The Church Choir

Church Choir: A church within a church, made up of many of the church's finest leaders ... the most likely place where a majority will bond together in friendship and unity, as they bond with the Lord.

In strengthening it's members, the entire church is strengthened. And, as they become one in heart, soul, and purpose ... God has promised His Spirit indwelling.

The entire direction of a church can be changed through its' choir.

Dear Choir Members,

I want to write to you about the special abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to each of you, for I don't want any misunderstanding about them.

You will remember that before you became choir members, you stayed at home during choir practice (watching TV). Not one of you were singing a single note. But now you are a meeting people who claim to sing messages from the Spirit of God. How can you know whether they are singing for God or whether they are fakes? Here is the test: no one singing by the power of the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one can sing, "Jesus is Lord," and really mean it, unless the Holy Spirit is helping him.

Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are His. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire choir.

To some the Spirit gives the ability to sing soprano; others may be especially good at second or alto, and this is His gift from the same Spirit. To some He gives a special solo talent, and to others the power to harmonize. He gives powers for singing tenor, and to others the power to sing bass. He gives someone else the power to select and direct our music - that it is really the Spirit of God who is singing. Still another person is able to operate our sound system, while others are given the gift of playing musical instruments. It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives us all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have.

The choir has many parts, but the many parts make up only one choir when they are all put together. So it is with the "choir" of Christ. Each of us is part of the one choir of Christ. Some of us are sopranos or seconds, some are altos, some are tenors and some are bass. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one choir. We have been chosen into Christ's choir by the one Spirit, and have all been given the same Holy Spirit.

Yes, the choir has many parts, not just one part. If the alto says, "I am not a part of the choir because I am not a soloist," that does not make him any less a part of the choir. And what would you think if you heard a youth say, "I am not a part of the choir because the choir loft is running out of room?" Would that make him any less a part of the choir? Suppose the whole choir was a director, then who would sing? Or if the whole choir just sang, who would play the instruments?
But that isn't the way God made us. He has many parts for the choir and has put each part just where He wants it. What a strange thing it would be if it only had one part! So He has made many parts, but still there is one choir.

The alto can never say to the soprano, "I don't need you." The choir can never say to the director, "I don't need you." And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Now here is what I'm trying to say: all of you together are one choir of Christ and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

Sincerely,
X
Paul

(Written by Paul, Chosen by God to be Jesus Christ's missionary, and from brother Sosthenes. To: All Choir Members everywhere - whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. I Co. 12, Living Bible, adapted for choir.)

© By Joyce C. Lock
http://my.homewithgod.com/blessingsandlessons/
http://www.aspecialplace.net/ChristianityMadeSimple/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations-originalwritings/
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/heavenlyinspirations-intro.htm
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.



October 20, 2009
By Joyce C. Lock
In addition to being a published author and poet, Joyce C. Lock created the religion column, "Christianity Made Simple" for Peru Daily Tribune, continues to write inspirational articles for area newspapers, and shares further in online and e-mail ministries.

Choir

Join A Choir

It has become very popular in recent years to join a choir. It seems that the only prerequisite is the ability to be able to sing in tune. It would of course be helpful to be able to read music also.

When we hear the word choir we often think of different images. We can see in our mind's eye magnificent church choirs singing complex choral pieces but we can also see a picture of ordinary people who get together to make music and just have fun.

There have been a number of movies released in recent years which tell the story of a group of people who got together to sing and formed a choir. We think also of wonderful Welsh choirs, Russian choirs and childrens' choirs.

The history of human music is very complex. Over millenniums, the human voice has been musically used to express different feelings and ideas. After my research I have come to understand that singing is probably the oldest musical form. Originally, music from the voice was most likely influenced by birdsong and by the sounds of other animals communicating. Music has transcended history -- the fall of Rome, the baths of England, wars, kings and queens, and ever-evolving cultural societies.

Pope Gregory the Great is credited with standarizing musical notation. Although evidence of music first appeared in the West at the beginning of the Christian era, there is some proof that music had already reached an advanced form in the East, thirty-five centuries B.C. The people of Mesopotamia (currently in Iraq) played on a variety of instruments which were later found in excavations.

In Egyptian tombs, as far back as 2700 B.C, paintings on the walls depicted groups of musical performers including singers. As Eastern civilizations evolved, they always included human music. Although there is plenty of documentation about this music, there is no record of what the Egyptians may have sung. The very best that historians have been able to accomplish is to reconstitute a few of their melodic scales.

There were also ancient Hebrew choirs, although very little specific information exists about these. There is more information about early Greek choral music, handed down by philosophers who believed in their aesthetic and ethical value. I found that the overwhelming abundance of information surrounding the origins of choral music seems to be taken from the European Middle ages.

