Tuesday 30 October 2012

Two Sisters in Coventy

While Roger and Mary were away in Canada, Annie led a 'Two Sisters and a Funeral' event in Coventry.  The day was organised by Olive Holtom, who also organised the large Coventry production of the musical last year.  This time it was in her own church, Holyhead Road URC.  Olive thought it was sad that the choir learnt the music last year just to sing it once, so she wanted another opportunity.  The choir for this day were mostly made up of singers that knew the musical, although there were a few who were new to it.
After lunch Annie led the rehearsals, supported by Devon (Lazarus), Richard (Jesus) and Jonathan (baddies, backing track, team leader).  Fran from the CMM choir was there too, and she filled in various solos until Ann (Martha) and Helen (Mary) were able to be there later in the day.

The choir were brilliant - they knew it well or picked it up quickly.  Not counting CMM soloists there was 1 tenor and 1 bass - but they held their own amazingly, particularly in the male only songs 6 and 11.  

Before the performance the choir and CMM team shared a wonderful meal together, cooked by the church's catering team.

In the evening the performance was really well attended, including a number of people from the retirement complex next door to the church.  Devon sang a prophecy which was claimed afterwards, and Jonathan spoke really well at the end of the performance.

It was a wonderful occasion - many thanks to Olive and all her supporters.

Friday 26 October 2012

Seasons and Reasons in Bramhall

While Helen was working hard with her team in Doncaster, Annie and Roger travelled to Bramhall Baptist Church to hold a Seasons and Reasons day.  Every couple of years Paul Barnsley invites us to his area to run a day in association with his organisation - Heart Notes.  It was lovely to be back again, and great to see the folk in the area we have got to know well.

Roger and Annie had with them a fairly inexperienced CMM team, but they did an amazing job.  Karen, Paul and Keith came over from Rhos on Sea - Karen and Paul sang in Wildfire and Two Sisters there in the last couple of years, and Keith has been our regular contact in the area, always drumming for our music weeks.  Also on the team was Carole, who we only met recently during our week at the Isle of Wight and Liz who travelled up from Birmingham with Roger and Annie to play flute.

Paul had also organised for some other instrumentalists to be present, including Bob on guitar who we have known for years, and Charles, a clarinettist who will be part of our choral houseparty to Israel next year along with his wife Julie who will sing the part of Zillah there.

It was a wonderful day - there were some fabulous singers, who picked up the music well, and Roger was able to teach a little bit about music in worship as well as the music itself.

The day concluded with a worship service incorporating a lot of the music from Seasons and Reasons.  This is only the second workshop day we have held using this resource, and we are really delighted with it.  May it continue to bless people!

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Two Sisters in Doncaster

Last weekend Roger, Helen and Annie were at two separate venues.  Helen travelled to Doncaster to lead a 'Two Sisters and a Funeral' day on the Saturday.  The venue was Sprotbrough Methodist Church, and the group that had invited CMM was the Close 2 You choir, a choir that has long been involved with singing musicals, including hosting the national tours for Wildfire, Jail Break and Rock.

The day was great fun, but also tinged with sadness, as the choir had decided this was to be their final event together.  In time maybe God will lead them into something new, but for now it feels like the end of an era.

Helen's team consisted of Richard (Lazarus), Andrew (Jesus), Carolynn (Mary), Yvette (Martha) and Marilyn (Flute and a massive amount of help on piano).  There were also some soloists from the choir who did an amazing job, including Peter and Bob who played the priests.

The day was a long one, but the choir had already done some background work in listening to the CD over and over again for the last few months.  This made Helen's job a lot easier, as not too much note-bashing was needed.

After a lovely fish and chip supper, the performance was at 7.30pm to a good audience, despite the day clashing with several big Christian events in the area.  The musical was very well received, and was very moving in places - the soloists sang some powerful prophecies at the end of song 10, and then Helen spoke about God's resurrection power at work in all of us at the end of the performance.

