This week and beyond~!

I would like to share two things through our blog this week—the music that will be in this Sunday’s worship services and two wonderful opportunities coming soon.
Do you know how many adult choirs we have at Floris? We have three! Sonrise Singers sing regularly at the 8:00 AM service. The Sanctuary Choir most often sings at the 11:00 AM service and the Chamber Choir sings at 11:00 AM a couple of times a month. This Sunday, the Chamber Choir will lift up an anthem, “Father, Forgive” at the 11:00 AM service. The song was published recently as one of the songs in a suite called, “Prayers at the Cross” for Holy Week. It is a beautifully written piece for a choir with a violin solo and it is based on the scripture Luke 23:33-34.
During the weeks of “Forgiveness Sundays”  I have thought about Jesus a lot. I believe that Jesus is the one who truly understands how we feel when we have struggles with issues of forgiveness.  I have chosen the anthem, “Father, Forgive” with a prayerful heart that the Lord may bless us and bring us closer to the heart of Jesus. I love the middle of the song, when we sing, “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison”(Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.)  It leads my heart to humbly kneel and remember  Jesus on the Cross when he prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” “Kyrie eleison” was sung in old churches at the beginning of each Mass.
I pray that we all lift up our hearts together during our worship services.  The Floris Strings will play, “Allegro” by Corelli for an offertory at 11:00 AM. And at 8:00 AM, I will sing, “Lord, Be Merciful” during the offering.
So, now what are the two upcoming opportunities?  The first one is for our Lenten cantata choir. The choirs and orchestras perform cantatas twice a year; one near Christmas, the other during Lent. We will perform, “The Lenten Sketches” by Joseph Martin as our Lenten cantata on April 6-- Good Friday evening. As we did last year, I would like to invite all who are interested in singing with the choir or playing with the orchestra to join us. The choir will start rehearsing this Wednesday night (Feb.1) from 8:15-9:00 PM. There will also be Sunday rehearsals right after the 11:00 AM service starting on Feb. 26 for those who can’t make the Wednesday night rehearsals.  Please, join us!  It will be your wonderful Lenten gift to the Lord!
The other opportunity is to sing on Easter Sunday for all three morning services with the choir. Many people asked me how they can sing the “Hallelujah” chorus on Easter morning after last Easter. So, here is a chance for you to come and join us! Yes, we will sing “Hallelujah” again with one more anthem. Two Wednesday night rehearsals are mandatory: March 28and April 4 from 7:30-9:00 PM. I can promise how joyful it will be. Looking forward to having you all join us!
Here are the lyrics to the anthem, “Father, Forgive”.  May the Lord be with you all.
“O Father, forgive our sins. We are helpless. We have lost our way.
O Father, forgive our sins. In Your mercy save us! Hear our cry!
On a cross of grief and pain, Jesus suffered for our shame. Such amazing love He showed.
What a debt to Him we owe.
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. (Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord have mercy.)
O, Father, forgive our sins. In Your mercy save us! Hear our cry!”