This Christmas will mark the 30^th year since we began Music & Worship services in December of 1981 with a presentation of the Bach Magnificat in D Major. Four special music-intensive services have been part of our liturgical calendar here every year since. We have enjoyed the enrichment of a variety of artistic guests throughout the years, including dancers, jazz musicians, actors, storytellers and of course the faithful members of our Chamber Orchestra which our Concert Master, Holly Stern. We have presented controversial services such as “The Blues and Prozac” and our service in solidarity with prisoners at Guantanamo.  With the help of playwright, Charles Deemer, we have honored great ones, such as e. e. cummings and Paul Robeson. And certainly this anniversary would not be complete without honoring and thanking Carol Slegers who, working behind the scenes, for lo these many years crafted countless services choosing poetry to enhance musical selections. She also wrote and directed short (and often humorous) plays. 

I especially want to thank and honor the Unitarian and Chamber Choirs who rehearse weekly polishing music for both standard worship and these presentations.  On Music and Worship weeks they also spend Saturday morning here making sure these unusual and often complicated services and their challenging music are both excellent and smooth.

The year would not be complete without our annual Christmas Music & Worship services. For the most part their form is what I call Unitarian Lessons and Carols, with poetry, readings and possibly a short play interspersed with choral anthems and congregational carol singing. These services are graced by special instrumentalists such as the Ecotopia Brass Quintet or the Chamber Orchestra or perhaps harp, flute and oboe. They enhance the music of the choirs and enrich the congregation’s singing of the traditional Christmas carols. As one observer said, “We hear these carols all season in elevators and shopping malls, but singing them at this service makes them holy again.”

Members and Friends of First Unitarian Church, we thank you for making these services possible with your presence, your kind wishes and of course, your generous gifts. Without you and your support all of this would be an uphill struggle for us. Because of all of you it is a joy.

Sincerely,

Mark Slegers

Minister of Music