Special Outreach Program December 5th enjoyed by 150 woman...

Delightful program that was the vision of Linda, the outreach coordinator and who also was part of the beautiful music that was heard during the two-hour special event.

The seasonal Christmas music was preformed by Carol on the cello, Linda the violin, and Laura sang lead vocals, with back up from Shari who also played the piano...the music was beautiful.

The keynote speaker was Doris Schweppe, who wowed the crowd with her opening and keep everybody at the edge of their seats watching this humble missionary. Doris began the missionary work at a time when many are set to retire. NOT DORIS...She was just starting another "season" in her life; and, at age 63. And from what I could tell years and years later...(her words), she is still "Fired UP" and taking on some very tough mission work!

More on this soon...

I mentioned that 150 ladies attended the event that meant much work in preparation for the event, from orange juice to coffee and yes even yogurt. The room was transformed from pews to circular tables and back to pews!

From the Registration Team, Table Hostesses, Christmas Cookie Bakers and the Set-Up and Serving by the Youth Group and Food Sharon Lewis.

The Lobby was used to show the hard work that the HISPACE group the 5th and 6th graders did working on the Giant Posters with warm Christmas Wishes for nursing home residents at SUNNYSIDE...there was a sign up sheet for folks to volunteer to go hang the posters. That event was carried out by Lisa Kaye and 12 of the 5th and 6th graders were there and sang their hearts out. The posters were wonderful, many were 3 dimensional; and they were adorned with cotton, pine needles, you name it some how the kids turned the poster boards into WARM SPECIAL GIFTS from their hearts!

There were blankets that were hand crafted and beautiful from the heart that were displayed that will go to the Crisis Pregnancy Center, and to McIntosh Manor Residents. Blankets that were so beautiful, some knit, some patch work with tiny stitches, saddle stitches you name it the gifted blankets were pieces of "ART FROM THE HEART."

The Christmas Centerpieces for Sunnyside Nursing Home were wonderful and unique hand made "Art from the Heart," that will grace the residence tables during the Holiday season.

Also another project from the "Sew Together" team DITTY BAGS for the Anchor House Seafarers! How wonderful it is to see what others have done in the name of Jesus, showing love with time and talent.

I would like also to mention Joe Hanson who took care of the Audio Sound and did an amazing job as always, who happened to be the only "Guy" in the huge crowd of 150 sugared up woman!

I do want to mention that I am in the process of finding out if the Key Note Speaker's speech was recorded if it was I will link to it. The reason I would like to do that is that the speech that Doris Schweppe gave was uplifting, weather you are 20 years old or 120 years old, she was fresh, fired up, and had a powerful punch.

To Brenda....Lets Show a Great Movie For Fun...

Dear Brenda,

I have a clip from the movie…make sure your sound is on your computer and
Just click… YouTube for a short preview...

the movie is called “Young @ Heart”.

If you can not click above...you can
cut and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3uOOhm8Fj8


We can show it to the folks!

You pick the time…and I know you will want to see it too, I can’t wait.

I believe you can figure out who will enjoy the movie. I just love the movie and will be there with you to show it with you. I would be happy to bring along some popcorn…or help you out with snacks (what ever would be the correct thing to do…as far as the special diets, etc.)

I realize you may only be able to serve snacks that are from your kitchen…

Lets Have some fun…I know sometimes Holidays can be rough for some folks; so we can, I hope spread some Cheer!

Enjoy any of the other posts...you may like the one of Veteran's Day! After all you are mentioned through out...because you are there!

Barb.

A few pictures of several of the Musicianaries...November 2009

Peter and the Christmas List...

I counted 15 participants, and Joe Joe, and Maggie were not even there... I thought for sure they would be there, I missed Maggie's nice voice and she knows most of the songs.

Some new folks came Wednesday, including a gentleman named David and the ladies, Gladys, Betty, Crystal and Lynn.

It was almost time to start ten minutes after ten and Millie was the only person there...(well maybe one other resident) so it crossed my mind that the others may not want to lead the singing again this week. That the residence might be waiting to make sure Peter was in the house before they set foot in the Club House.



But the next thing I knew everybody was seated and looking around (probably questioning themselves why they had not waited for Peter to get there after all.)



I wondered how did Brenda round everybody up so quickly...

How did she do that... Of course, when I realized everybody was there...

I thought maybe Brenda could "round-up" Peter and Dave!

