Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sunday Thoughts

  • Last Friday night, I went to a friend's house in Knightdale to meet with Fr. Mel Portula, whom I haven't seen since he left for the Philippines a few years ago. He will be in the US for at least the next month or thereabouts before returning to the Maryhurst Seminary in Baguio City, Philippines. It was really nice to see Fr. Mel, as well as Auring (the hostess with the mostest ;) ), Jesse and Joy, Rosemary, Dee, and Sean. It was a small gathering, but we truly enjoyed each others' company, as well as the food. We chatted until past midnight, when we finally left, as Fr. Mel had an early morning flight to catch to Texas (where he'll be spending the rest of his stay in the US). Dare we try to convince Fr. Mel to get a Facebook page? He's been resisting the idea ... but it would be an easy way to keep in touch.

  • Maria, Gail, and I went blueberry picking early Saturday morning. Yes, I was sleep-starved, but for a very good reason. :) We went to Herndon Hills Farm (on Massey Chapel Road, near Southpoint Mall) early in the morning. Both Maria and Gail were expecting to crawl about on the ground. I didn't have any expectations as I've not gone blueberry picking before. They were pleasantly surprised when they saw trees from which one could stand whilst picking off the berries. So we spent an enjoyable hour picking berries, and watching others do the same. There were a lot of children present – their parents took them out for an early, but enjoyable outing. It was really nice seeing the adults pick berries from the top of the tree whilst the children picked them from the bottom. Truly a wonderful family activity. As I was picking berries, a sense of zen came over me: I am one with the berries. The tree puts forth its fruit for all to take. There were times when Alan Rickman's soliloquy on wine (from the Bottle Shock film) started playing in my mind. The same could very easily be applied to the blueberry trees: water, sunshine, and love created the environment in which others were able to enjoy. I didn't get a chance to do much with them yesterday, but I have plans: a friend sent me recipes for Blueberry Kuchen and Blueberry Buckle that I will be sure to try. We'll be going blackberry picking at the same place a fortnight from yesterday. It should be fun. :)

  • Seen this morning at Mass at IC: a three-year-old child genuflecting in front of the altar, imitating his mother, who did the same. That was really nice to see. It reminded me of my nephew, who is now eleven-going-on-twelve. From a very young age, he had been able to chant the Lord's Prayer (the traditional chanted English version) even before he had spoken in complete sentences. And I recalled how much he had admired then-Organist/Choirmaster Peter Luciano, as he had "directed" from the pew in much the same style as Peter had done.

  • Bear? What bear? A friend and I were planning to hike in the Duke Forest after my late afternoon service at Carol Woods. One of my Facebook friends warned me about a black bear and its cub that was found wandering around Durham's Museum of Life and Science. Then I received a phone call from another friend, giving me the same warning. It shows you how much I've been paying attention to the news (not), as I was completely unaware of it. According to WRAL-TV, it's been wandering since at least last Thursday. A map indicates most of the sightings occurred north of I-85. We'll be hiking at a point that is closer to I-40 than to I-85, but I certainly won't be complacent as bears are known to wander far and wide in search of food.

  • My last thought: to those who attended the CNMC in San Antonio: it looked like a wonderful celebration with excellent speakers. I would have loved to be there. Hopefully, sometime in the future, I can be there as it would have been wonderful to have met those I got to know via the SQPN chatroom. I'm glad it was streamed live as the sessions were happening. It was a wonderful way to share with a world-wide audience. I wish safe travels to those who will be leaving (or have already left) San Antonio as they travel back to their homes around the US and the world.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Straight Out of Compline

Oh, for goodness' sake! I place the blame squarely on Ian E. for this thing. Those Canadian Anglo-Catholics! What will they come up with next?

