Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Dear Singers, First of all, thank you all for the time, effort,

grace, and spirit you brought to the preparation and execution of the many facets of last Sunday's combined service. Let me share with you a brief email Gary received from a member of the Virginia Conference staff:
Hi Gary, Just wanted to send a quick word of gratitude for your wonderful worship service yesterday!!! Having a packed church for the Bishop was great!!! Getting to hear the music and see a truly blended worship service gives me hope that we can do relevant worship in a United Methodist Church!!!!!! It was also clear that your congregation loves you and truly appreciates your 11 years there!!!! You make me proud to be a United Methodist!!!!!! Thanks again--Mark Mark Ogren Director of Congregational Excellence Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church

I've heard many other comments of appreciation for our work, but more importantly, I believe the music we shared and the singing we helped lead played a part in bringing people closer to God and putting a smile on our Father's face. Now, we turn our full attention to our brand new cantata, which we'll premiere in two Sundays (Dec 23)! The schedule of music we're singing from now through Christmas is on the reverse side of this sheet of paper. Tonight (Weds, 12/12/12), I leave you in the capable hands of Melissa Chvez and Tom Bowen while I am down the street playing the piano at a dress rehearsal for White Christmas at Skyline High School. I trust you'll give Melissa and Tom your full attention and best effort. We have plenty of work left to do and we can't afford to lose any rehearsal time! Please, please take time to listen to your practice recordings (either on CD or at frumc.org/practicetracks) so we can spend our rehearsal time making music, not just learning notes. If you need a practice CD, let me know ASAP. I know that the cantata music is at times challenging and different, but I have faith that together with can make this music come alive and touch the hearts of the hearers, if we are all willing to apply ourselves to the task. Obviously, I have a lot personally invested in the writing and directing of this cantata, but don't do it for me. Sing it to share the life-changing message summed up in the familiar words which close the last movement: God so loved the world that he gave him one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall never die, but have eternal life. Amen.

David E. Chvez

CHOIR SCHEDULE
Weds, Dec 12, 2012: combined adult choir rehearsal 7:45 9:15 pm Sunday, Dec 16, 2012 8:30 service choir sings In the Bleak Midwinter a cappella Verse 1 unison, Verse 2 parts, Verse 3 parts, Verse 4 starts unison and then breaks into parts at If I were a wise man... Congregational songs include: When the Stars Burn Down; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; To God Be the Glory Sanctuary choir sings In the Bleak Midwinter a cappella Verse 1 unison, Verse 2 parts, Verse 3 parts, Verse 4 starts unison and then breaks into parts at If I were a wise man... Hymns at 11:00 am service: Come, Thou Almighty King; O Come, O Come Emmanuel; To God Be the Glory Weds, Dec 19, 2012: combined adult choir rehearsal 7:45 9:15 pm Saturday, Dec 22, 2012: Cantata dress rehearsal. Instrumentalists called at 10:00 am. Choir called at 11:00 am. We will be finished by 1:00 pm (probably earlier). Sunday, Dec 23, 2012 Combined adult choir sings CANTATA at both services! I still have not chosen a title, so feel free to suggest a title. :-) The order of movements is as follows: I Wait for the Lord Like a deer In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree [no choir in this movement] And there were shepherds God so loved the world Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec 24, 2012 Combined adult choir sings Sing We Now of Christmas at the 11:00 pm candlelight service. We may also sing a movement from the cantata, so please leave the cantata music in your folder through Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, Dec 25, 2012 no service; enjoy Christmas with your family Weds, Dec 26, 2012 no rehearsal Sunday, Dec 30, 2012 plenty of Christmas carols at both services!