The Organist's Role in Worship

On Sunday, October 3, 1976, I assumed the role of organist for Vine Street Christian Church.  For 36 years that role has been a vital part of my ministry in music along with many other responsibilities as Organist-Director of Music Ministries.   Selecting music and providing organ and piano music for worship services and other occasions like funerals and weddings at Vine Street has been a privilege and a blessing for me.  After Sunday, October 28, 2012, I will retire from that role! I look forward to some retirement fun but plan to continue to teach organ and piano privately.  In the future I will also serve as supply organist in the Nashville area and at Vine Street. 

The role of the organist at most churches includes selecting appropriate music for organ voluntaries,  leading the congregatonal hymn singing and responses, and accompanying rehearsals and gifts of music provided by choirs and other musicians.  The leadership of the organ in worship is a strong part of Vine Street's musical heritage.  On my first Sunday at Vine Street, the October 3, 1976 bulletin includes this opening sentence:  When the organ sounds let our conversations be directed to God in a spirit of reverence and awe.  I do not know who wrote that statement but at the time, worship was to begin with the first note of the organ for the Prelude and ended with the last note of the Postlude.

 The role of the organist in worship today continues to be an important one.  Although Vine Street uses  many additional musical resources in worship,  the sound of the organ is strongly linked to our church experiences.  "When the organ sounds" we can be called  to a worship experience filled with moments of reflection, times of awe and reverence, songs of praise, and opportunities for dedication, healing, peace, and joy.  It is important that we join together to commune with God through many gifts of music .  

On my Retirement Sunday, October 28,  I will play  two organ selections based on the chorale "In Thee Is Gladness".  Johann Sebastian Bach's traditional Baroque setting of the chorale will be the 10:45 Service Postlude. My 2:00 PM Retirement Celebration Concert will end with an  "Afro-Cuban" dance setting by contemporary German composer Johannes Matthias Michel.   Come share the gladness with me!

 Blessings and peace,   Julia

Soli Deo Gloria!

I 

Robert E. Binkley, Vine Street's Chancel Choir Director for 25 years.

On October 5, after a valiant battle with cancer, Bob Binkley joined the heavenly choir! We can imagine the joy his voice has added to the tenor section and him sharing his gifts as an experienced  choir director.

 Bob is greatly missed by his family and the many friends and students he taught and directed. His skills at teaching the joy of singing with best choral sounds and creating top quality musical experiences in school, church, and community settings are well known.  During his 25 years at  Vine Street, the Chancel Choir was challenged and lifted to high levels of musical excellence and presented community concerts of major works including Handel's MESSIAH, Shaw's MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS,  and REQUIEM  settings by Archer, Faure', Mozart, and Rutter. 

A memorial service for Bob is being planned for Friday, October 12 at 7:00 pm at Vine Street.  All available choir singers will rehearse Thursday at 7:00.    We hope you will join us. 

Gabriel's Oboe

We  welcome oboist Roger Wiesmeyer, member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, as guest musician in 10:45 worship on September 30.  Roger's beautiful oboe sound will be heard during the service prelude.  He and I will play "Gabriel's Oboe" as arranged by Nashville organist Dr. Wilma Jensen from music  Ennio Morricone  wrote for the movie, "The Mission".  If you are not familiar with this movie, check it out on the internet.  

During the service Roger and I will play an "Aria" from one of J. S. Bach's cantatas.  Funds for guest musicians at Vine Street are made possible by your support of the operating budget and special designated gifts to the Ministry of Music. 

Fall Rehearsals resume in the Vine Street Choir Room!

About a dozen young Vine Street choristers have begun regular Children's Choir rehearsals in the choir room with T.J. and Katie McLaughlin  on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:15 p.m.  We encourage all Vine Street families with children to enable their children to join in the fun!  We look forward to hearing the children sing in worship soon.  

The Chancel Choir led by T.J. McLaughlin continues to rehearse at 9:30 AM on Sundays and welcomes new singers at any time.  If you have been in worship recently, you have noticed that the choir is not robing or sitting in the Chancel every Sunday.  We are trying this to allow choir members to help lead hymn singing from the pews and also to sit with other family members more often.   

Thank you for your support of the Vine Street Choir Program through your (or your children's) participation in choirs, special gifts for music purchases, and helping us spread the word of the importance of our choirs musical leadership in the worship life of the congregation.   

In  words attributed to Martin Luther, "As long as we live, there is never enough singing."  

Planning for the Future of Vine Street's Music Ministry!

The August VINE arrived in my mailbox today with the good news that T.J. and Katie McLaughlin have agreed to become Directors of Music Ministries on September 1.   That is good news indeed and I look forward to helping them transition into this new position before I retire at the end of October. 

During this time of transition, we will share ideas as discussions continue on the future of the Music Ministry of Vine Street.   We are blessed with many musical resources in the church and community and we look for ways to make the best use of those resources to enhance our worship and Christian Education experiences at Vine Street.

Hiring an Organist/Pianist is next on the Personnel Committee's agenda as they work with T.J. and Katie to complete the music staff for 2012-2013.   We hope this process can be completed before I "get off the bench"  on October 28 following my 2:00 PM Retirement Celebration Concert! 

For those asking about my plans, I will remain in Nashville and continue to teach organ and piano and do more symphony volunteer work.   After a few months, I might join the Nashville AGO List of Supply Organists.   I do look forward to having time to worship from the pew, to travel, and to visit with my mother in NC.