I tried not to panic, and I was all of a sudden feeling so stupid because I am at a BIBLE STUDY and unarmed without my Bible. You know the Bible that has many bent pages, many underlined words and many highlighted verses. My regular plain old Bible, it has stickers and stuff that have been pealed off but not quite all the way; it is scratched up, scuffed up with a flexible back, that I almost need a magnifier for I can barely read the print anymore.

The Bible that I have had for years that is a source of comfort because when I grab it to find something to read; due to all the well worn pages it is easy to locate a specific verse, or go to one of the chapters I have read a bunch of times... That Bible was not with me! Not only that but I did not have any kind of Bible. I looked up and around...Where is Peter??

Ok time for a back up plan, Linda and I used last week....Dave, yes! Dave will lead us in a prayer....Oh no, where is Dave. We have a full Club House...everybody else is seated and ready to go...what a great group, the best and biggest so far...quick scan of the room...No Dave.

I was looking around for Dave... as you said he enjoys saying a prayer, and we all loved Dave's accent and hearing somebody different speaking once in a while...makes one sit up and listen. No Dave, well... We started, and all and all, Amazing Grace was a very nice way to start any Bible Study.

In any event... Peter got there during Amazing Grace, and I felt saved right there. And a big sigh of relief washed over all of us... It showed in the music, and the music was beautiful...



There was a glitch...that was my fault; and, I take full responsibility I put the song "Just a closer walk with Thee" on the list, I should have kept that out... Mike said I should drop it till we practice the song... but did I listen? No. I learned my lesson. It was a Bible Study...and see I learned something!

By the way We were all so glad Peter is able to make the time to help us thanks from all of us. And thanks to Mike and Mike and Linda who share their musical talent. Also we all would like to thank Dave for being with us when he can.

But all in all... It was a Joyful time, and very nice of Brenda to give us the books, even if you are not a grandmother one can give the book as a gift. It was very nice of her to think of us! I forgot to pull one out for Dave, I will try to remember to do that.



Big thank you also to Linda, for the Christmas Songs. But I must tell you that I should have had that 2nd cup of coffee before getting ready for the Bible Study. I looked at the 1st page and I thought I was looking at the list of songs... I could not understand why I did not know any of the names of the songs... I was so confused I asked Mike " Mike... Have you ever heard of the Christmas Song called Sweetly Singing O'er the Plains?"

He said "what?"

I said "What about Echoing Their Joyous Strains?"
and I was also telling myself...I bet he has never heard of that song either...

Mike said, "What are you looking at?"

I replied, "Linda's Song List."

Mike came over to me and looked and said, "That is not a List... that is a song, you are reading the words in a song!"

"Oh!!!???" ,Whew... turned out I was looking at the lyrics of Angels We Have Heard On High.

I knew Linda and I had talked about the songs and I just thought she was giving us Redeemer's List... and we would get it all straight after the Bible Study...



Gloria in Excel sis Deo....never heard of that one

Sweetly Singing o'er the Plains...not that one either

And the Mountains in Reply... Nope

Echoing their Joyous Strains... No

Shepherds why this Jubilee...not that one

AT THIS POINT ...I STARTED SKIMMING THE "LIST"...

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FAMILIAR...

Come to Bethlehem and See...wow great title but never heard of this one either

Him whose Birth the Angels Sing... I bet I will like that one ...sure never heard of that one

Come Adore on Bended Knee...That one sounded familiar...but could not place it.

Christ the Lord the Newborn King...I'm sure I must know that one...probably when I hear it.

Jesus Lord of Heaven and earth... I bet I must know that one...

With us Sing our Savior's Birth...Now that sounds like Christmas!



I was so thrilled that Mike so quickly realized that I was looking at the one song ... a page of WORDS TO A SONG... NOT A LIST...Mike figured out my mistake...



Turns out I know all the songs except well... "Angels We have Heard On High" and now you see that Mike also has the patience of ...

All I can say is I can name the 2 greatest decisions I made in my life...1st was when I was 29 and decided to become a Christian, and because of that great decision I was able to make my 2nd and also great decision to marry Mike. And in June it will be the start of our 25th year of the great decision... It is clear to me how blessed my life is and will be... for Mike really does have the Patience of Job.



Linda's "real" Christmas Songs List...

It Came Upon the Midnight clear

We Three Kings of Orient Are

Away In A Manger

O Holy Night

Oh Come all ye Faithful

Silent Night

O Little Town of Bethlehem

The First Noel

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Joy to The World

...And a few others Oh What a relief I know the Songs!!!