Church music still seems to be one of the most popular types of music that are sung by choirs. Even a small church often has a group of like minded members, both male
and female, combining their voices to make music. Most choirs will have one of their members who take on the role of choirmaster or leader. This person usually has a good knowledge of music and can teach the choir members to sing in 4 parts.

These usually include tenor, soprano, alto, baritone and bass. Membership of a choir does not have to be formal but those choristers who join are asked to undertake coming to rehearsals and to take part in performances from time to time. The ideal choir is one in which the members' voices blend together to give a beautifully modulated sound and in which individual voices cannot be identified.

Folk music and gospel music have always been a popular choice they seem to include bright and rousing melodies. Choristers quickly become accustomed to performing in public, often before large numbers of people. How does one feel when one sings in a choir? It seems that one's spirit is elevated to a different level than the humdrum activities that we usually pursue.

It has been said that alpha waves and other energy levels in the brain are activated by the singing. Personalities and self centered behaviour have no place in a choir which by definition is a group of people who sing together for a common cause.

Liturgical music is based on glorifying the Almighty and one frequently hears the word Hallelujah sung. This means Praise The Lord. Some of the most beautiful music ever composed over the centuries have been songs of praise. This music is non-denominational and can be sung by all peoples.

To sing well involves using lungs and having good posture. This allows the sound to be expressed properly by the body. Singers have known for many years that a visit to the chiropractor can help them enormously by re-aligning their spine and allowing the lungs to fully expand. Little wonder that world famous singers have their own personal chiropractor who travels with them on tour and makes sure that their spines are correctly aligned so as to allow them to maximise the singing potential.



October 5, 2009
By Dr David Black
Dr David Black is an Australian chiropractor in private practice. After 25 years as a pharmacist, he went back to study in 1980 as a mature aged student and has now practiced chiropractic for 25 years. He is passionate about patient education and giving people the tools to help themselves. Dr Black believes that everyone can enjoy better health and that spinal health and fitness is a key start in this journey. His website at http://blackchiropractic.com.au has many articles and chiropractic resources.

Musicians Need Hobbies

“As musicians, you’re so lucky that your profession is your hobby. You’re so lucky. I’m so jealous. I hate you because I’m jealous. Actually, I just hate you.”

Many of my colleagues have heard that they are rather fortunate to have a profession that can double up as a hobby. There is definite truth to this statement, especially if the musician in question has diversity within his or her particular field. For example, a composer who is also a skilled pianist could be said to have two hobbies. This is most certainly a wonderful blessing.

However, what if a musician has only one major skill within his or her profession? This type of scenario can become a bit troublesome. Consider a semi retired composer who uses a winding down profession as a stress relieving hobby. He needs a music band to sing his song. Have a look at the following situation:

On Monday, our composer in question (let’s call him Felix) sits down and begins to write a jingle for a television commercial. On Tuesday, writers block sets in. By Thursday, the writer’s block continues. Hmmm! It’s time for Felix to seek stress relief. It’s a shame that golfing, tennis or art collecting aren’t interests that have been formulated and honed over the years as ‘Felix stress relieving devices’. So what does our composer friend turn to in times of stress from his profession? More COMPOSING!

Isn’t that just great!! In this circumstance, Felix’s hobby reminds him of the exact stress filled situation that he is trying to escape from. This situation has the potential, over time, to accelerate out of control. Add into the mix a definite migraine and potential ulcer unless Felix finds a consistent outlet that has nothing to do with his focus of frustration.

This would not as likely be the situation with a composer/pianist, for example. In this case, our frustrated composer (let’s call her Samantha) could turn to the piano and play other composer’s works to her heart’s content. Pianists are continually searching through other composer’s repertoire in order to find meaning in their world. What a wonderful way of escaping the highly personal problems associated with writer’s block.

Felix is freaking out. Samantha is happy. I’m happy. Why? My humble point has, to an extent, been favorably argued.

A best case scenario would be a musician that has a hobby of a completely non-musical nature. Even in Samantha’s case, her sanity relies completely on the health of her hands. If she sprains a wrist, or develops any sort of syndrome associated with the muscles in her wrists, her outlet is compromised. Also, she runs a small risk of not being able to escape from her writer’s block through the art of piano playing. After all, perhaps playing other successfully published compositions remind her of the ‘failure’ of a composition that she is having trouble with. Much depends on the personality of the composer who is experiencing the block.

Musicians need hobbies. They’re like safety nets. Having two or three can prove to be highly beneficial. Contrasting hobbies are like having different brands of safety nets. If one brand is not performing well, then you have another brand that may well prove to be long lasting in its effectiveness.



September 16, 2009
By Daniel E. Friedman
Come and join the author, Daniel E. Friedman, at http://www.musicmasterstudios.com for assistance in music education and comprehension.