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Hope Valley Chorale sings the National Anthem

Last Friday, 6/19/2009, I joined the Hope Valley Chorale, singing the National Anthem before the Durham Bulls' game against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Ben Hutchens directed the choir. Many thanks to Paul Haley for recording this!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

21 June - Third Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 7

Shock!!! I only had one service this entire weekend! I'm going through church withdrawal. ***sighs dramatically***

I'm just kidding. :) Here is the music I programmed for the Third Sunday after Pentecost at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10:30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982. Oh, and please, no rotten tomatoes at my choice of Communion Song. The people are actually clamouring for this type of music, and it fit some of the themes of today's readings.


Third Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Fantasia (J. Pachelbel)
Processional Hymn: 410, Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)
Trisagion: S-100, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Psalm: Ps 107 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 608, Eternal Father, strong to save (MELITA)
Offertory Hymn: 559, Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (DULCE CARMEN)
Sanctus: S-130, Deutsche Messe (Schubert/Proulx))
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-169, My flesh is food indeed (Urwin)
Communion Song: Gather Comprehensive 608, Be not afraid (B. Dufford)
Recessional Hymn: 535, Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim (PADERBORN)
Postlude: Alternate harmonisation of Paderborn (N. Rawsthorne)

If the subject matter offends you...

... then why bother to see it?

I went with a group of friends to see Cabaret at the Raleigh Little Theatre last night. A friend, Jay Dolan, played the role of Ernst Ludwig, and he did a wonderful job!

I won't go into the plot details here; have a look at the Wikipedia entry for those details. There were a few scenes which could be considered controversial. There was the warning that this musical was not intended for those under thirteen years old. And this warning came with good reason.

In the middle of the first act, an entire row of people got up and walked out. It was rather rude; these people sat right in front of me and blocked my view momentarily of the action going on in the stage. It was during the song "Two Ladies" when they walked out.

Here is the Wikipedia description of that scene:
The Emcee and two female companions sing a song ("Two Ladies") that comments on Cliff and Sally's unusual living conditions (In most productions, one of the girls is played by a man).
Admittedly, the actions depicted might be considered explicit, but I thought it was tastefully done, and should be taken in the spirit intended. I suppose to those who walked out, it was interpreted very differently.

As far as I'm concerned, if those people left for prudish reasons, they missed the point, and as a result, they missed a wonderful performance, complete with excellent dancing and a gutsy performance by Mark Ridenour, who played the Emcee, who was battling laryngitis.

Oh, and to Jay - you did a great job! Well done.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Highlight of My Day, 16 June

I am borrowing a page from Mike K. as I write my first and only Highlight of My Day. (I wouldn't want to steal the thunder from you, Mayor-dear. :) )

I was asked, for the first time in at least five years, to act as stop assistant for an organist playing the noon-time demos on the Flentrop organ at Duke University Chapel. Not even a lack of parking would prevent me from helping out a friend whilst enjoying being up in the gallery once again. Brian C. played a couple of pieces by Bach, and other works by Langlais, Mendelssohn, and Widor. As I was pulling stops and turning pages, I was admiring his keyboard and pedalling technique. He'll be playing the organ at his father's wedding coming up soon, and I'm sure he'll do just fine. Thanks, Brian, for sharing your music and for giving me the opportunity to help you. I'd be happy to help you again in the future.

Right after I left Brian, I met my friend Maria D., who is a graduate student in the Department of Religion at Duke. We decided to go to my favourite Chinese restaurant in this area, China Palace. I was first introduced to this place by my friend, Rose H., who at the time, was a resident at Duke Hospitals. She returns to the Triangle area once a year for a week-long conference organised by the Duke's Radiology Department, and when she does, China Palace is always one of her stops. The food there is wonderful, and I always order from their "special" menu. Last Sunday, I ate there with my friend David D., and ordered Chinese Eggplant with Pork and Black Beans. Today, I ordered Beef with Bittermelon. Both dishes were wonderfully prepared. Both Maria and David expressed satisfaction with the food and indicated they would be happy to return for more.

