“Songs of Hope to Heal the Troubled Soul”

Reflections of the Heart: Blessings – Jane Mayes, Ken GalbreathThe Common Cold – Ogden Nash, Paul Basler

Look to the Day – John RutterHeal Us Now – Leon SherSoloist – Ana L. Lugo, Alto

Invictus - William Ernest Henley, Josh RistThere Is a Balm in Gilead – Traditional Spiritual, arr. Earlene Rents

Hope – Emily Dickinson, Carson P. CoomanAnd I Saw a New Heaven – Edgar L. Bainton

INTERMISSION

I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health – William Byrd, arr. Kurt OlsenSometimes a Light Surprises – William Cowper, Andrew Clarke

Wade in the Water – Traditional Spiritual, arr. Mark HayesSure On This Shining Night – James Agee, Morten Lauridsen

Come, Ye Disconsolate – Thomas Moore, Thomas Hastings, David RasbachHold to God’s Unchangin’ Hand – F.L. Eiland and Jennie Wilson, arr. Paul Halley

Soloist – Linda S. Andrews, AltoDeep Peace – Traditional Gaelic Blessing, Bill Douglas

Michael Dell – Artistic DirectorAshley Wilkinson – Accompanist

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Program NotesBy Michael Dell

Around 3000 years ago in ancient Israel, a young shepherd boy named David was brought quickly many times in the middle of the night to play his harp before an ailing King Saul. The king had been having nightmares, anger fits and general malaise that were affecting his mind as well as his physical health. When the harp was being played he ‘felt better and the evil spirit departed from Saul’. The soothing power of the shepherd’s harp is likewise often richly present in much choral music by composers both ancient and modern. Both within and outside our houses of worship and our various faith traditions, music has a long and illustrious heritage in its association with health and well-being!

Today’s concert both opens and closes with choral blessings (benedictions), expressing well wishes of good health and deep peace upon our listeners. These blessings frame a palette of pieces regarding healing and wellness, expressed through both mood and text. None of us escape this world without some deeply personal acquaintance with affliction and grief, whether on the part of ourselves, or on those who we hold dearly. So, wherever you may find yourself, along this continuum of discomfort and malady, we hope that you, like King Saul of old, will hereby experience music of hope to heal your own troubled soul.

Michael DellBorn in Jacksonville in 1959, Michael Dell received his Bachelor in Church Music degree from Stetson University (DeLand, FL) and a Master of Church Music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX). Additional studies were with Dr. Gerre Hancock at St. Thomas (Episcopal) Church in New York City, as well as numerous workshops and conferences. He has served churches in Texas, Alabama, and Florida, and has the good fortune of currently being Organist/Director of Music at South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, the rehearsal home of the Heritage Singers of Jacksonville.

REFLECTIONS OF THE HEART: BLESSINGSJane Mayes Ken Galbreath

Five blessings I would ask for thee:healthy mind and body whole,lively spirit, serene soul.Five blessings I would ask for thee:healthy mind, body whole,lively spirit, serene soul.and love that last for all eternity.

THE COMMON COLDOgden Nash Paul Basler

[Narrator: Juliet Johnson]

Go hang yourself, you old M.D.! You shall not sneer at me. Pick up your hat and stethoscope, Go wash your mouth with laundry soap; I contemplate a joy exquisite I'm not paying you for your visit. I did not call you to be told My malady is a common cold.

By pounding brow and swollen lip; By fever's hot and scaly grip; By those two red redundant eyes That weep like woeful April skies; By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff; By handkerchief after handkerchief; This cold you wave away as naught Is the damnedest cold man ever caught!

Give ear, you scientific fossil! Here is the genuine Cold Colossal; The Cold of which researchers dream, The Perfect Cold, the Cold Supreme. This honored system humbly holds The Super-cold to end all colds; The Cold Crusading for Democracy; The Führer of the Streptococcracy.

Bacilli swarm within my portals Such as were ne'er conceived by mortals,

But bred by scientists wise and hoary

In some Olympic laboratory; Bacteria as large as mice, With feet of fire and heads of ice Who never interrupt for slumber Their stamping elephantine rumba.

