HANDBELL CHOIR MAKES DEBUT

     Our new handbell choir, led by Tara Grgurich, made its debut on December 20th and Christmas Eve.  Now it's time to work on new music, and expand to a second and possibly even a third octave!  Fred Boles and Tara are writing more beginner-level music for us, Robyn Black is coordinating the logistics, and we have eight men and women of different ages who are eager to have YOU join them in ringing the bells for the glory of God.  If you’d like to get in on the fun, please don’t hesitate to join us!  Rehearsals resume on Sunday, February 21 after church.

On September 13th, we introduced a new hymnal to the congregation.  Worship and Rejoice is from Hope Publishing, a leader in church music, and was chosen by our hymnal selection committee specifically to bring St. Paul's into the 21st century.

Worship and Rejoice has 749 musical selections.  There are plenty of "old hymns" which have been favorites for literally hundreds of years of Christian worship.  There are "new classic hymns" by such gifted writers as Brian Wren, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Fred Pratt Green, Carl P. Daw Jr., and others.  And, as some of you requested when we surveyed you about hymnal preferences, this book features some of the most popular "contemporary" songs and choruses.

You'll also find songs from the global Christian church, African-American spirituals, and music from the Taize Community.  Worship and Rejoice also includes more songs for Advent, Lent, Baptisms, and Communion.

To see the entire alphabetical listing of what's in our new hymnal, you can visit www.WorshipandRejoice.com.  If you want to know more about hymns and their stories in general, visit www.NetHymnal.org.