Blast from the Past

100 Huntley Street

The caravan of cars and vans heading into town:

And excited kids running in to the building.

Lining up to get "puffed".  

That was a good euphemism for getting their make-up for the cameras.

But first a cookie and drink!

Make-up!

For everyone. :)

Warming up...

...in front of a proud crowd of mommas and teachers.

Off to line up in the studio.

Everyone was dressed in their finery for the special occasion.

On the camera monitor.

They had to turn the monitor so the kids watched the director and not themselves on screen. :)

Done!

Final picture.

Complete with their ring-pop.  Which might have been the best part of their day.

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol) - Keith & Kristyn ...

If all goes well, thirty bright and beautiful little stars of CCS from grades 1-4 will be going to 100 Huntley Street in two weeks to tape their rendition of this song and the one below.
The performance will be aired around December 16, 2013.
I can hear their sweet strains already and can hardly wait to see them in action under lights and camera!
They never fail to inspire me.  I'd wager it's the same for you.  :)
*happy sigh*
My "job" is not a job.  It's a piece of heaven every day.

Underneath The Shining Star

Miss J has landed safe and sound!

And this is a picture she took flying over Toronto on Family Day, undoubtedly thinking about all the families down there enjoying a day off in the snow.  Perhaps also thinking about the sun and sand she left behind (and a storm too, yes indeed)....

Is this not the coolest picture ever?  Miss J took this panoramic on her phone!

This was the storm that blew in and visited us on the beach 

on Valentine's Day of all things!

Never a dull moment with Miss J around.  :)  

Shared from Facebook

How Great is Our God

Posted for the benefit of the CCS senior classes who watched this with me in choir today.  Yes.  Choir class.  It was thought to be the best way to understand Chris Tomlin's song:  How Great is Our God. Here's the chance to catch the last ten minutes we missed in class today.  

An important spirit-enriching, life-altering video for those of us who need to hear how much we are loved by Our Awesome Galactic God who simply "breathed" the vast cosmos into being and whose mark we bear in the very protein molecules that hold our bodies together...
And who of us does not need to hear this?
Just press play.
Commit to watching in silence without distraction for 40 minutes.
Prepare to be changed.

New Discoveries in Music

Children's Music Matters

As one with the enviable position of being able to introduce good music and song into the lives of +100 elementary students, you know that this title would have grabbed my attention immediately. 
I first heard Sandra McCracken sing a soulful rendition of "Dear Refuge of my Weary Soul" at the Gospel Coalition in Chicago.  I've been tracking her music ever since along with that of her hubby Derek Webb (Indelible Grace) and am just now, digesting her first ever album for kids Rain For Roots which I first purchased as a four song pre-sale product available on NoiseTrade. 
There.
You've been asking where I find my music.
NoiseTrade is one of the newest favourite places to search for good and upcoming music and a most excellent forum to 'test' it without investing too much too early. 
The money I have wasted collecting music that I seldom or never listen to again is lamentable.
Hopefully, this can circumvent a similar experience for you.  
This next album that is bringing new styles and sounds to my ears is Coal Train Railroad.
Jazz and all that fun stuff.... I'm testing it out tomorrow on a fabulous fivesome in the age range of 4-6.
I just heard from the Rain for Roots band that they would certainly stop in at our school for a live mini-concert if and when they tour the area!
Cool that.

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven

This song will be premiered by the angelic voices of 29 CCS students 

in the upcoming Community Concerts, 

Carols & Classics.

Gonna be real good (pardon the grammar).

Major Rehearsal # 1

Coming at you - very quickly.

Hearts are swelling.

Knees are knocking.

Many prayers, hopefully ascending.

This Thursday we convene at Rehoboth Church building on Hwy #5.  

From 7:30 - 9:30pm 

(students can leave at 9pm if they wish).  

There will be some breaks for everyone and
a vast table of refreshments to visit.

Come with a mind to celebrate this event because that is what this will be, 

a great event!   

The CCS student choir must wear white tops and black bottoms.  

Do I need to repeat this? 

Of course not.  

The adult choir must wear all black.  

The orchestra must wear all black.
They will come in with crazy BIG instrument cases.

Everyone will find a place somewhere - 

 - we don't know where yet, but we'll find it somehow.

The staging will not be in place yet - count on a bit of chaos.   :)   

A surety:  If I count on it, I can handle it.  

It's the surprise chaos that undoes me.  

Remind me to distribute posters and postcard invites where needed.

A reporter from The Flamborough Review will be there 

getting an inside look at us for a feature article.

Behave.   (okay, just do your best then)

Make sure you are all getting your rest.  

