April 20-27 was Jubilate! Festival Week at First Presbyterian Church. By definition, a Festival is a communal acknowledgment of God’s creation and provision. Festivals have a sense of abundance and joy, of remembrance and confidence. There is a certain generosity of festival that acknowledges the creative extravagance of God. Our Festival Week offered an abundance of worship, education, music and fine art.

Worship initiated the Festival week. Special guest musicians representing the music departments of University of Michigan and Michigan State University shared their faith through the Ministry of Music.

The Festival Week educated. We welcomed Dr. David Stowe, Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University. Dr. Stowe is a leading scholar in the area of American cultures and the impact of religious song. Using examples from our new hymnal, Dr. Stowe lead us through a discussion of hymnody in the development of America. We sang selected hymns as part of the discussion. This Wednesday evening event was enjoyed by all who attended.

The Festival Week elucidated the power of visual art as an entry into our worship life and faith. Banners were designed by church member, Dennis Younger and sewn by women of the church.  Artist Susan Hamady, offered prints and posters of images of our church building. Our Children’s Ministry, under the leadership of Jaime Powell and Palmer Schumann, designed special art work for our hallways.

The Festival week commemorated the role of worship and music in the church by the offering of A Heritage Book. Present and former members – both those who have moved away and those who still live in the area – came back to express gratitude for our congregation and participate musically in our concert and worship services.

The Festival Week celebrated our 50th Annual Choir Festival! Our adult, youth, children and handbell choirs, our First Brass and Percussion Ensemble and Organ all performed in a musical celebration of God’s goodness. In addition to Mark Riddles and Brenda Portman, previous music staff member, Harold Grant, conducted the choirs through an anthem.

In honor of Festival Week, an anthem was commissioned from renowned American composer Stephen Paulus.  The anthem A Festival Psalm is based on Psalm 135.

The Festival Week culminated in worship - The Eighth Day of Creation, Sunday morning, April 27th at 10:00 a.m.. This was a worship celebration of God’s continued acts of creation as expressed through the creative talents and endeavors of God’s creatures. Made in God’s image we are gifted with creative powers and called to use those powers in the service of the One who gave them. The Eighth Day of Creation included scripture, sermon, hymns, prayers, choirs, orchestra, organ and congregation in a worship celebration of new life and new possibilities.

Thank you to all those whose support made Jubilate! possible.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

Sunday, April 20

9:00 and 11:00am Worship Services
Featuring musical guests from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University

Lenore Green, Vocal
Special musical piece by Andrew Carter played by Dr. Richard Illman and Brenda Portman

Wednesday, April 23

6:30 - 8:30 PM, Chapel
"How Sweet the Sound - Music in the Spiritual Life of America"
Presented by Dr. David Stowe,
Professor of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures at Michigan State University

Dr. David W. Stowe

Dr. David W. Stowe is an Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures and director of American Studies at Michigan State University. This renowned scholar and author helps introduce First Presbyterian’s new hymnal by showing the inter-weavings of hymn-singing and American culture.

Stowe traces the evolution of sacred music from hymns to hip-hop, finding Christian psalms deeply accented by the traditions of Judaism, Native American and Buddhist customs influenced by Protestant Christianity. He shows how the creativity and malleability of sacred music can explain the proliferation of various forms of faith and the high rates of participation they've sustained. Its evolution truly parallels the evolution of American religious pluralism.

Drawing from our new hymnal, Stowe will discuss examples of our hymnody within this larger context. Mark Riddles and Brenda Portman will help lead the singing of these selected hymns.

Copies of Dr. Stowe’s landmark book How Sweet the Sound – Music in the Spiritual Life of Americans, will be available for purchase and signing.

Dr. Stowe’s presentation is sponsored by Et. Lux, Inc.

Friday, April 25

6:00 - 8:30 PM
Reception for Former and Present Choir Members

at
Greater Flint Arts Council

Saturday, April 26

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM
School of Choirs Alumni Luncheon at Church

2:00 PM
Church Tours

7:00 - 8:30PM
Celebration of Choir Festival

Featuring the Choirs, Brass Ensemble and Organ of First Presbyterian.
Hear these outstanding choirs present a service of musical celebration.
Featuring the world premiere of A Festival Psalm, an anthem commissioned for the occasion by renowned composer, Stephen Paulus.

Reception following concert

Festival Anthem Commissioned from Renowned Composer

As part of its 50th Choir Festival Celebration, First Presbyterian Church has commissioned an anthem from composer Stephen Paulus. Paulus will set a psalm paraphrase by poet Christopher Smart for four part chorus and organ. The festival anthem will be premiered as part of the Festival Concert Saturday evening, at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. Composer Stephen Paulus has been hailed as "...a bright, fluent inventor with a ready lyric gift." (The New Yorker) His prolific output of more than two hundred works is represented in many genres, including music for orchestra, chorus, chamber ensembles, solo voice, keyboard and opera. Commissions have been received from the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and others.

His choral works have been performed and recorded by some of the most distinguished choruses in the United States, including New York Concert Singers, Dale Warland Singers, Robert Shaw Festival Singers and Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Paulus writes in a musical language that has been characterized as "...irresistible in kinetic energy and haunting in lyrical design." (Cleveland Plain Dealer) "Mr. Paulus often finds melodic patterns that are fresh and familiar at the same time....His scoring is invariably expert and exceptionally imaginative in textures and use of instruments." (The New York Times)

First Presbyterian Church is excited and honored to have Mr. Paulus contribute to its 50th Choir Festival.

Sunday, April 27

Only one service today

10:00 AM, Sanctuary, Dr. John L. Musgrave Preaching
"The Eighth Day of Creation"

The Chancel Choir and Festival Orchestra will lead a service of thanks for God’s creating, and re-creating ways.
Festival anthems and hymns will help celebrate worship.
Art works commissioned for the church from professional artists, as well as creations from our children and youth will be on display throughout the building.

Reception following service

The Eighth Day of Creation – a Festival Service of Worship

The Eighth Day of Creation will mark the culmination of our week long festival of faith and fine art. There will be only one worship service that day. Worship will feature scripture, sermon, choirs, orchestra and congregation in a worship celebration of new life and new possibilities.

By definition a Festival is a communal acknowledgment of God’s creation and provision. There is a certain generosity of festival that acknowledges the extravagance of God’s creating ways. Made in God’s image we are gifted with creative powers and we are called to use those powers in the service of the One who gifted us them. The Eighth Day of Creation will provide worship celebrating God’s creative and re-creative spirit.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 - First Presbyterian Church of Flint - All Rights Reserved