The enormous tree outside Sprotbrough Methodist
It was a good day, and we pray that God will bless each member of Close 2 You and show them the way forward in the future.  Thanks to Keith, Margaret and Chris and all their other helpers.

Friday 12 October 2012

A Worship double-header

Last weekend Roger, Helen, Annie and Devon travelled to Willersley Castle in Derbyshire to lead a weekend for the LWPT.  For those not in the know, LWPT stands for the Leaders of Worship and Preachers' Trust - something all local preachers and worship leaders in the Methodist Church are part of.  Last weekend was their annual retreat, and we were honoured to be able to talk to over 50 preachers and worship leaders about music, worship and life in the Spirit.

The Friday evening began with some worship, and then Roger spoke about God the 'Worship Seeker' - this is based around one of the chapters in the new worship workbook that we are currently writing.  Following on from this we had a lovely time of openness to the Spirit, and people seemed really blessed.

On Saturday morning after Roger had led worship, Helen spoke about 'Being a worshipper', based upon David welcoming the Ark of the Covenant back to its rightful place in Jerusalem.  At the end of this session Devon sang over people a verse of Lord, you are more precious than silver, which was a moment where God was given time to meet with each person.

In the afternoon Roger and Annie led workshops - Roger led one about planning and leading praise, and then later he led a creative/prophetic session.  Annie led a learning new material session where she was able not only to use some of Roger's new material from Seasons and Reasons, but also the new Methodist worship book - Singing the Faith.  She then led a 'Running a worship group' seminar, which also will form part of the worship workbook.

In the evening Roger led a 'Psalms, Hymns and Songs' evening, which was great fun.  With the new book, Singing the Faith, the average Methodist Church now has access to songs as well as their old book 'Hymns and Psalms'.  This made the evening particularly appropriate.

On Sunday morning we had a wonderful worship service based around the tabernacle theme - Annie led worship, Roger spoke and Helen led an 'Agape' - a kind of communion.  The whole weekend was really moving and we hope and pray that all that were present were refreshed, encouraged and resourced for their own worship leading at home.

The weekend was a 'double-header' because on the Saturday afternoon, Helen travelled back to Birmingham to lead a workshop at the URC Musician's Guild day.  She was joined by Amy and Ruth.  Ruth led a dance workshop first, talking about dance as a wonderful tool for personal worship.  Helen then led a workshop called 'Songs for the suspicious' (not her title!).  In the workshop Helen spoke about psalms, hymns and songs, but put special emphasis on songs and also a little bit about improvising in worship.

A busy weekend, but one in which we really feel we fulfilled CMM's vision of equipping individuals and churches.

Thursday 11 October 2012

October Mailing


This is Roger's latest mailing:

Dear Friends

We are off to Weston-super-Mare this weekend for a TWO SISTERS production at Victoria Methodist on Sun 30 Sep at 1830. (Rehearsal Sat: 1000-1600). This performance is also a preparation for our forthcoming Canada trip (18-29 Oct) where we produce the Musical plus lead Seminars and preach at Services in Ottawa and Deep River, in ONTARIO, CANADA.


On Sun 25 Nov we have a RENEWAL DAY with Martin Cavendar (of ReSource) at Christ Church Ward End (1030, 1530, 1830). This day will include worship, teaching and prayer ministry.


The CMM CHOIR start rehearsing WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED on Mon 01 Oct (Harborne), & Tue 02 (War End) - with productions at:24 Nov - St Germain's Edgbaston 193002 Dec - St Bathlolomew's Tardebigge 1800
08 Dec - St Thomas', Walsall 1900
09 Dec - Chasetown Methodist 1800
15 Dec - Carter's Lane Baptist Halesowen 1930
(Some of these time to be confirmed. Contact CMM for final details.)

