Happy New Year!

First of all, I would like to tell all choir members, Floris orchestra players, and parents of children's choir and student choir "thank you so much" for your effort, support, and prayers for throughout 2011 especially in December until yesterday's Lessons and Carols service. It was very lovely! I enjoyed a lot.
We will have a "Covenent Service" on Jan. 1st 2012 at 9:15 and 11:00. We will lift our hearts with one of Hymns byJohn Wesley " Let Us Use The Grace Divine" I pray that we all start the New year by giving our hearts to God by worshipping Him. I would like to share the lyric of the hymn. It is a bold, powerful and heartful hymn.
May the Lord bless you all!
 

1. Come, let us use the grace divine, and all with one accord, in a perpetual covenant join ourselves to Christ the Lord; Give up ourselves, thru Jesus' power, his name to glorify; and promise, in this sacred hour, for God to live and die.

2. The covenant we this moment make be ever kept in mind; we will no more our God forsake, or cast these words behind. We never will throw off the fear of God who hears our vow; and if thou art well pleased to hear, come down and meet us now. 3. Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,  let all our hearts receive,present with thy celestial host the peaceful answer give; to each covenant the blood apply which takes our sins away, and register our names on high and keep us to that day!

The Time is near!

We passed the fourth Sunday of Advent, focused on "Joy" in the Lord through Mary's confession. While hearing the scripture from a gospel Luke, I was thinking how wondrous and mysterious God's plans are. Have you thought about why the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Almighty God, Prince of Peace had to be born in a small town at a barn to say? No one noticed his birth except those the humble ones. I still think it is just an amazing wonder and mystery how much God loves us.

Yes, Christmas is near! As you all know, we will have multiple Christmas eve services including eve eve service on 23rd at 7:30. That service is identical with 9:00 PM service which is a traditional service: The sanctuary choir and orchestra will lift up "Dance into the light" and "A Rose Tree Carol" from the cantata, the Winter Rose. Call to harmony-men's barbershop quartet- will lead hymns and sing an offertory, a uplifting song " Heard about a Newborn King".  Handbells will play wonderful four carols accompanied with organ, brass, and timpani as prelude music at the service. There will be service at 3:00 for preschoolers and families with skits and fun carols, 5:00 o clock service will be family service that children's choir will sing anthem " Christmastime" and flute duets for an offertory. 7:00 o' clock service will be a blended service, Ward; our contemporary music director will lead the service with praise hymn voices, and student choir who will sing "Mary, did you know" as an offertory.
The last service at 11:00 is my personal favorite one; a communion service. It is more intimate and quieter than others. The chamber choir will sing "Ding Dong merrily on high" as an anthem, and a beautiful motet"O magnum mysterium" by Victoria as an offertory. Also, they will sing " O Nata Lux" as a communion music. What a beautiful selection of music! There will be a reflection time after a communion while Jason-my husband and I will be lifting up " O Holy Night".
I know, It is lots of music! However, we all need to boldly proclaim who needs to be worshipped and praised in this season. He is Emmanuel, Counselor, the prince of peace, the Almighty God!

There is one more! On actual Chirstmas day, we will have "Nine Lessons and Carols" service at 10:30.

We will read, hear God's words and praise God with beautiful carols. You and your family will enjoy very much! It will be a very meaningful to share with especially children that we worship and celebrate Him on Christmas!

I pray that we all get excited to celebrate Jesus and praise and worship Him with all our hearts and voices!
Come and join us!

Glory to God!

How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!
(Psalms 92:5)

Psalm 118

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
² Let Israel say: His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.”
⁵ When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹¹ They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹² They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them down.
¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my defense^, he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!
¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high;the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷ I will not die but live,and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous, I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
²² The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
²⁵ LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!
²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 118 has been a prayer that God has given to me over this year. Especially, when I started praying about the Christmas cantata, I felt that I needed to pray with the Psalm in the sanctuary to proclaim that God is the one that we praise, worship, and glorify.
Sometimes people ask me why I emphasize that much about prayers over things. For me, prayer is a way to tell God that I can't do anything without Him and it is totally true. Not only asking God's help, but also confessing who I am. I have many bitter experience without prayers. Some people might have not noticed by seeing results only however, I know how bitter and regretful I was. I could share how faithfully God answered prayers over this time of preparation with prayers. God sent people to be a part of the cantata one by one faithfully. I usually named instrumental players and ask God which part instrumental parts were missing. Believe or not, in next couple of days, those part players showed up from middle of nowhere. How can I say that I did make it happen? I can't! God did!
The choir and I have prayed for several specific things over the Cantata; God's presence, glorifying God only- not us, good weather, unity in God, proclaiming Him only, full of people who especially got lost, or never had experience of relationship with God.
Whether we can see answers of our prayers or not, I know that God hear our prayers always and answer them in His perfect hand.
I am just truly grateful that God has led me to be a part of His ministry. I do not know how to be successful in Him without prayer and His help.

Christmas is near. I have a prayer that we all can be more focused who we prepare and celebrate for especially in this season. Let's proclaim to the world "Emmanuel!" God is with us!  

Cantata Sunday~~

I am so excited about this Sunday! The choir members and instrumental players have been working hard on the cantata to glorify God and to share His love to others.
There will be only the choir and piano for the 8:00 o clock service but full orchestra and choir will be at both 9:!5 and 11:00 o clock service. I pray that we all feel God's love and presence through the service, get restored in His love so we can go out to the world to share His love completely.
There will be ten movement in the cantata.
1. The Winter Rose
2. When will He come?
3. Advent Cry
4. Every Valley
5. Lullaby to a Rose (duet)
6. In the Judean Hills
7. Dance into the Light
8. The Rose Tree Carol
9. Look to the Rose
10. Lo, how a rose

Please bring your friends and family to share this opportunity!

Looking forward to having you all on Sunday!

A Blessing of Music

This Sunday, the cantata choir and Floris Orchestra share "The Winter Rose" a Christmas cantata during worship services in the morning. And there will be a special benediction from the choir to all brothers and sisters in Christ. The song called " A blessing of music". The choir has been praying for God's presence in our worship services especially to those people who have difficulties to feel His presence. Here is our prayer and blessing through the song. I pray that we all praise our precious Jesus together and proclaim His glory to this world.
May your days be filled with music. May your path be paved with song.
May the sounds of forever lift you up and keep you strong.
May your heart resound with laughter. May your life be tuned for praise.
May the hymns of faith bring you hope. May the rhythms of your life bring you joy.
May the harmony of friendship bring you love.

May the Maker bless and keep you. May God's music guide your ways.
May God's gentle whisper always comfort you with grace.

"The Winter Rose" Christmas Cantata

I would like to invite you all to our Christmas cantata " The Winter Rose"on Dec. 11th during morning worship service times at 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00.

The Winter Rose is written beautifully like one long poem; describing our precious Savior, Jesus as a rose that blooms in the midst of bitter cold winter to give a life, hope, and comfort. We have been praying deeply for God's presence on these special worship services, especially for brothers and sisters who need to hear and feel the message of God and restore personal relationship with God.
I strongly would like to recommend you all to invite your family and friends to share this opportunity to go closer to the Lord during this Advent season!
We have 32 orchestra players with 63 choir members~! Let's praise Him and proclaim His glory on the earth together!