Alright, so that was two highlights. Pity that I missed Fr. Roderick Vonhögen and other SQPN fans in the uStream chatroom as he recorded another episode of the Daily Breakfast. At least I was able to join them for the post-show chat.

That does it for my one-and-only HOMD. I shall happily return it to Mayor Mike.

Monday, June 15, 2009

14 June - Second Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 6

We're back in Ordinary Time. Well, except I suppose the Episcopalians don't exactly call it that. This one kind of snuck up on me. So much for advanced preparations.

Remember my mini-rant from my last post? I shall endeavour to keep my rant to myself, especially since I was the one who planned the following set of music. At least having to make slight alterations to a piece I honestly disliked intensely prevented me from spewing any more bile than could have been spewed already.

But I digress. You can do the math as to which piece I may be thinking of.



St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10:30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Second Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele (Op. 122, No. 5; J. Brahms)
Processional Hymn: 525, The Church's one foundation (AURELIA)
Trisagion: S-100, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Psalm: Ps 20 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 302, Father, we thank thee who hast planted (RENDEZ À DIEU)
Offertory Hymn: WLP 747, God the sculptor of the mountains (Urbis beata, Sarum Plainsong Mode II)
Sanctus: S-130, Deutsche Messe (Schubert/Proulx))
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-169, My flesh is food indeed (Urwin)
Communion Song: Gather I 243, Take our bread (J. Wise)
Recessional Hymn: 213, Come away to the skies (MIDDLEBURY)
Postlude: Fuge or Voluntary in D (Wm. Selby; ed. B. Owen)




I played the 4:00 pm service for Carol Woods, which is organised by Chapel of the Cross. During the summer, the music list would generally reflect what was played at the 8:00 am Rite I Eucharist, but the presider du jour did not like the Closing Hymn. When I saw what it was, I heartily agreed with him. That piece still gives me nightmares, no thanks to my organ teacher, who asked me to have his "Anybody Choir" sing that thing during Offertory, and guess who had to direct this choir from the console? We were only too happy to replace it with what I programmed as Closing at St Joseph's, and what Van programmed as Communion Hymn at the 10:00 am service at Chapel of the Cross.

The music list:

Second Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: A very short improvisation on Aurelia
Processional Hymn: 525, The Church's one foundation (AURELIA)
Psalm: Psalm 20 (recited)
Offertory Hymn: 290, Come ye thankful people, come (ST GEORGE'S, WINDSOR)
Comm: Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele (Op. 122, No. 5; J. Brahms)
Recessional Hymn: 213, Come away to the skies (MIDDLEBURY)
Postlude: Fuge or Voluntary in D (Wm. Selby; ed. B. Owen)

The next Carol Woods service will be on June 28.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

13 June - Vigil Mass for the The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ [Corpus Christi]

*pats my poor, neglected blog*

I was asked to play the Saturday Vigil 5:30 pm Mass at Immaculate Conception. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover), unless otherwise specified.

Saturday 5:30 pm Mass: Vigil Mass for the The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ [Corpus Christi]
Prelude: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (J.G. Walther)
Hymn in Procession: 540, Let all mortal flesh keep silence (PICARDY)
Gloria: 176, New Mass for Congregations (C.T. Andrews)
Psalm: Flor y Cantos 253, Psalm 116, El Cáliz que Bendecimos/Our Blessing Cup (J. Cortez)
Gospel Acclamation: 216, Mass for the Life of the World (D. Haas)
Offertory anthem: Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away (Ke. Getty; Kr. Getty; S. Townend)
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: 166-168; 171, Mass of Creation (M. Haugen)
Communion Hymn: 593, We remember how you loved us to your death (M. Haugen)
Recessional Hymn: 558, Lift up your hearts to the Lord (R. O'Connor)
Postlude: Fuge or Voluntary in D (Wm. Selby; ed. B. Owen)

*shrugs* What can I say? I'm only asked to play it. They didn't ask me to like it or approve of it. I've said this many times - I do not relate to this kind of music all that well, and to be honest, for everything after the Gloria, I really felt like I was typing the music rather than making it. Most especially for that ... closing song (I refuse to call it a hymn).

