Dear Members,

Welcome back to another busy season of events.

Music for Small Churches - Trinity United, Madoc, Oct.4th

Combined Choirs Ecumenical Hymn Festival - St. Thomas Anglican, Belleville, Nov. 2nd

Meet, Eat & Sing - St. Andrews United, Cumberland, Nov.13th

Combined Choirs Ecumenical Hymn Festival -  St. Margaret's United, Kingston, Nov.16th

Although the numbers were not great at the Madoc event, everyone enjoyed the day of musical

instruction led by Peter Shepherd - Repetoire for small choirs; Rev. John Uttley - Organ/Keyboard

The Hymn Festival, organized and led by Rev. John Uttley, at St. Thomas Anglican in Belleville,

was very enjoyable. Contingents from the following 5 choirs participated making a total of 30 choristers:

The hymns were by James Montgomery. Rev. Uttley gave a very interesting and informative talk on the life and witness of this composer. Organist for the service was Elizabeth Mitchell. A lovely array of refreshments followed the Service.

The collection was taken for the very first time using our beautiful, RSCM collection plates. These plates were especially handcrafted and donated to us by Jan Zalewski who lives in Bradford, Ontario. He also made a beautiful box with a Royal Blue felt lining, for housing the collection plates. These plates may be viewed on our RSCM Eastern Ontario Web Site under Events 2003, Belleville:

http://web.ripnet.com/~fraser.c/

The Meet, Eat and Sing organized by Don Findlay at St. Andrews United in Cumberland was a howling success in spite of all the terrible bad weather warnings. Contingents from the following churches took part, making a total of approximately 60:

St. Andrews United, Cumberland

The workshop was led by Wesley Warren of Ottawa. The participants enjoyed a fantastic Pot Luck Meal previous to learning the following three new anthems:

Last but not least was the Hymn Festival at St. Margaret’s in Kingston, organized by their organist, Stan Stinchcombe. Contingents from 4 church choirs took part, making a total of 23:

This was Stan’s first go at putting on a Hymn Festival. He did a great job. Congratulations!

The conductor for the evening was Dr. Robert Hunter Bell. Under his expert direction, the choir did a wonderful job on the hymns and especially on John Rutter’s anthem, I Will Sing With the Spirit (and with the understanding also), which is the Motto of the Royal School of Church Music.

The Rev. David Iverson, minister at St. Margaret's, gave a very inspirational meditation on "Life in a White Water Society", expressing how we white water raft through a society of constant social changes, stating that the rules for white water rafting may be applied to life.

The closing Reflection by Rev. Iverson was a very meaningful explanation of the Beatitudes.

Between the Rehearsal and the Service came another wonderful Potluck Supper.

Organists were Stan Stinchcombe of St. Margaret’s who played for the singing of the Hymns, the Anthem and the Offertory. The Prelude and Postlude were performed by Donald Findlay of Ottawa.

Plans will soon be underway for the Spring Events.

"God sent His singers upon earth,

With songs of sadness and of mirth,

That they may touch the hearts of men

And bring them back to Heaven again."

Longfellow

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Ann Carr, RSCM Newsletter Editor and WebManager

RSCM Eastern Ontario Branch Web Site:

http://web.ripnet.com/~fraser.c/