk and leave our meetings, but there is no clear connection between what we talk about, perhaps agree upon as important, and what gets done on Sunday. The best we can do is trust that some of what we talk about is having an influence.

I think the majority of what we should be doing is providing Nat with a good sounding board as he thinks through how to lead us in worship. I also agree that there needs to be a lot of trust on our part to speak our hearts and minds and allow Nat to respond as he sees appropriate.

However, when we identify problems or opportunities that simply are not on Nat's radar screen, for whatever reason, we as a "body representing" group, need to find ways to help Nat become an effective chief executor of the best of those ideas as well.

We need to find very loving and genuinely supportive ways to help Nat be more "accountable" to some of the more important ideas that come out of our meetings.

We can do simple things like presenting an agreed upon list of "action items" at the end of meetings, have Mark, Nat's supervisor, become aware of that list so he can be a support, and allow Nat to give us progress reports. The list of action items can periodically go to the elders, via Keith, as well. Brent Clark, as the pastor in charge of staff, is also willing to play a positive and loving role in follow up.

I have been very encouraged by the warm and positive response to this desire for more "fellowship" and integration in what we do as a group. God's grace abounds.

Please notify on this blog your intent to come this Sunday. We can meet in the same room as last time.

Thanks

Andrew

Greetings faithful Waggites,

Since Marilyn and Mary Fran are not able to attend on the 12th we will postpone, and I can check with everyone to see when the next available date is for everyone. I will personally call.

Mary Fran... re: the group planned service, Nov 5th was suggested as a new date but didn't hear back. We can still keep planning, as much progress has been made on my part. I presented part of it to a young adult class...great learning experience (for me...hopefully for some others) and I am also hoping to present an age appropriate version to the youth group in a couple weeks. (To be confirmed). I will give you updates, or perhaps some of you may be interested in coming along.

Mary Fran, Keith and Nat, I will call to discuss.

Also, I am meeting with Brent Clark on Thursday to discuss some big picture things, and I am hoping he can help us get a better handle on how the staff can assist in implementing some of the more administratively burdensome action items that come out of our meetings.

Hope you are all well.

Andrew

Just to Let You Know

The first two weekends of November I am at my house where my gallery and studio space will be open to the public for the Orange County Artists Guild Open Studio Tour. I won't be able to be at CHBC for WAG and will miss y'all.

M

So...

...are we meeting Sunday, Doctor Stillwell? It's gonna be the second Sunday and all.

Songs of Deliverance

No, not "Dueling Banjos"....

I received some responses about worship yesterday that it was a great time. We moved from heart-cry to heart-shout, a time of confessing our souls' sickness and need to one of rejoicing in the redemption that comes through Christ's blood. It was awesome. I feel that the congregation responded with a visible and audible joyfulness that I haven't seen in a while! (i. e. It seemed the place was really rockin' yesterday, especially during our second gathering.)

I think the BC community will experience great things as we continue to fall on our faces before the God of Grace.