A common cold, gadzooks, forsooth! Ah, yes. And Lincoln was jostled by Booth; Don Juan was a budding gallant, And Shakespeare's plays show signs of talent; The Arctic winter is fairly coolish, And your diagnosis is fairly foolish. Oh what a derision history holds For the man who belittled the Cold of Colds!

LOOK TO THE DAYJohn Rutter

Look to the day when the world seems new again,Morning so fresh you could touch the sky.The earth smells sweet and every flower looks brightShining in a dewy light as you wander by.

Taking the time to enjoy each moment;Tasting the fruits spread along your way,Knowing there's time to spareDreams you can dream and share.Look to the day, look to the day.

Look to the day when the earth is green again,Promise of spring after winter's sleep,The sounds of life returning fill the air.Music that's forever there,For your heart to keep.

Deep in the earth lay the seed of life renewed,Quiet and strong till the time of spring.Life in each bud and shoot,Life in each flower and fruit.

Look to that day when earth shall sing.

Look to the light that will drive out darknessLook to the hope that will conquer fear,God's strength uphold us till the fight is won,Till we see our task is done, When the day is here.

Look for that day when there shall be no more pain;Sorrow and sighing shall pass away.Pray for the day to come,Trust that the day will come.Look to that day, look to the day.

Lord, we give thanksfor the gift of life and health;Plant a new seed in our hearts, we pray.Help us to see, O Lord, How it could be, O Lord.Look to the day, look to the day.

HEAL US NOWLeon Sher

[Soloist: Ana Lugo]

R’faeinu Adonai v’neirafeihoshieinu v’nivasheiah.Eil karov I’chol korav.Ach karov lireiav yisho.

We pray for healing of the body,We pray for healing of the soul.For strength of flesh and mind and spirit,We pray to once again be whole.

Eil na r’fa naOh, please, heal us now.R’fuat hanefesh ur’fuat haguf,r’fuah sh’leimah.Heal us now.

Hoshiah et amechauvareich et nachalatechaur’eim v’nas’eim ad haolam.

Mi shebeirach avoteinumi shebeirach imateinuana Adonai hoshiah na.

We pray for healing of our people.We pray for healing of the land.And peace for every race and nation,Every child every woman every man.

Heal us now.

INVICTUSWilliam Ernest Henley Josh Rist

Out of the night that covers me,Black as the pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may beFor my unconquerable soul

In the fell clutch of circumstanceI have not winced nor cried aloud.Under the bludgeonings of chanceMy head is bloodied but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tearsLooms but the horror of the shade,And yet the memories of the yearsFinds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gateHow charged with punishments the scroll.I am the master of my fateI am the captain of my soul.

THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD Traditional Spiritual arr. Earlene Rentz

There is a balm in GileadTo make the wounded whole.There is a balm in GileadTo heal the troubled soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,And think my work’s in vain,But then a joyful spiritRevives my soul again.

If you cannot sing like an angel,If you cannot pray like Paul,You can tell a wondrous Of joy and hope for all.

HOPE Emily Dickinson Carson Cooman

“Hope” is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings a tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all.

And sweetest in the Gale is heardAnd sore must be the stormThat could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm

I’ve heard it in the chilliest landAnd on the strangest SeaYet, never, in Extremity,It asked a crumb of Me.

AND I SAW A NEW HEAVENRevelation 21:1-4 Edgar L. Bainton

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;And there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city,New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,And he will dwell with them and they will be his people,And God himself shall be with them and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears, from their eyes;And there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow nor crying,Neither shall there be any more pain,For the former things are passed away.

1I HAVE LONGED FOR THY SAVING HEALTHWilliam Bryd arr. Kurt Olsen

I have longed for thy saving health, O Lord; Thy law is my delight, O Lord.O Let my soul live, and it praise Thee,And thy judgments shall help me.

