Spring 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Spotlight AL HAAK and TANYA BERGMAN Voices of Peace Singers Marta Rees, Prince of Peace Communications Manager, sat down with Al and Tanya to talk about their love of music and involvement in Voices of Peace. 15 New Members welcomed in 2019* *as of April 2019 Worship Arts Director, Alex Falls, conducts Voices of Peace as they lead the congregation Marta Rees: How long have you been singing? Tanya Bergman: I sang in my high school and church choirs, but I took a long break until almost 25 years ago when I joined Al’s church, Lutheran Church of the Cross in Arlington Heights. I was looking for ways to get involved and sat in front of Al at choir rehearsal. The rest is history. I joined Voices of Peace when I became a member at POP two years ago. I am also involved with the Ringing Saints. I love singing AND ringing. Music is part of our relationship, part of our social life. The fact that we can be in a choir together is kind of neat. That’s how we met, and now we have been married 21 years! Al Haak: I’ve been singing since elementary school. Just like Tanya, I was involved in a church choir at Trinity Lutheran in Chicago. I also belong to the Rejoice Singers, a Christian outreach music ministry. We sing mainly in retirement homes. A few POP members belong to this ministry, which supports one of POP’s mission partners, the Ladishes. I joined Voices of Peace last fall. 4 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | SPRING 2019
TB & AH: Choir has always been an entry point for us. It’s been a neat way to associate ourselves in the POP family. In our previous church, the entire music program was very social. On Thursday nights, we often had wine and cheese parties after rehearsal. We’d like to establish that here. [Laughter] MR: What do you enjoy most about being in a choir? TB: I get the message from music. I get the Word through music. If I’m hearing the music, if I’m singing the words, it’s reinforcing what the sermon is about. This is how I grow in my faith. Music helps me get more meaning from the worship service than just listening to the sermon. AH: Over the years, I have had an opportunity to sing some really nice pieces. There were times I had a hard time finishing the song because it was so powerful and moving. TB: We feel that’s how we serve. Let me read you Psalm 104:33. [Tanya pulls out a piece of paper and reads teary-eyed.] “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being.” That’s what I believe. I believe my gift to others is singing. Even though I don’t have Alan & Tanya at Voices of Peace choir rehearsal as good of a voice as he (Al) does, I just love to sing. But Al, he’s a soloist! I came to POP at the end of Martha’s tenure; now we have Alex. I don’t really know what the customs or traditions have been here. We are hoping to be part of new traditions. Al is committed now. We are stuck here! [Laughter] “Don’t just do what you are able to do; figure out what you were made to do, then do lots of that.” — Bob Goff MR: Do you have a favorite piece that you have sung? TB: It has to be The Lord’s My Shepherd “Brother James’ Air” tune. Al sang it to me in our wedding. AH: The Rejoice Singers introduced me to musical pieces different than the typical. We sang a lot of cantatas and long pieces for Christmas and Easter. My favorite would probably be What a Friend We Have in Jesus. When my mom was in a nursing home, she never really spoke much in her later years, but when she heard this hymn, she would always join in. TB: We love the old-fashioned hymns, singing four-part harmony all the time. Christmas carols are so special. This is the only chance you get now in churches to sing the old favorites and sing them in four-part harmony. AH: Two years ago, a friend called me and asked, “How would you like to participate in something really cool?” I said, “Sure.” I went to his choir rehearsal at Southminster Presbyterian in Arlington Heights. They were teaming up with another Presbyterian church to perform John Rutter’s Requiem, which is a very difficult piece by this contemporary composer. We rehearsed for four months and sang with a 26-piece orchestra! It was just a wonderful thing to be a part of. TB: I started rehearsing but it was way too difficult for me (laughter). TB & AH: We just love music! MR: What would you say to someone who is considering joining choir at Prince of Peace? TB: Look at us! We are two extremes of this choir! You can be a beautiful voice or a trained voice, or you can be someone who just loves to sing and wants to be a part of it. That’s me! As long as you have the enthusiasm and passion, it’s enough. AH: Tanya sings and reads notes very well. She is a very good alto! TB: It’s a very welcoming group! I wish our choir sang more. There’s some fabulous talent in this choir. We can talk to the congregation more with music. SPRING 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 5
Page 1 and 2: Peace Offering BI-ANNUAL REPORT SPR
Page 3: SANCTUARY UPDATE Before After As Pr
Page 7 and 8: Explore God: Stories from Adults Co
Page 9 and 10: Connect in a Group: POPTeens During
Page 11 and 12: Guide: One Who Follows Jesus and Le
Page 13 and 14: Serving Stories: Be Encouraged! Her
Page 15 and 16: OUTREACH Volunteers distributed Chr
Page 17 and 18: CARE POPCare Workshop The POPCare M
Page 19 and 20: POP Financials Prince of Peace’s

Spring 2019

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?