Artist Series - Phil Keaggy Concert
Cabin Fever
NAAC Library News
2006 Missions Trips
The "Why" Of Troubles
North Avenue Christian School
King of the Jungle Kings Kids Choir
Sue's Views- Houghton College Choir
People Helping People
Why we have Easter Eggs
ARTIST SERIES
NORTH AVENUE ALLIANCE CHURCH
SPRING 2006
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Phil Keaggy is perhaps one of the most admired guitarists in music today. His fans range from those who aspire just to be able to play Keaggy's mistakes, to professional musicians who have been strongly influenced by his style. And in between are those who don't play guitar, yet find solace in his beautifully penned lyrics and memorable melodies. Keaggy has received numerous accolades throughout his prolific career. Music Magazine lists him among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century," and Guitar Player Magazine gave him the distinction of "#2 Best Acoustic Finger style Guitarist" and "#3 Best Acoustic Pick style Guitarist." Keaggy is constantly pushing the envelope, exploring a variety of genres, and even helping to define them. The concert may include classical, jazz, blues, rock, and even international music.
Tickets are $17 in advance, $22 at the door, and $15 groups of 10 or more. They are available in the church office or online at: www.evangelismtickets.com
Evangelism Tickets is a Christian organization that helps churches provide tickets for unchurched friends. Here is the idea behind it and also the strategy: Attending quality events is the most non threatening introduction to a church family. And although it’s nice to invite friends to a concert, it’s even more effective to give them free tickets to the show. People will be more likely to attend a concert when they are given a free ticket as opposed to having to purchase it themselves.
If you would like to provide a ticket for an unchurched friend:
1) Buy a ticket for an unchurched friend to attend the concert for free (which you can also do in the church office).
2) Buy extra tickets to be distributed to people you don’t know so someone else can have a ticket for an unchurched friend. Then those who can’t afford to buy tickets for their friends can request free tickets for them through Evangelism Tickets.
3) If you would like to invite friends and can not afford to pay for their ticket, contact Evangelism Tickets (or tell Kara and she can help you). They will try to provide free tickets for your friend. They will do that in two ways: they’ll distribute the extra tickets that have been purchased by people in the church, or they’ll ask their sponsors to provide free tickets to those who request them.
Notes from Kara:
Kara Krikorian |
By Pastor Steve Merchant
What happens when 50 people work together to use their talents for God? Cabin Fever. On Friday, March 10th North Avenue Alliance Church presented an evening of drama, music, video clips and grand illusions as a gift to the church and community. It was an evening of surprises, laughs and family fun. An evening of silly songs, long forgotten video clips, sticky zippers and okay maybe not so grand illusions.
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Cabin Fever was created by the NAAC staff to give our talented congregation an opportunity to share those gifts in an event meant to reach out to the community. The middle section of the sanctuary was filled with eager audience members anticipating an evening of entertainment. The sanctuary platform was transformed into three areas: The cabin scene on the far right, where Glenn and Templin Moyer would comically introduce us to the thought of being cooped up in a cabin with minimal electricity. The three cabin sketches were cleverly written by Laura McLaughlin. To the left was a large movie screen, where old movie and TV clips were projected. Slides introducing each act created by Todd Leblanc were also projected on the screen. Michael Byrne used his Graphic Art talent to design the advertising flyers, posters and programs.
The set was designed by Pastor Steve and built by Chris Walbridge, Amanda Schlegel, Holly Bachilas. . The stage’s lighting design was created by Lynn Merchant. The sound technicians for the event were Skott Holley and Kevin Myers.
The colorfully dressed NAAC choir opened the variety show with their animated rendition of “Comedy tonight.” Next, Diane Ravenscroft brought us back to old England as she sang "Wouldn’t it be lovely?" from My Fair Lady. Then we all enjoyed an old movie clip of Abbott and Costello’s "Who’s on first!" Carol Erdmann and Carolyn Guiduli played “American and Patrol” on the piano. The Ladies ensemble sang “Singing in The Rain” as a video clip of Gene Kelly dancing, played on the large movie screen. Shirley Wolford reminded us that the weather does eventually get warmer in Vermont as she sang “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess. Dave and Dennis Fox presented us with a George Cohan Medley. Dave also presented their accompanist, Kara, with a bouquet of flowers. The NAAC staff then attempted their not so grand illusions! Kara had difficulty getting hers to work, Pastor Steve’s illusion worked but he didn’t explain it well. Pastor Mike’s was funny! And Pastor Mike and Pastor Steve did manage to pass a rope though Kara! Next Cam Cross and two of his students performed jazz renditions of “How Sensitive” and “12:15.” Between each scene Andrew and Katelyn Leblanc reminded us to laugh, cry and applaud with large signs. The evening ended with the total cast singing “Together, Wherever We Go” from Gypsy. The evening reminded us of simpler times. It brought back many old memories and helped us to create new family memories. People laughed and chattered with excitement as they left the sanctuary. Many thanks were given to all who participated in Cabin Fever for bringing an evening of old fashioned family fun!