1SOMETIMES A LIGHT SURPRISESWilliam Cowper Andrew Clarke

Sometimes a light surprisesThe Christian while he sings; It is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings.When comfort are declining, He grants the soul again A season of clear shining,To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplationWe sweetly then pursueThe theme of God’s salvation,And find it ever new, Set free from sorrow, We cheerfully can say, Let the unknown tomorrowBring with it what it may.It can bring with it nothing, But he will bear us through;Who gives the lilies clothingWill clothe his people too.Beneath the spreading heavens No creature but is fed;And he who feeds the ravens Will give his children bread.

Though vine nor fig tree neither Their wonted fruit shall bear, Though all the fields should wither, Nor flocks nor herds be there;Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice;For while in him confiding,

I cannot but rejoice.

1WADE in the WATERTraditional Spiritual arr. Mark Hayes

Wade in the water. Wade in the water children,Wade in the water. God’s gonna trouble the water.

Down in the valley, down on my knees.Ask-in’ the Lord to save me please.

Up on the mountain Jehovah, he spoke Out of his mouth came fire and smoke, I heard a rum-blin’ up in the sky, Must-a been Jesus pass-in’ by,

You got-ta wade in the water, You got-ta wade in the water, children,You got-ta wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water.

1SURE ON THIS SHINING NIGHTJames Agee Morten Lauridsen

Sure on this shining nightOf star-made shadows round,Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.All is healed, all is health.High summer holds the earth.Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining nightI weep for wonderWand’ring far aloneOf shadows on the stars.

1COME, YE DISCONSOLATEThomas Moore David RasbachThomas Hastings

Come ye disconsolate, Where e’er ye languish;Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel;Here bring your wounded hearts,

Here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying,Hope of the penitent, Fadeless and pure.Here speaks the Comforter, Tenderly saying,Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot cure.

Here see the Bread of Life; See waters flowing forthFrom the throne of God, Pure from above.Come to the feast of love, Come ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heav’n can remove. Heav’n will heal.

1HOLD TO GOD’S UNCHANGIN’ HANDF. L. Eiland arr. Paul HalleyJennie Wilson

[Soloist: Linda Andrews]

Time is filled with swift transition,Naught of earth unmoved can stand.Build your hopes on things eternal,And hold to God’ unchanging hand.

You better hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand.Hold to His hand,God’s unchanging hand.Build your hopes on things eternal,and hold to God’s unchanging hand.

Trust in him who will not leave youWhatsoever years may bring,And if by earthly friends forsaken Still more closely to Him cling.

1DEEP PEACETraditional Gaelic Blessing Bill Douglas Deep peace of the running wave to you.Deep peace of the flowing air to you.Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you.

Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.

Deep peace to you.

Ashley Wilkinson is an Information Systems Analyst for Gibraltar Industries.  He enjoys various types of music and is the pianist for Arlington Congregational Church, where he is active not only as a musician but as the chair of the Missions Team, being involved in various benevolence projects.  His current passion is composing dramatic musical works for piano and choir.  He is enjoying his role as accompanist for The Heritage Singers and looks forward to all the possibilities this opportunity will bring.

The Heritage Singers of Jacksonville are very blessed to have Ashley as our accompanist.

www.Heritage SingersJacksonville.com

Who are the Heritage Singers of Jacksonville:

Extending the Blessing

The Heritage Singers come from all walks of life. We are business owners and interior designers, teachers and music directors, database adminstrators and web designers, professional and amateur singers, church workers, active workers and retired workers, bankers, service men, health professionals, lawyers, women and men, young and younger. Our love of singing binds us.

Come! Join us in singing, in expending the blessing! Come! Join us in blending our voices to create something beautiful, stirring and inspirational! We rehearse on Mondays starting at 7 PM in the music building at South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, 2137 Hendricks Avenue. Fellowship and food start at 6:30 PM.

“Like” us on Facebook.com/JaxHeritageSing to find when rehearsals and auditions begin for the 2014 Fall season. Call 904-434-4625

for more information.

