Music Ministry

Our church year is coming to an end amid a series of expected and unexpected changes and adjustments. In August, when the Northwest Music Ministry began our journey we experienced growth on several levels. 

• Northwest Passage officially came under the creative leadership of Jim Pearce. 
• Traci Montgomery contributed both her guitar and vocal skills to Northwest Passage as Stephanie Bullard returned to Atlanta to recommit her vocal gift to the ensemble. 
• The Northwest choir adopted the name, Voices of Northwest and welcomed the addition of David and Kat Benoy, Larry Helferich and Dail Edwards. 
• Choir member, piano teacher and visual artist, Sally Mitchell consented to share her tasteful piano artistry with the congregation along with Jim Pearce and Edward Lawrence. 

 
The untimely death of Voices of Northwest choir member Robert Thacker was a shock from which we are slowly recovering. Bob was a light to the ensemble and a true servant of and ambassador for the success of the choir.  There are so many wonderful memories of his smile and performance enthusiasm. His clever wit continually caught me off-guard during rehearsals as we all burst into collective laughter…or groans. Bob Thacker’s spirit and presence will certainly be missed.

Because of the growing national concerns of the Corona virus pandemic we were required to adjust our music programming and submit to a virtual presence format. In early March we skeptically chose to cancel weekly Voices of Northwest rehearsals and discovered that it was indeed an absolute health necessity to do so. To our dismay the cancellation of Sunday services caused Northwest Passage rehearsals and participation to be put on hold indefinitely. 

With Zoom services in place we decided to utilize the vocal and piano talents of the Voices of Northwest and various talented youth to fill the music portions of each Sunday service. Jim Pearce and Sally Mitchell recorded various piano pieces while Jim, our congregation and choir accompanist, recorded multiple accompaniment tracks of standard hymns for various singers who performed from home. In addition, Traci Montgomery graciously shared varied songs with her guitar. 

Since my service agreement as Director of Music and Choir Director ends in June I needed to pre-schedule hymns and soloists for Summer Zoom services. With piano works previously recorded for use in the summer when needed, Jim Pearce and I collaborated on preparing Summer accompaniment tracks for assigned soloists whom we scheduled for services through August 9.

Finally, we thank you Northwest community for your ongoing support and words of affirmation throughout the past ten months. We bid an optimistic short term farewell to Jim Pearce with the hope that he will be able to return once the COVID-19 pandemic and the budget permit. It is our sincere hope that each of you remain safe, healthy and in good spirits throughout the summer.

Amen and Ashay!

Music is an energy source that impacts the mind and inner soul in multiple imaginable and unimaginable ways.  “Numerous scientific and psychological studies have shown that music can lift our moods, combat depression, improve blood flow, and lower levels of stress.” (Markham Heid, April 26, 2018, Time.com). Through music our imaginations can be energized and our memories can be enlivened to recall times, places and specific events.

In her article “How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits” Kendra Cherry states:

Listening to music can be entertaining and some research suggests that it might even make you healthier. The notion that music can influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors probably do not come as much of a surprise. If you’ve ever felt pumped up while listening to your favorite fast-paced rock anthem or been moved to tears by a tender live performance, then you easily understand the power of music to impact moods and even inspire action.

How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits, Kendra Cherry

As Northwest embarks upon our long awaited building expansion project the music that we select to accompany our excitement regarding it will serve to support our expectation of enhancing our outreach to the Atlanta community.  In Hymn number 288, All Are Architects, we find verses lifted from the poem, The Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882):

 All are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great, Some with ornaments of rhyme.

For the structure that we raise, Time is with materials filled;

Our to-days and yesterdays, Are the blocks with which we build.

Let us do our work as well, Both the unseen and the seen;

Make the house, where gods may dwell, Beautiful, entire, and clean.

Else our lives are incomplete, Standing in these walls of Time,

Broken stairways, where the feet, Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure, With a firm and ample base;

And ascending and secure, Shall to-morrow find its place.

The Builders, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

May the words of this song and others serve to inspire our continued acts of service to others as we embark upon, observe and then witness the conclusion of the expansion program.  May it be so!

Northwest’s Music Ministry will be selling soup and a soup recipe book Nov. 3 – Dec 8 to raise funds for a projector and screen for the soon-to-be expanded sanctuary! Pick some up for an easy meal, to treat a loved one, or sponsor a soup for the Care Corps team! 

Pints of soup will be $5 each, available to take home each Sunday during the fundraiser. Pre-order a print cookbook for $15 or name your price for a digital version. Cookbooks will deliver mid-December, just in time for the holiday gifting season!  

Please submit all recipes by Nov. 30 to be included in the recipe book. If you are interested in making a batch of soup, please sign up for a Sunday to receive your pint to-go containers. Please contact Catalina Akins-Moore for more information.