Thanks Linda for all the work on the Christmas Songs...

And thanks Mike!

Jazz it UP ....and The Prayer Notes did just that...

VETERAN'S DAY
Thanking those Veteran's that have past...
And Thanking Veteran's that are with us ...
And Future Veteran's we also Honor YOU!

Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth, but, if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”…
Matthew 5: 14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(From the HOLY BIBLE new international version)

JAZZ IT UP. …And THE PRAYER NOTES responded!

The music was wonderful and not only did the residence enjoy... but I could see the staff rather enjoyed themselves. After all the songs were great, and our hearts are ever lifted seeing the hands leave the security of the walkers in order to "CLAP ALONG" and if you looked at the feet...they were "Tapping Along with the Music!"

It was a great night for Jazz and our regulars from Wednesday went out to meet all the folks in the dinning room for a before dinner a Saturday Session of Jazz…with a Great Treat not only did we have Linda on Violin, Mike H. on Keys and Mike P. on Drums, but a Sax player named Jack was in town, and for all of us it was nice!

Yeah, I saw Joe Joe, who was cracking me up trying to get me to disclose the Keyboard players age…. trying to bait me into telling by saying … “That Keyboard Player…He’s OLD”.

Then 10 minutes later Joe Joe, would stroll by and say….”You are not going to tell me how old the Keyboard player is are you?”, “He’s pretty old huh?” Now Joe Joe at 92 years YOUNG himself thinks he has Mike’s number….

So I said,”Well how old do you think he is?”

Joe Joe replied “ probably 50”

OF COURSE I TOLD JOE JOE…. Thanks Right!

Joe Joe’s follow up was…”Yep, He’s pretty OLD!”…”But He is GOOD, and I like that Drummer too.”. “That’s your husband… right?”

YEP! … But what I really liked about Joe Joe…was he guessed my age correctly ALSO…29.

GOD BLESS YOU JOE JOE…and Thank YOU for your Service this VETERAN'S DAY!!!!!!

Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing some people have entertained angels ...

With out knowing it.

Great Day!

The folks love Peter, Mike and Mike...

We were so thrilled to see that everybody from last time, was able to come back; and, icing on the cake we had five new people join in to help us sing!

In order to help us remember every body's names... we used the tried and true name tags... well everybody but....Mike and Mike. That is right Helen and Mary had their name tags on. Joanne and Evelyn had their name tags; Millie, she wore hers but she didn't really need one because Peter and I both wanted to sit real close to her....right? You guested it she knows all the Words to ALL the Songs! Dorothy had a name tag on; and our new guests, Arlene, Rose, Bessie and Ester HAD THEIR NAME TAGS ON....corny maybe, but VERY HELPFUL!

So I tried to find out the "back" story on why the two Mike's did not put their name tag on...The "story" I got... each thought the tag belonged to the other...so Mike thought it was Mike's name tag; and Mike though it was Mike's name tag! Oh well we were not confused at all. Mike, the drums sounded great; and ,Mike the piano sounded great too!

Honestly, we started out so organized...but when we started splitting up the LARGE PRINT songs sheets; well the paper started flying. We had many more singers than expected and ran out of "song books";The good news is, having the Large Print was a hit. I could tell; and it did my heart good to see everybody singing!

But not only that, Selma did come in, now she was all excited about seeing family that she could not stay, but maybe next time. Word is her husband will be returning after a gig at rehab; so my hope is; not only will she stay next time, but that Selma's husband will be well enough to join us on the 28th of October.

Now, before I forget, I met Roland on the front porch he was on his way to an appointment...Next time he wants to join us; so we will send him a reminder note.
......................

Several Notes from Brenda:

Brenda, wanted me to give Linda (who was out this week on vacation to visit with daughter and grandchild) the dates for November. Brenda wants us to come the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month...November 4th and November 18th. That really looks good; as Thanksgiving week is wide open...that should leave Christmas wide open too.

Also, Brenda said the morning went great...she thought and loved the style and format...from the songs and the music, to the singing and reading of the Bible verses a great combination...

Did I mentioned to she loved seeing everybody singing. All together we had fun in this Joyful hour of the day!

Last but not least...A HUGE THANK YOU to BRENDA, who copied our Letter to invite; and let everybody in the building know that they are WELCOME to join LINDA, PETER, MIKE, MIKE and I; and, to come and help us SHOUT to the LORD with JOY!