SopranosRosemarie Bacher, Real Estate BrokerRebecca Black, AttorneyBarbara Davis, Telecommunications, Artist and VocalistJuliet Johnson, Real Estate Writer|Website DesignerKaren Koster-Burr, Intellectual Property AttorneyKaren Pabian, Teacher, Palmer Catholic AcademyNancy Silki, Registered Nurse, Healthcare MediatorDebbie Snead, Mgmt Asst of Business Services, MayportLaurie Sparks, Music Education, Duval Public SchoolsSusan Takis, PC(USA) Minister of Word and SacramentBarbara Vanderhoff, Poet, StorytellerAnn Wingate, Interior Designer

AltosLinda S. Andrews, Music Teacher, Choir Director, RetiredDeborah Dell, Owner, Sage Advice Vitamins & ConsignmentSally Goodyear, State Farms Claims, RetiredFaye Harrington, Administrative AssistantRosanna Kelly, Music Edn, Duval Public Schools, RetiredAna L. Lugo, Gift Planner, ELCA FoundationMartie May, Dental Hygienist, RetiredSally Offen, Executive AssistantCarmen West, Choir Director, School Teacher, RetiredDoris Whalen, Retired French InstructorJane Wytzka, Career Executive Coach

TenorsDavid Dunkley, Sr., Retired BankerGregg Gerlach, Labor AttorneyJohn Kauffman, Database AdministratorGreg McMillan, Interior ArrangerRonald Pabian, BankerCedric Williams, Church Musician, Music Teacher

BassesEarl M. Barker, Jr. Lawyer, Slott, Barker & NussbaumSteve Benz, Presbytery Executive, Presbytery of St. AugustineClaude Cassady, Naval Sea Systems Command, RetiredCharlie Eddins, President, Renco Corporation

Coleman Hawk, Statistical Web Designer

Up next:-

Gifts of The Holidays

Gifts, both material and intangible, abound each December! We invest much time and thought into what we will give to family and friends, andare so often blessed beyond measure, through both giving and receiving. Those of us in the Christian faith find in God our greatest impetus for giving, as we celebrate Christmas – God’s Greatest Gift, born in a manger over two thousand years ago.

This singular event has inspired countless authors and composers to offer their own creative gifts in order to express both our gratitude and our longing to give something in return to the God who first loved us. The good news for us, despite our materialistic culture, is that so many of the very best gifts imaginable cost little to no money.

There is even something a bit magical about the very atmosphere of the season that seems to inspire a more generous spirit in all of us, both within and apart from any specific faith tradition.

Please join us in a choral journey to the heritage and heart of winter gifts

December 5, 2014 City Rescue Mission, Jacksonville, FL

December 6, 2014World Golf Village Church, St. Augustine, FL

December 14, 2014Arlington Congregational Church, Jacksonville, FL

We have more dates coming, please check our websites for exact times and locations.

http://HeritageSingersJacksonville.com

“Songs of Hope to Heal the Troubled Soul”Encore, Encore!!

What a privilege it is to use our talents to bring joy, music and hope to our community! The Heritage Singers of Jacksonville have been honored to sing to benefit these organizations:

International Myeloma Foundationwww.myeloma.org

Dreams Come Truewww.dreamscometrue.org

The Jay Fundwww.tcjayfund.org

For more Program Notes on today’s concert, click this QR code or go to this webpage:

http://www.heritagesingersjacksonville.com/program-notes-2/

Many Thanks to Our SupportersCorporate Sponsors

West Gastroenterology Medical Group

BenefactorsMarilyn and Pete Carpenter

SponsorsAnonymous Donor

Marcia DobyRev. Ana L. Lugo

PatronsAnonymous Donor

Rev. Kimberly Hyatt

PartnersRuth Eckstine

Greg and Virginia McMillan

DonorsMargaret and Paul ScheeleKaren and Michael Smith

FriendsStephen N. BenzRebecca BlackJane LaRoqueBarbara Davis

Martha P. Warren

Become a Donor!We welcome your tax-deductible donation at any level! The Heritage

Singers of Jacksonville is a 501(c)3 organization.

Levels of support are:

Benefactor $1,000 or more Sponsor $ 500 or more Patron $ 250 or more Partner $ 100 or more Donor $ 50 or more Friend $ 10 or more