After the lights went down on Cabin Fever, Chuck and Susan Hill, Lynn Merchant and the LeBlanc family disassembled the set, Kevin Myers broke down all the sound equipment and Kara and Steve turned the lights out on a successful evening.
Outreach events like Cabin Fever, Family Fun Day, Christmas Cantata and Fall Harvest Festival can only be successful when we all pitch in and use our gifts for God. Painters, singers, musicians, audio/visual technicians, set up and tear down crews, writers, program designers, food providers, advertisers, and performers are needed for many of our events. We invite you to join in the fun for our next outreach event.
Have you visited the library recently? If not, stop in soon and see for your self what the Library Committee; Reva Spengler, Marlys Willeford, Ellen Zak, Vivian DesRault, Dodi Thon, and Elaine Brochu, have been doing this winter! They have created a fresh new look and expanded the book space with additional book cases.
Highlighted this month is the new collection of books purchased with the Agnes Kerr Memorial Fund. The following four missionary biographies are part of the Jaffray Collection of Missionary Portraits, a series put out by the publishing arm of the Christian and Missionary Alliance on Alliance Missionaries. As a former missionary to Vietnam, Agnes Kerr was especially interested in securing copies of these books, now numbering 29, for the NAAC Library.
They are:
Giants Walked Among Us --The Story of Paul and Ina Bartel (China)
The Pearl and the Dragon --The Story of Gerhard and Alma Jacobson (China)
Chosen for a Special Joy --The Story of Ted and Ruth Adrianoff (Laos/Thailand)
Larger Than Life -- The Story of Herbert and Jessie Nehlsen (Burkina Faso)
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Costa Rica is a mountainous country with broad coastal plains in the east and west. The Caribbean coastal plain receives heavy rainfall, 120 in. during most of the year. Less rain falls on the Pacific plain, which annually averages 75 in. Temperatures average 59 deg F in the highlands to about 80 deg F in the plains.
By Rev. Earl McNayr
The biggest little word in our vocabulary, "my God, WHY?" We need not bombard heaven with all our "Whys" because God has answered all our agony and distress in one all-inclusive "Why." It is the cry of Jesus Christ on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" When that "why" was uttered the greatest thing that ever happened in all history was taking place. It is beyond our understanding for if our poor minds could explain it, there wouldn’t be much to it. And if we could understand it we wouldn’t need faith. But there it is, the WHY of all WHYS that gathers up all the others and answers them forever. We know and have met the living human/divine person, named Jesus Christ. He is alive. He’s the same, yesterday, today and forever. Occasionally He breaks through dramatically and crunches and crashes into people’s lives, and performs dramatic miracles. Other times He supports quietly, leading, walking silently along, giving the courage to carve a new life.
Nearly sixty years ago I was engaged in missionary service some four hundred miles north of the border in northwest Canada. We had scheduled a meeting in the district log cabin schoolhouse. No newspapers, telephones or radio to get the announcement out, and so we had to travel about from cabin to cabin to let the people know of the upcoming service.
There are areas of swamp called muskeag (sort of a bottomless pit). Some time before in laying down a road they came to such a swamp. The swampy area was too large to circle around. They dumped over 600 cords of wood in that one stretch to build a foundation for the road.
