So last weekend was our Christmas "kick-off". It started Friday night with our friends the Oltmans; made our way downtown to the Schnitzer Center for the Performing Arts and saw Gospel Christmas - the Oregon Symphony and Northwest Gospel Association. It's the 13th year for the performance ... I think I've been to all but two of them (it started the year before we moved to Portland, didn't know about it our first year, but have seen every "issue" since! What a marvelous concert. Sorry for the distortion of the sound - I only had my Nikon CoolPix - and it's not professional quality!
With the Symphony on main stage, the choir in the lofts above them, the soloists front and center, there is much passion exuded throughout the whole concert. The director is brought in from Los Angeles (every year) and is the most accommodating person ever. He turns around for every song, and tells a story about the music you are about to hear. He wrote one of the songs this year called "We Three Kings" and blended it with "I Saw Three Ships". In his explanation he comments, "I know Israel is land-locked, and am not sure how I got those three ships there - but that's the enigma you will have to figure out on your own" (or some such statement). The "Amen" was one of the encores - they do it pretty much every year. The only thing that changes is the soloists. Sometimes the director and music arranger come center stage and sing it as well. Anyway, we left the concert inspired, invigorated and musically high!
The next night we joined our friends the Waetjens and Schultzes for a 4 o'clock dinner (I know, Rhoda, you'll say "fat chance them ever eating dinner at 4!"), but had to because the evening was filled. Went to a pub for dinner; then were invited to the President's reception at Concordia - and what a treat that was - saw a lot of friends as well; then made it to the Christmas Chorale done by the CU music department. We've been part of the Chorale goers for all 13 years (plus some that we drove up from Roseburg for) and it is amazing what the director does to get the most out of these student voices; I would say the choir is now becoming upper echelon of Lutheran choirs throughout the US, and close to rivaling St. Olaf for the Christmas concert! (in a visit with Kurt (vocal director) after the concert, his comment was that only one out of every 3 to 4 auditions make it to the choirs. There was a time that if you showed up, you were in. The service has brass ensemble, symphonic band, bells, strings, organ and vocals. Though it lasted some 2 1/2 hours, the listener was moved through the prophecies to the fulfillment gloriously! I still didn't make it emotionally through the last hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful" - with full organ and brass and choir singing the ?Willocks 'angelic' descant to verse two - the phrase "sing all ye citizens of heaven above" assures me that Lin is joining in the celebration! So I just cry and smile - and remember how good God is to have blessed me with two special life partners.
Sunday morning was the Children's program - my only participation is in the welcoming and lighting of the Advent wreath. The Sunday School (about 45-50 kinds) then took over and did a marvelous presentation called "Messiah" - again tying together the OT prophecies from Adam to Malachi to their fulfillment. What a treat is was. Then the congregation had a meal served (cornbread and chili and gingerbread for dessert) followed by a "Gingerbread House" - making family activity; we purchased kits and had a ball watching and working the construction theme. For those who weren't doing the houses, another group was packing cookies away to be sent to servicemen ... probably won;t make it to the troops until next year - but I'm sure they won't care, either.SO this week getting back into full swing for services next week - we decided to drop NYE service this year - but will attempt a worship on NY Day at 10:00 am - we'll see how that goes.
And, of course, getting ready to take the silver bird to CA to see Micah & Carrie, Zephyr & Bodhi; June and Kristi - it's Christmas for the west-coast Wehrspann clan in El Cajon.
A blessed Advent to you all.
Jesus is coming.
Karina and Dan
Wow, that was a great way to start the morning! We saw something similar last night in rural Klinger...but you will have to wait for MY video a bit longer. Loved the soloists, the modulation (how high can we go?), the mighty organ (there was an organ - yes? Didn't see it...but heard it. Please say there was an organ) The two W's singing in the audience - intonation - spot on! What was that hammering sound at the end? A xylophone?
ReplyDeleteThen, as you shared your O Come All Ye Faithful thoughts...my eyes welled up too as you wrote from the heart.
I don't think we are going to get E'en So Lord Jesus, Come Quickly in during Advent --- so I'm thinking late January when we remember a member who has passed into eternity. "Rejoice in heaven all ye who dwell therein; rejoice on earth, ye saints below. For Christ is Coming Soon!"
Ja, I never make it through the tape of "O Come" either; probably never will. So many memories of Christmases past mixed with the knowledge of what lies in store for us in the eternal future -- I figure crying's a really good thing! And that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
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