Dear Friends,
Thick into this most wonderful time of the year, I wanted to highlight a few upcoming events which I believe can help serve as sources of joy and beacons of hope in the dark winter.
December can be overwhelming, it’s true. Every week multitudes of marvelous musical offerings vie for our attention. But I do hope that one of your choices this year will be the 51st Community Carol Sing on December 15th at 4:30 PM, hosted again this year at UCM.
Last year’s Carol Sing was a truly joyous community event, being the first time we had gathered together since Covid, and following the flood. We’re now in the midst of rehearsals for this year’s sing, and what a thrill it is to hear the sound of a 40+ voice choir, as we have combined with the Christ Church choir as well as singers from other area churches and groups. Making it even better this year and more welcoming for all is the addition of performances by Marc Gwinn, and Kenric Kite’s traditional music group North Branch. And of course, taking center stage, all of you in a traditional carol sing-along! The event is free but we will be accepting donations for the Good Samaritan Haven.
In the New Year, Join us on Friday evening, January 10th, 5:30-7:30 PM, for our first Community Night: Music for Strength and Solace. This will be a family friendly gathering to socialize and share songs and other music that can help soothe, inspire and fortify us in the months ahead. Many of us are looking to the approaching political storms with anxiety and dread. Coming together to build community is now more important than ever, and music can be a special kind of glue, simultaneously giving voice to our pain and to our shared hopes. There will be potluck food, games and lots of music! All are welcome to perform, share, sing or just listen and enjoy. Bring the music that has inspired you in this time. In addition to whatever musical offerings others bring, we will have group singing with easy-to-learn songs. If you have something you would like to perform/share, contact Leah Greenberg at leahvictor@gmail.com. If you’d like to help out with the food or games, or be part of the team organizing future events, contact Caitlin at ucmspiritualexploration@gmail.com. Our hope is for Community Music Nights to become a monthly event! Stay tuned to the e-news for updates!
What is the most beautiful music?
“… if we put our attention on the world’s beauty, we will have far more strength and stamina to show up to the world’s pain.” –Andrea Gibson
The cultivation of beauty can both help sustain us in difficult times and even be an act of resistance, a bold affirmation of all that is good in the face of forces trying to diminish us. On May 5th 2025 our annual Music Sunday service will introduce our May Worship Theme of Beauty. So I would like to know, what is your favorite most beautiful music, of any genre? Not necessarily the most entertaining, or inspiring, but the music that makes you stop and gasp, that touches your soul in that particular way that you would call beautiful. We will be developing our program informed in part from what I hear from all of you. Please let me know at ucm.music21@gmail.com, with the word “beauty” in the subject line.
Wishing you all a beautiful holiday and new year!
~ Donia