For transportation I had an Indian pony called Pete. I stopped at one cabin and informed the lady of the meeting. I noticed another cabin across the field six or eight hundred feet away. The area was like a very shallow V and I noted wheel tracks leading down a little ways and then it appeared water had collected for fifty feet or so. I inquired if I could cross the field rather than returning to the road. She told me to go right ahead—no problem. We had traversed about half way across, then the pony’s front legs went down in the gooey mixture about half way. He began to buck and struggle so I dismounted and landed on a tuft of weeds. He was sinking deeper and deeper and suddenly I sensed we were in deep trouble—right in the midst of a muskeag! All four legs of the pony were immersed. His struggles lessened and I knew unless something happened right quick, Pete was a goner. I had no time to get in the right frame of mind, as if there was a right frame of mind, but that of desperation. As I held on to the reins I cried out, "Oh God, help us!" It seemed as if the pony was climbing out on a pair of stairs, and we made our way to the other side. I was muddy from head to toe, and poor ole Pete looked like a glorified mud ball. We reached the cabin and informed the lady of our difficulty. She couldn’t believe what had happened. She then related how, the week previously, one of their cows had gone down in that same area, and before they could get the necessary equipment to rescue the cow, it disappeared from view.
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE; GOD’S TRUSTING CHILD MAY SAY:
- Andrew Murray
1st: He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this place; in that I will rest.
Next: He will keep me here in His love; and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.
Then: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last: IN His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.
Say: I am here -----
1. By God’s appointment
2. In His keeping
3. Under His training
4. For His time
"CALL UPON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, I WILL DELIVER THEE, AND THOU SHALT GLORIFY ME"
Psalm 50:15
NAAC’S BEST KEPT SECRET
I want to let you in on a little secret…. Did you know that North Avenue Christian School is an outreach ministry of NAAC? For over 25 years NACS has been providing loving quality Christian childcare and education to the children of our community. NACS is a State accredited school that presently ministers to children in preschool thru 5th grade. Our family has been blessed to be a part of the NACS family for the past six years. Our son Joshua has attended here since preschool. Greg and I chose to send Joshua to NACS because we knew he would be in a loving nurturing atmosphere where our biblical values would be reinforced. We also know that he is getting a strong academic foundation in a loving Christ centered environment. This school has a hard working dedicated group of teachers and staff, who really love and care for these children. Any public or private school can provide excellent teachers or exciting programs and activities, but what impresses me most is that, NACS teaches your child how to walk with God. Bible lessons are not just an add-on to the curriculum; they are intricately woven into the daily life of the school.
As a parent and more recently, a school board member, I urge everyone to investigate the wonders and blessings of NACS! We all want the best for our children and their future. I see no better investment for your child than a strong Christian education. I said at the beginning of this article that our school is a ministry of this church; unfortunately I think this has been a secret too well kept. Only a handful of the students come from NAAC families. We would like to see that change. How you ask? Well, there are several ways to support our school. We hold an Open House in March each year. (this occurred on the 14th, prior to the publish date,) We invite the whole church family to come out and see what is happening at our school. Classrooms are open for tours, and students will perform several songs. Another way you can support the school is through volunteering. We are always in need of people to help out, particularly with lunch, recess and to provide breaks for staff members during the day. Even giving one or two hours a week would be a huge help.
NACS is also looking for energetic talented people to join our school board. The board is vital to the smooth operation of the school. The board sets policy for the school and supports the staff and school administrator by advising in issues of concern that may come up. The board presently consists of six people and we are looking for more people to join us. We have two positions that need to be filled as soon as possible. We need a Chairperson and a Financial Advisor. The Chairperson should be an organized person who is basically responsible for calling meetings and setting the agenda. They also ensure these meetings stay focused on the task at hand. The Financial Advisor has over site of the bookkeeper and the accounts receivable person. They also help the school administrator prepare the school budget, with input from the entire board. If you have gifts in these two areas, we would love to have you join our “team”. If you have any questions about the school and it’s activities or you would like to volunteer your services, please contact our school office at 863-2579.
Kim Burbo
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Sunday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m.
The King’s Kids Choir is having a blast preparing for this musical! They’re learning fun songs about animals and motions to go with each song. The performance will include drama, costumes, solos, choreography, and video. Join the choir as they take a tour with Jungle Jean and learn about the King of the jungle who created each unique animal!
What's happening? What's going on at North Avenue Alliance Church this snowy night? Why is that bus there? Who would fight this weather to go to church?
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The only thing that would make it worthwhile to go out on such a snowy night is to know that you are going to hear something out of this world. And the Houghton College Choir certainly made it worthwhile by providing us with heavenly Music. This Liberal Arts College tucked away in Houghton, NY had 68 students bussed in to perform just for us on February 25! This wonderful concert was part of our 2006 NAAC Artist Series.