I should stop now before I say something I may regret. I know, I could always refuse to play that particular Mass, but despite my other musical endeavours, I do consider IC to be my home parish, and I've always been willing to do what I can. One would say this is a taste issue. For me, personally, I'm really saddened that this kind of musical tripe makes its way to a Mass.

*end rant

Sunday, June 7, 2009

7 June - Trinity Sunday

Ah, I am now caught up with my music lists. :)

I only had one service today. Gasp! What was I to do with myself with only one service in the morning? Well, I am catching up with my blog posts for one! :)

Here is music list for today's service.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10:30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday): Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (F. Zachau and J.G. Walther)
Processional Hymn: 370, I bind unto myself today (ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE)
Trisagion: S-100, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Psalm: Canticle 13 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 367, Round the Lord in glory seated (RUSTINGTON)
Offertory Hymn: 324, Let all mortal flesh keep silence (PICARDY)
Sanctus: S-130, Deutsche Messe (Schubert/Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-169, My flesh is food indeed (Urwin)
Communion Anthem: Bless we the Father, the Song, and the Holy Ghost (H. Willan)
Communion Hymn: Father, we love you (GLORIFY YOUR NAME; D. Adkins)
Recessional Hymn: 362, Holy, Holy, Holy (NICAEA)
Postlude: Menuet from Suite Gothique (L. Boëllmann)

*hangs head in shame*

I made a similar mistake with the Opening Hymn that I did with "Hail thee, festival day". I completely missed the fact that for vs 2-5, there is an extra motif, so when the congregation started singing a different melody than what I was playing, I thought, oops. I scanned the music carefully and noticed that I completely missed one page, so I stopped and started again, and the congregation joined me once they figured out what I was doing.

So this is yet another example of when the organist makes a mistake, the entire ship goes down. Sigh.

On an up note: from the Anglican Music listserv, one of the regular posters offered to those interested his own free-accompaniments for St. Patrick's Breastplate. I'll definitely have a look and consider using it next year. :)

Admittedly, pieces such as the Communion song I programmed is not exactly of a style I'm very comfortable with, but the congregation really liked it, so I guess I'll have to see if I can find a source of accompaniments that go along with the in-house St. Joseph's hymnal. Luckily, this is where contacts with music director friends who do this type of music in their churches come in very handy indeed. I just might give them a ring within the next several days.

Hopefully, I'll get back to some semi-regular blogging. Look for my posts either here, or if it's related to creative writing or the Harry Potter fandom, on my LJ. Cheers to all, and have a wonderful week. :)

31 May - Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday)

As usual, here are my music lists for Sunday services.

My turn for cantoring came up at Immaculate Conception. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover). I didn't note the voluntary pieces Jane played for this Mass, so I will list only the hymns she programmed.

Sunday 7:45 am Mass: Feast of Pentecost
Hymn in Procession: 461, O Holy Spirit, by whose breath (VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS)
Gloria: 157, Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Psalm: Psalm 104, (antiphon 101 (P. Lisicky); verses set to Tone VIII)
Gospel Acclamation: 261 (A.G. Murray)
Offertory: 465, Come down, O love divine (DOWN AMPNEY)
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: 166-168; 171, Mass of Creation
Communion Hymn: 460, Veni Creator Spiritus (Plainsong, Mode VIII)
Recessional Hymn: 469, Come, Holy Ghost (LAMBILLOTTE)

Cheers to Fr. Dan for allowing us to sing all four verses of the Recessional Hymn. :) He didn't start recessing down the aisle until the beginning of the fourth verse. Yes, it's a Doxology (if you know the text of that hymn), but it's nice to know that no part of this text got shortchanged because of the concept of Hymn as Travelling Music that seems to be quite prevalent in the Roman Catholic liturgy.

