Should we worry about “The Slow Death of Congregational Singing,” as suggested in a popular article written by Michael Raiter a couple of years back?  Not anytime soon at Norway Grove if I have a say!A recurring theme in committee and staff meetings the past couple of weeks has been Pastor Bud’s reminder to all of us to remember to celebrate the small successes along with the big ones. Focusing on the positive aspects of our church lives can make our spiritual journey feel that much more special and personal. This is so true!I want you to know I’ve been doing a lot of celebrating at Monday morning staff meetings this past year about how strong and inspiring our congregational singing is becoming. I love to be part of a church that likes to sing, that regards congregational singing as a central part of the worship service; that finds a way to engage the heart and soul and mind and body in singing to the Lord. When we add our voices together in harmony we are not just creating music, we are creating community.I like what Ray Pritchard, senior pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL, says about identifying a healthy church by its congregational singing efforts. “That’s one factor that I never fully appreciated until I started traveling and preaching in different churches. Healthy churches love to sing. This is not a statement about worship style, hymns vs. choruses, Power Point vs. hymnals, and it has nothing to do with denominational preference, church size, location, or the beauty or lack thereof of the sanctuary. I am speaking of a church that truly loves to sing, where a visitor can’t help but join the rising chorus of praise to God. If the people aren’t singing, you can tell it. If the singing is anemic, preaching is more of a challenge. I’ve yet to visit a troubled church with strong congregational singing.”Visitors to Norway Grove often seek me out following services to thank me for the music that morning and comment on how much it moved them during worship. Through the music, the swell of the voices, and in the poetry of the readings, they can find and feel a message of joy, hope, faith, and love. This is something we should be proud of, something we can celebrate, and something we can continue to build on! 

At Norway Grove we use many different musical styles. The music we play, sing and hear in worship ranges from congregational hymns to Christian lyrics set to popular music melodies. This variety in musical styles reflects the musical tastes and backgrounds of the people in our congregation. Some churches may have eliminated hymns altogether in favor of rock bands and radio-friendly songs, but I like congregational songs, and I am committed to congregational singing. Like Martin Luther, I find that “My heart bubbles up and overflows in response to music, which has so often refreshed me and delivered me from dire plagues.”

Keep up the inspired singing, Norway Grove!

Jill Buchheim, Music Director

“Trust and obey! For there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey”    ~ Rev. Henry John Sammis

During my mother’s recent visit from Iowa we were discussing her newfound interest in family genealogy. She has spent hundreds of hours learning about our ancestors, visiting cemeteries and library archives, and putting together timelines and histories of our family. I believe her love of genealogy has to do with connections – how we understand ourselves, our past; how we form unions with others, and create families and histories of our own. And working on genealogy is much like solving a mystery; assembling scattered and fragmentary clues until you have a picture of a person, a place, and a time. She thrives at this sort of challenge!Through our discussions I also learned she was instrumental in putting together a history record for the 100^th celebration of our hometown church’s building in 2008. She found herself feeling more connected to her beloved Presbyterian church once she really dug into it’s rich history.  She loved tracking down names of the past and reading through colorful stories that had been collected over the years. But there’s one discovery that came out of our little church’s history that she was most excited to share with me….

Henry John Sammis (1846-1919) was businessman and YMCA worker in Logansport, IN.  Sammis attended McCormick and Lane Theological Seminaries, and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1880. He served as minister at First Presbyterian Church of Glidden, Iowa, from 1879-1881 (our home church); then went on to lead congregations in Indianapolis, IN; Grandhaven, MI, Red Wing, MN; and Sullivan, IN. For the remainder of his career, he taught at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. He was a friend of Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919), who was music director for several well-known churches and schools, including the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. He published several music books and wrote the music for many well-loved hymns, including At Calvary and Only A Sinner Saved By Grace. In 1887, just following an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody, a young man stood to share his story in an after-service testimony meeting. As he was speaking, it became clear to many that he knew little about the Bible or acceptable Christian doctrine. His closing lines, however, spoke volumes to seasoned and new believers alike:  “I’m not quite sure. But I’m going to trust, and I’m going to obey.” Daniel Towner was so struck by the power of those simple words that he quickly jotted them down and then delivered them to Rev. Sammis, who developed the lyrics to Trust and Obey. Towner composed the music and the song quickly became a favorite. It remains popular with hymn singers today.

Refrain:  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.  (Refrain)

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.  (Refrain)
 
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.  (Refrain)
 
But we never can prove the delights of His love, Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.  (Refrain)

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey. (Refrain)
                                                                                                                            (taken from the source www.faithclipart.com)

The congregation of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church will be celebrating our 60^th anniversary on Sunday, September 26^th.  In preparation for that proud day for our church, those attending summer services will hear stories of the church’s rich history that also connect us to our past as well as the hope for an exciting future. It will be a great opportunity to hear about the people and events that have shaped this church into who we are today. We look forward to exploring those connections with you throughout the summer!

