Immanuel/Sanctuary Music News Sept 2010

The following is the September addition of the bi-monthly "e-newsletter" that I send out to current, former, and prospective music volunteers and music friends of Immanuel and Sanctuary1010.

Immanuel/Sanctuary Music News September 2010

Hello!
I can't believe tomorrow is the first day of Fall! This season is always a reminder to me of back-to-school, and learning, and new pencils, and the smell of crayons, and fresh notebooks, and clean slates!

As many of you know, this year's back to school time, has special significance for me, as I have decided to begin the process of finishing my bachelors degree after a nearly 20 year absence.

 I wanted to share with you, and fill you in with a little background of why this is so meaningful to me.

I began college the first time, at Concordia, in Seward Ne, as a kinda naive, pretty immature, 17 year old. I entered the Lutheran music education program, and sailed through all of my music classes. I couldn't wait to get to those classes, and would stay up all night working on compositions, and other music homework. I loved it, and my professors were encouraging and supportive.

The rest of college for me, was unfortunately, much more difficult. My college years were a very dark time for me personally. The choices I made did not reflect the person I wanted to be. Ultimately the choices I made, and the things I did, resulted in me not being able to finish the degree I had dreamed about.

 Today I thank God that he pulled me out of the dangerous depths that I found myself in during college when I was young. I thank God for His beautiful grace and loving forgiveness. I thank God, that I have been able to find work serving the church with music, almost from the day I left college. I thank God that he blessed me with two beautiful children that changed my life. And I thank God that he has led me to this time and place, and these circumstances, that will allow to me to finally finish the college degree I never stopped dreaming about.
I am now taking classes as a junior in college at Concordia University, Chicago (its actually in River Forest) I am a Music Major, and am also seeking a Director of Parish Music certificate. I should be able to graduate in about 3 years!

In the four short weeks since I began college (again), I have already learned so much, and I am so excited about sharing it all with you! (just tell me to be quiet if I talk to much about it!) It is my prayer that this education will give me more tools, and more knowledge, and more skills to help me to be the best servant of God that I can be. It is also my prayer that I will be able to use what I learn to be better at what I do as Music Director at Immanuel/Sanctuary. I hope to be more of a help to all of you, and more of a resource for the congregation. 

I am so excited about what the future holds for us and the music program at Immanuel/Sanctuary! Great things are happening every week! The talent and dedication we have in all of you, is unprecedented in churches our size. Every Sunday, peoples' lives are being changed as they hear the message of God's love in the songs that we sing and play. No education is needed to know that you all, and the time that you give, are the ones that are making these great things happen.
As always, and I don't tell you enough... Thank You! Thank You for your support towards me. Most of all, thank you all for all the things I learn from you on a weekly basis, you have been my 'college' for my last 13 years working here at Immanuel! I pray that we can all keep learning from each other! Please feel free to call me at any time with any questions or anything at all, and please keep sharing all your knowledge with me! :)

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OTHER STUFF-
I'd love to hear some live music with you!
Nathan Fisher has started a new band called Indeed and has quite a few shows lined up. There is one THIS Friday Oct 1 at 9pm

here:
McBrody's Bar and Grill
73 W. Jefferson St.
Joliet IL, 60432
P:815-726-8960

You can check out Indeed here at their Myspace Page

let me know if you want to car pool! Also let me know if you hear of another show (secular, sacred,classical, professional, open mic) whatever! that you would like to get a group together for.
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I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful fall weather!
Ellen