Know that you are loved and greatly admired for the investment of 

your time, energy & gifts to this outreach project.  

Remember Soli Deo Gloria.

Oh, and Miss J single-handedly created these posters and postcards.  

In about 60 minutes or less.  

Practically blind-folded with hands tied behind her back.     

An extraordinary touch of class for our Carols & Classics.  

Thank you Lilly, for everything!

Carols & Classics December 15-17, 2011

Hi all:
I've kept you waiting far too long in posting this.  My sincere apologies.  I just found this video on You Tube (see below).  It happens to be Andrew Peterson in the flesh singing the song he wrote:
Behold the Lamb of God.
It's a Christmas song that sounds very much like an Easter song and thereby fits beautifully with the vision of our upcoming Carols & Classics Concert for the Community.
30 sweet voices from CCS grades 5-8 will be joined by 50 adult voices and an incredible orchestra to present the Great Story of Salvation in Song at Rehoboth Church on the evenings of December 15, 16, and 17th, 2011 from 7:30 - 9:30 pm.  It is a one hour program filled from start to finish with beautiful carols and excerpts of Handel's Messiah.  All proceeds to benefit the Flamborough Food Bank.
Admission to be determined (possibly a $5.00 head charge or perhaps even a donation of a non-perishable food item).
Carols & Classics is an outreach project adopted by the Home Mission committees of both congregations of Rehoboth church.  It is to be advertised heavily in newsprint, bulletin/posters/signage in area business and area churches... no doubt you will soon be hearing far more about this.  You will be encouraged to engage yourselves in this unique outreach program - consider sharing the gospel in song with a personal invitation to neighbour or co-worker and support the great needs of the local Food Bank at the same time.   Small cardstock invitations will be available for distribution.
The CCS students will launch each program with this song (the one in the video);  they are to sing unison along with most of the other songs and will be featured alone in O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Thirty students signed up last week.  We've since met and talked about the 'cost' to them:

• the occasional noon hour rehearsal on choir days
• ONE after school or Saturday rehearsal here at my home
• a dress rehearsal (or maybe even two) at the church with the adult choir and orchestra                  (this will most likely fall on Monday evening of the performance week)
• three evening performances in a row on the afore-mentioned dates
• the necessity of wearing black & white
• the necessity of parental permission and support

I have asked them to consult this blogpost with you and to confirm your consent by leaving your child's first name in the comment box with a smiley face - or something like that!  :)
This may be considered a pioneer project - we generally don't invite the public to our programs.
 "Yet in this dark world shineth - the everlasting Light!" the privilege to share this evangel is both necessary and urgent.  I trust it will be a rich experience for all involved.  Perhaps with the Lord's blessing, it will be the first of much more to come.

CCS & The Gettys?

Whaddaya think guys? The fellow in charge of concert tours (Joni with the delightful Irish accent and would you believe it? --- slightly leprechaun looks too!) lives locally in St.Catharines and thinks a Southern Ontario tour for the Keith & Kristyn Getty Band is very plausible.

hmmm.... this has me mind a twirlin'....

Sara Groves

For those looking for something new in the CD/Ipod player, allow me to recommend my latest object of respectful adoration....

I also love her perspective (interview below) and can hear that coming through loud & clear in her musical style and lyricism.  Enjoy!

They're HERE!!

They're fresh off the press and ready for you! We know that you'll love it!

CDs are $20 each with cheques payable to CCS PTA.

While we're at still at school you can pick up your CDs there, but in the next two weeks they'll be available through Denise Ludwig, Joanne Hordyk or Tracy Jelsma.

If you're in the Hamilton area you can get your CD from Amy Hoogstad or Sarah VanPopta.

If you have any questions please email us at choirCCS@gmail.com or leave a message in the comments.

King of Kings -- Christmas Concert 2010

I'm throwing this up quickly so my class can watch the concert.

They LOVED it!

Please contact the school to order

or email

choirCCS@gmail.com

Risky recommendation....

Skip the Christmas present thing and take your family to a live Messiah concert this year in some terrific cathedral. It will become one of the 'awesome' lifelong memories of childhood, guaranteed.

In the market for some more new music?

....while you wait for the new school CD to emerge of course! :)
Here's a link you may enjoy spending some time browsing in....
http://www.challies.com/resources/contemporary-hymns
The Getty's are featured too. Go figure.

Getting ready for the Christmas Concert!

Please visit the official website of modern hymn writers Keith & Kristyn Getty and discover with us the fabulous songs of these amazing hymn writers! We are preparing no less than five of their hymns including

Lo! What is this sound I hear?

Choir's back! And we're happy :)