Also, once again, I received a lot of positive feedback concerning the Latin at Communion. Thanks to a good friend of mine (thanks, Chris! :) ), I have a copy of the Adoremus Hymnal, and will definitely pereuse that for ideas for the next time I cantor a Mass at IC.

I will be subbing for a few Masses during the summer, but mostly the Saturday 5:30 pm Vigil Mass or the Sunday 7:45 am Masses (when I am not cantoring). Look for my lists then (and I do promise to post them in a more timely manner!)




St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10:30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Feast of Pentecost (Whitsunday): Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herr Gott (BuxWV 199, Dietrich Buxtehude)
Processional Hymn: 225, Hail thee, festival day! (SALVE FESTA DIES)
Gloria: S-280 (Powell)
Psalm: Ps 104 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence Hymn: 228, Holy Spirit, font of light (WEBBE)
Offertory Hymn: 504, Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire (VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS; Plainsong, Mode 8)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion Anthem: Come down, O Love divine (H. Tadman-Robins)
Recessional Hymn: 516, Come down, O Love divine (DOWN AMPNEY)
Postlude: Fugue in C Major (BuxWV 174, "Gigue," Buxtehude)

I should be so proud of myself - I did not make a mistake with "Hail thee, festival day!" And the choir did wonderfully with the Communion Anthem. It's a small group, but they are singing together quite nicely.




Next service: My turn came up to play the the 5:15 pm service at Chapel of the Cross. I sang the Offertory and Communion anthems with the Parish Choir. This was their last service before their summer break.

Prelude: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herr Gott (BuxWV 199, Dietrich Buxtehude)
Processional Hymn: 225, Hail thee, festival day! (SALVE FESTA DIES)
Gloria: S-280 (Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 104, recited
Sequence Hymn: 230, A mighty sound from heaven (SONG OF THE HOLY SPIRIT)
Offertory: Behold now, praise the Lord (E. Titcomb)
Sanctus: S-125 Community Mass (R. Proulx)
Communion Hymn: 505, O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God (O HEILIGER GEIST)
Communion Motet: If ye love me (T. Tallis)
Recessional Hymn: 516, Come down, O Love divine (DOWN AMPNEY)
Postlude: Fugue in C Major (BuxWV 174, "Gigue," Buxtehude)

Van Quinn commented to me on the flourish I add at the end of the Gigue fugue, saying something like it was a nice way to put the liturgical stamp on this piece, kind of like an "Amen" at the end. I grinned at that assessment. It was my organ teacher, Tim Baker, who suggested I did that flourish. Honestly, everything I know at the organ came from him. Well, and a few other friends as well, but mostly from Tim. He is a wonderful teacher, and I wish I had the opportunity to continue taking lessons from him.

I had forgotten what a wonderful treasure trove the music of Everett Titcomb is. I will definitely revisit a catalogue of his works in hopes that I could find a piece (or more) my choir could sing. The anthem we sung for Offertory is an example of his wonderful works, and I also remember a nice Epiphany anthem I sang at a joint Evensong service between St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and Grace Lutheran (LC/MS) Church several years ago.

24 May - Seventh Sunday After Easter (Feast of the Ascension)

*hangs head in shame*

These lists are very late. I have no excuses for that. But never mind about that. Here are the lists.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the usual 10:30 am service. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Seventh Sunday of Easter/Feast of the Ascension: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Lord of Glory, Who Hast Bought Us (Prelude on Hyfrydol; P. Manz)
Processional Hymn: 460, Alleluia! sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL)
Gloria: S-280 (Powell)
Psalm: Ps 1 (Ford; Plainsong, Mode 8)
Sequence Hymn: 477, All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine (ENGELBERG)
Offertory Hymn: 328, Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord (SONG 46)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-154, New Plainsong (Hurd)
Communion Motet: The Lord ascendeth up on high (M. Prætorius)
Recessional Hymn: 494, Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA)
Postlude: Allegretto (G. Böhm)




I played the 4:00 pm service for Carol Woods, which is organised by Chapel of the Cross. Interestingly enough, there was a different set of music planned for this service, but after I showed the Presider du Jour the list of music I played for St. Joseph's that morning, she decided to make a switch. I suppose it's just as well; the people have requested more familiar hymns during the service anyway. And, I'd like to think the following hymns are very familiar to this group.