Even though it was hard for them to get here, (they were stuck in the Adirondacks for awhile), and the weather kept many people from coming to the concert, the effort was appreciated. When Steve and I first arrived we didn't know what to expect. The choir came in and surrounded the sanctuary! Singing without their conductor they filled the church with surreal music. They were all dressed with wine colored robes.
Most of the songs they sang were from Eastern Europe; a Russian song, a Latin song, two German songs, a Spanish song, an English song, in addition to “Amazing Grace” and “This Little Light” and other sacred songs. They were all uplifting and beautiful. Definitely heavenly music. The audience was given the translations for all the foreign language songs but even when you couldn't understand the words you were uplifted by the music.
Steve and I had the opportunity to house Wisline Cledgett, an Elementary Education major with a Psychology minor and Leah Marshall, a Writing major with the ambition of writing the Great American Novel. Having them stay with us was in itself a blessing.
The girls had nothing but praise for their conductor, Brandon P. Johnson saying he was so expressive with his face and hands cuing them when to sing louder, softer, higher, lower, faster or slower. They also praised the assistant conductor Sarah Stedman who continually encouraged them in their singing. They said that the hardest song they had to memorize was “Singet Dem Hernn" by Johann Sebastian Bach because of the difficult German words and fast tempo. It was also the one of the most rewarding to be able to sing.
Our own Heather Watson attends Houghton College and she came with them as part of the choir. She sang, had a solo part in one number and played the tambourine in another.
Their rendition of “This Little Light” was done so well, that I will never think of it as only a child's song again. Their “Amazing Grace” was done so beautifully that it brought tears to my eyes as I listened to the words and harmonies. For an encore they sang, “I Thank You God, for Most This Amazing Day” by Eric Whitacre.
On Sunday they did a sample of the music they had performed the night before. They again surrounded the sanctuary singing, "Hear My Prayer" and then gathered in the front to sing "Amazing Grace" and "Set Down Servant".
For those who missed this great concert, you have an opportunity to attend Kara's next Artist Series Event: Guitarist Phil Keaggy, April 21st at 7:30pm.
See you there!
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The Good Samaritan Network is a Christian ministry which matches volunteers with senior citizens and disabled people who need help getting to medical appointments, shopping for groceries or doing house or yard work. The program enables Christians to reach out to people in need beyond their own congregations. There need not be a prior commitment for specific dates and times—only a willingness to be called to check ones availability as needs arise. Most volunteers give rides or do other work for a few hours once or twice a month. Most requests are for assistance during the day, Mondays through Fridays.
Several people from our church are already involved in personally helping others through this ministry. Some help with office and administrative work: Sue Carlsen does computer work in the office, Bob Campbell Chairs the Board of Directors and Ray Milhous volunteers as Executive Director. Call Bob at 860-1162 or Ray at 658-3340 with any questions or if you are interested in volunteering.
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After Jesus died on the cross, the egg took on a new meaning. As more and more people became Christian, they adopted the egg as a symbol of the new life they found in their Savior. They changed their ways from trying to please many gods to loving the one true and living God. They were excited about being Christians. And, so as new Christians, they began a new life and a new tradition. Eggs were dyed red to represent the blood Jesus shed on the cross. The new believers still gave the egg as a special gift, but they gave it on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection—Easter. By giving that egg, they were saying, "I want to have more faith in Jesus and share his love more, too."
Through the years more traditions grew around the egg. For the Pennsylvania Dutch people, and for the Germans and Swiss before them, an egg tree was a special part of Easter. It was a lot like a Christmas tree, but for this tree, bare branches were covered with decorated eggs, sugar figures, and cake animals, especially rabbits and lambs. An Easter rabbit was placed under the egg tree to guard a nest of gifts.
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People used whatever they had to decorate their eggs. In the Netherlands onion skins gave a beautiful rust color to eggs. In Poland, a kind of grass was used for designs. But, perhaps the best tradition was started by the Russians. They would dye their eggs red and decorate them with the letters XV. Those letters mean Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. So when Russian Christians exchange eggs , one person says, "Christ is risen". The other says, "He is risen indeed". This Easter, let’s not forget the real meaning of the eggs in our baskets. They are a testimony of Jesus’ new life and the promise that we can have this new life, too!