Jill Buchheim, Music Director

If you search the Psalms, you will find numerous references to singing, singers, musical instruments, dance, etc.  Psalm 33:2-3 (as found in the ELW) states: “Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music for God with a ten-stringed harp. Sing for the Lord a new song; play your instruments skillfully with joyful sounds.”  Put another way, in the Message, the same passages read “Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare.”  One of the most familiar passages is Psalm 98:4-6. I love the Message version: “Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band! Round up an orchestra to play for God, add on a hundred-voice choir. Feature trumpets and big trombones, fill the air with praises to King God.”We do follow Psalms 33 and 98 in part. We have a trumpet on the hymns, and with the whole congregation joining in the singing, we could easily have a hundred voice choir. We do “strike up the band” on a weekly basis; we have violinists to add to our orchestral sound; we have guitars and a grand piano. Now if we could only find a trombonist?  The psalmist might be chastising us for being Lutherans, however, as the “let loose and sing” part is not something we do easily. If we remember, however, that we are “filling the air with praises” to God, I think we can all forget that our voices aren’t the strongest, our pitch the purest, our words always correct. What matters is the praise we are singing, not the singing itself!

On May 2, at 2:00 p.m. you are all invited to experience the music of our Norway Grove family. We will be dedicating the wonderful portable keyboard given to us through the Fred Kiefer memorial by Jean Kiefer. Come and hear what this wonderful instrument can do! Enjoy the music of our tone chimers as well as instrumentalists and singers both young and old. It will be an afternoon that will make worthwhile being inside on a beautiful spring day. Refreshments will be furnished and a free will offering taken with the proceeds supporting the Relay for Life.            - Elaine Jaeke

On May 2^nd at 2:00, Norway Grove will be hosting our second annual “Celebration of the Arts” concert.  This is an afternoon concert celebrating the wonderful talent at Norway Grove.  Last year, members of all ages participated, and more than 75 people attended this delightful event.  The recital also featured a dedication ceremony for a third octave of tone chimes generously donated in memory of Mary Kelley by the Kelley Family.  A freewill offering was taken as a fundraiser for students who traveled to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering last July.

This year’s recital will feature a dedication ceremony for another generous gift to our music department, a Kawai MP-5 Digital Keyboard.  Jean Kiefer and family are donating this 88-key portable keyboard in memory of Fred Kiefer.  The keyboard should arrive the week of April 12^th, which will give us plenty of time to play around with some of the great sounds and features on the instrument before the recital.

The Kawai MP-5 is approximately 45 pounds, has weighted keys which offer a similar touch to an acoustic piano, and comes with 256 high quality instrument sounds; including several beautiful piano, electric piano, and organ sounds that will compliment the Kawai Grand Piano currently in our sanctuary.  The keyboard we have purchased also comes with a carrying case with wheels, a keyboard stand, a folding bench, and a damper pedal.  It does not have internal speakers, so presently the sound will come through the church sound system and an external speaker will need to be purchased in the future.  After much research and several trips to area music stores, I feel we have done a great job of finding an impressive professional instrument at a surprisingly affordable price.

The addition of this keyboard allows us to become more mobile in our ministry.  We will use it at our monthly outreach services at Parkside Village and Walnut Grove Assisted Living Center.  The Praise Band will be able to take it to our concert at Jefferson Square in August, as well as opening up the opportunity for participation in other community or outdoor services.  It will allow us to be more creative in our music ministry as we find more ways to utilize it during church services and youth events.  It also enables us to move the Yamaha Clavinova back downstairs to be used during Sunday School music time and occasional choir rehearsals.  We are so grateful for this amazing gift!

If you are interested in participating in the Celebration of the Arts recital, please contact Jill Buchheim or Elaine Jaeke.  We love to celebrate the talent we have at this church!  It is also worth noting that a freewill offering will be taken this year as a fundraiser for Norway Grove’s Relay for Life team.  The relay will be held at the DeForest High School on July 30^th-31^st.  This is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.  Norway Grove is proud to have organized a dedicated team for several years.

Jill Buchheim, Music Director

~ Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!  Psalm 150: 3-6

I thought I’d start this month’s newsletter article with a tongue-in-cheek piece I found online at www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com titled “Hymn Truths”. We are asked to consider, “Do we live a lifestyle in harmony with the hymns we sing?”
 · We sing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and are content with 5-10 minutes.

· We sing “Onward Christian Soldier” and wait to be drafted into His service.

· We sing “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and don’t use the one we have.

· We sing “There Shall be Showers of Blessings” but do not come to church when it rains.

· We sing “Blest Be The Tie That Binds” and let the least little offense sever it.

· We sing “Serve the Lord With Gladness” and gripe about all we have to do.

· We sing “The Whole Wide World For Jesus” and never invite our next door neighbor.

· We sing “We’re Marching to Zion” but fail to march to worship or Sunday School.

· We sing “I Love to Tell the Story” and never mention it all.