The music list:

Prelude: Lord of Glory, Who Hast Bought Us (Prelude on Hyfrydol; P. Manz)
Processional Hymn: 460, Alleluia! sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL)
Psalm: Psalm 1 (recited)
Offertory Hymn: 477, All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine (ENGELBERG)
Comm: Just as I Am (Fugue on Woodworth, with J.S. Bach's Minuet in G interspersed; arr. F. Bock)
Recessional Hymn: 494, Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA)
Postlude: Allegretto (G. Böhm)

The next Carol Woods service will be on June 14.

Oh how behind I am...

I am so behind in my posts. I owe you, my faithful readers, three weeks worth of music lists. Don't worry, they will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, here are a few random thoughts.

  • There are some things I don't really pay much attention to. Sometime last month, Duke University had Oprah Winfrey as their Commencement speaker whilst UNC-Chapel Hill had Archbishop Desmond Tutu as their Commencement speaker. At his homily, Fr. Steve from Immaculate Conception Church pointed out that those two universities invited black people to speak at their respective Commencements. I thought, oh yeah, he's right. But to be honest, I never thought of them as black or white or anything else for that matter. (Actually, I didn't even know that Oprah Winfrey spoke at Duke. Blue Devils fans, please don't throw rotten tomatoes at me, okay?) I was just aware of Archbishop Tutu's visit, and that he (and the Rev. Dr. Pfaff) attended the 5:15 pm service at Chapel of the Cross the afternoon of UNC's commencement. It's too bad that the idea of an Evensong with the Archbishop fell through. I'm sure the Compline Choir would have loved to have sung at that service!

  • I've been doing a bit of writing lately. It's been really lovely flexing my creative writing muscles, and thanks to some wonderful encouragement from friends, I've been writing a pair of multi-chaptered stories, plus have an outline for o-fic that I hope to start writing soon. I'm still keeping in touch with my scientific roots. I'm working on a review paper with a friend of mine in the Cannabinoid field that we hope to submit before he leaves for the ICRS conference early next month. I've been away from the science field for at least the past couple of years, and I can honestly say I miss it. It's been nice living the life of the church musician in the meantime. But I do miss science, and hope to get back into the field at some point in time in the future.

  • It's nice to know that others appreciate you. I'll admit that I haven't frequented the RPInet Forum Boards for at least the past year or more. There's been a lot of contentious bickering there, and I didn't really want to be a part of that. Much to my surprise, I received notifications of replies to what I assume have been long-buried threads. One of the respondents mentioned me by name, and said that my contributions had been appreciated, and was wondering where I might have disappeared to. I do keep up this blog (I try to, anyway) with my thoughts as well as my music lists (and have a journal on Live Journal for anything else related to creative writing exploits and Harry Potter-related things), so one could keep up with me if one so desires. If there is one thing I miss about the RPInet boards, it is the people I've met there. I had the wonderful fortune of meeting three of them in person (Charles, Nick and Tyler; it is with the latter that I share this blog) plus established wonderful friendships with others (Randy, Michael, Ryan, Joe Sco, Brian, Ron A., etc.). I may not be interacting with you on a daily basis via the boards, but that doesn't mean I don't think of you from time to time. Most of us are Facebook friends... and I'm also on Twitter as well. I hope all is well with all of you, and that your Music Ministry work continues to be rewarding as we do our part to glorify God in Music.

Enough of my sentimental blathering. My music lists are forthcoming.