Here's a special CMM day:Sat 01 Dec - WHILE SHEPHERDS AND AN ORCHESTRA - Ward End, Birmingham - open to singers and instrumentalists - rehearsal 1000-1600 - production 1700 - details from CMM


To get you really in the CHRISTMAS mood, I'd like to give you a FREE CAROL:"O Little Town of Bethlehem" (from SIMEON):
To download the recording:


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37965878/O%20little%20town%20of%20Bethlehem%20%28recording%29.mp3The sheet music is at :https://dl.dropbox.com/u/37965878/O%20little%20town%20of%20Bethlehem%20%28sheet%20music%29.pdf


Our lSRAEL trip is now full, but we have started a waiting list:

12-19 March 2013 for the main party, inc. productions of ROCK in Jerusalem and Bethlehem

There's lots more happening at CMM, so do have a look at our web site and diary.Great to be in touch - God bless you all!


Roger and Mary Jones

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Worship Workshops

While Roger and Annie were with the team in Weston-super-Mare, Helen travelled to Trinity Methodist Church in Long Eaton to help with a day of worship workshops.  The church had decided to try and inspire the congregation with different ways of worshipping, and they organised an afternoon to give people chance to try out lots of things.  The workshops included:

Banner making
Art
Dance
Drama
Singing
Instruments
Creative writing

Helen led the singing and instrumental workshops, assisted by Miriam, and Felicity came and led the dance workshop.  It was good to explore using voices and instruments to worship God, looking at practical things such as technique, harmony and improvisation, as well as bringing in the role of the Holy Spirit to aid worship and enable prophesy.

We hope that the church was really blessed by the day and that their worship has developed as a result.

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Canada preparation

Last weekend the churches of Weston-super-Mare very kindly organised a Two Sisters and a Funeral event in order to help our team prepare for their visit to Ontario, Canada later this month.  On the Saturday Annie worked with the choir, many of whom had sung the musical before, and got it up to scratch ready for the soloists to arrive and have a meeting planning their visit.  The CMM team travelling to Canada is Sarah Harley (Mary), Amy Carter (Martha), Paul Edwards (Lazarus) and Roger and Mary.  They will be joined out there by Colin who will play the part of Jesus, as well as some other local soloists to fill in the other parts.  For this weekend Bill came and sang the part of Jesus, and Phil sang the baddie role.

On the Sunday the choir and cast gathered at Victoria Methodist Church for the performance.  It went exceptionally well, and the choir did a brilliant job.  There was a large audience too, which is very impressive considering there had already been a few performances of the musical in the town.

Huge thanks to Peter Perrin and all his helpers for their work getting everything done.






Thursday 4 October 2012

Christian Dance Ministries


After a bit of a break for weddings and babies etc, it seems like Christian Dance Ministries may be getting off the ground again.  This is an email from Sally and Ruth.  Please spread it around:

Dear Friends,

We are Christian Dance Ministries, attached to Christian Music Ministries. Currently we are in the very beginning stages of the dance company and are looking for Christian Dancers to join us.

On 3rd November 2012, we will have a Taster Day, open to all who might be likely to join us.

During this Taster Day, we will offer an energetic and challenging class, prayer, improvisation in worship and discussions to learn about each other and where we can go from here. Dancers should be 16yrs+ and have had some dance training. Anyone interested should have a heart and passion for using dance to worship God and help direct others to see God. We will continue beyond this Taster Day with fortnightly and regular rehearsals, to meet, pray, explore and create! From this, we hope to run workshops and perform across the country over the coming years.

The company will be based in the West Midlands (mostly Birmingham/Coventry), so you may need to be willing and able to travel. Sadly we cannot provide help with finance, it is voluntary for us all at the moment!

If you are interested, please email dance@cmm.org.uk and we will send more details about the Taster Day.
Or feel free to ring us (Ruth = 07896903588 or Sally = 07870895134)

We look forward to hearing from you, please spread the word!

God Bless,
Ruth and Sally
Artistic Directors of Christian Dance Ministries