· We sing “Cast Thy Burden on the Lord” and worry ourselves into nervous breakdowns

Obviously this was written for the reader’s amusement and should not be taken too seriously, but it does remind us of the influence of music throughout our spiritual journey and the importance of song lyrics to support the teachings of the Bible. I recently read a Bible study in which God told Moses at the end of the wilderness wanderings that soon he would die, and that Joshua, not he, would lead the people into the Promised Land. God told Moses “soon the people will begin to prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me, breaking my covenant”. God also warns, “I will hide my face from them” and “they will say ‘God is not in our midst.’”And what does God tell Moses and Joshua to do? “’Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their forefathers, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.’ So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.” (Deuteronomy 31:16-23)

During that time of great distress, God’s answer was to provide the people a song through Moses. It serves as a great reminder to those of us who practice music in the church today that we have been entrusted to continue that tradition. This means we are given a great responsibility in how we select our hymns for worship, accompany them, and even how we sing them. But we also need support, motivation, and encouragement as we do the work God has intended. This is particularly relevant at Norway Grove as we are currently forming a Worship and Music Committee. We have an amazing group of volunteers who are ready for the responsibility of reviewing previous worship experiences, as well as planning for upcoming  worship services and musical events. Their thoughts, ideas, and ability to enlist others to help with projects will greatly assist Norway Grove in reaching out better to God’s people and spreading God’s word. We are blessed to have their valuable input and honored that they are willing to share their gifts with us! If this is a committee that you would be interested in being a part of, please contact the office or a staff member to learn more.

Jill Buchheim, Music Director

Saturday, October 3^rd, 6:00 p.m.

Who:     Norway Grove Youth - Grades 2 to 12

Where:  Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church

When:   Check-in is at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. 2^nd through 4^th grade students are invited to stay until 10:00 pm. Students in 5^th through 12^th grade can choose to stay overnight for a lock-in, or be picked up by parents at 10:00 pm.

Event Details:  Captive Free, a group of young adults who minister throughout the U.S., will assist Norway Grove’s Youth Leaders in guiding our kids though a faith-encouraging program of music, testimonies, and group-building activities. Those who stay overnight will have breakfast provided and should plan to attend the Sunday morning 8:00 a.m. service together.

So mark your calendars, tell your friends, and plan to join us for an evening of friendship, faith, and fun!

Contact:  For more details, contact Jill Buchheim.

~ I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”    Psalm 122:1At January’s annual congregational meeting, members in attendance learned of a Ministry Review Survey that had been developed. The Council felt it was  important that we – as a congregation – review Norway Grove’s ministry and outline opportunities for, and actions to, drive improvement. They asked for input regarding several key areas of the Church, including Council, Committees, Education, Pastor Kathy, and Music, as well as our member’s own current involvement. Council met at their annual retreat to discuss the findings, and on May 31^st, a congregational update meeting was held to reveal the results.It was wonderful to learn that 72.7 percent who responded “extremely like” our praise band, with an additional 20.5 percent answering they “like” the band. The performances by the choir and tone chimes were also lauded, and in general there was a pretty positive feeling about what is happening in terms of music at Norway Grove. There were also many uplifting comments regarding the Youth Rock! event our band members hosted for the youth last fall. Although Elaine Jaeke and I were not shown specific comments from the survey, we were    assured that respondents felt the music we are doing often sets a great tone for worship, and that we are      providing a good variety of music that appeals to a wide variety of worshipers.Thank you, Norway Grove, for your solid support of the music program and the direction we are going! Elaine and I make a good team and enjoy working together while brainstorming new ways to enhance the worship experience. But additional credit goes to our hard-working and dedicated volunteers who show up week after week to practice and perform with our groups. We are a remarkable congregation with much talent, and it’s awesome that so many are willing to share their gifts. Being a part of a music group allows folks to serve in an area where they are passionate, while providing an important connection to the church and its members.Also revealed in the survey is that our members continue to be somewhat divided between preferences for   traditional or blended style in worship and music. The blended service received a 47.6 percent “extremely like” and 38.1 percent “like” result, while the traditional worship had a significantly less 7.3 percent who “extremely liked” the service, but 51.2 percent who said they “liked” it. In response to those numbers, this fall we will introduce a service rotation we hope will appeal to the most people. The band will play at 8:00 a.m. services on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of the month and will play at 10:30 a.m. services on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays.  The choir and tone chimes will plan their performances for the 8:00 a.m. services on the 1^st and 3^rd Sundays and the 10:30 a.m. services on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays. Children will be performing at 10:30 a.m. services throughout the year. Band services will be a more contemporary-blended style, while piano-led services will be a more traditional-blended style. We will hold traditional services on special church days, such as Reformation Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, All-Saints Day, etc. Use of the organ resulted in some our lowest scores, with more than one-third of the respondents “somewhat disliking” and “disliking” it, so organ performances will likely be reserved for these traditional services only.I wish to thank everyone who filled out the survey, as well as those who have provided suggestions and advice over the past couple of years. Your input has been invaluable to Elaine and me. It also allows us to move forward in a direction that encourages participation, both from worshipers and music groups, while hopefully increasing our church’s weekly attendance and membership.

Jill Buchheim, Music Director