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TERHOUSTON LUTHERAN CHORALE

SPRING 2014 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 1

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

THE PROMISE OF LIVINGThe promise of living with hope and thanksgiving is born of our loving our friends and our labor. The promise of growing with faith and with knowing is born of our sharing our love with our neighbor. The promise of living, the promise of growing is born of our singing in joy and thanksgiving. . . O let us be joyful, O let us be grateful to the Lord for His blessing. The promise of ending in right understanding is peace in our own hearts and peace with our neighbor. The promise of living, the promise of growing, the promise of ending is labor and sharing and loving. Aaron Copeland

The Promise of Living in the Lord“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Declaration of Independence

In the Declaration of Independence we are promised as a nation with rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, in other words, a promise of living! This Independence Day we celebrate those freedoms that were founded over 230 years ago. The founding fathers believe that our creator gave us freedom. The freedom we received from Christ because of His death and resurrection.

The Promise of Living in the United States of America

We currently live in a nation where we can enjoy the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom to peacefully assemble and freedom to petition.

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of

(Continued on page 3 - see “The Promise of Living”)

HOUSTON LUTHERAN CHORALE - PAGE 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESKThe Houston Lutheran Chorale always looks forward to its concerts with a great deal of excitement and anticipation. That is certainly true for the upcoming Independence Day concert on the 4th of July, as well. This year the 4th of July concert will be very special for the members of the Chorale. As many of you may already be aware, our director, Jason Mangels, and his family will be moving to Arizona shortly after the concert. Jason and Cheryl have accepted teaching positions at Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix. It is with much joy, and accompanying sadness, that the HLC will say goodbye. Jason has been the director of the Chorale for the past 10 years after having been chosen to replace the founder of the group, Met Mountford, upon Met’s passing.

Jason has always chosen music that would further enhance the singers’ growth. Each director seems to have a favorite composer. The favorite of Jason is John Ferguson, under whom he studied at St. Olaf College. “Ferg”, as he is called by our director, has written some absolutely glorious pieces of music. As you might expect, many of them are quite difficult. With Jason’s teaching and encouragement, the group learned many of Ferguson’s works, and they became favorites of both the Chorale and the audiences who heard them performed. While Jason chose many wonderful choral pieces, it was also fun anticipating what “odd” number he would pick for a concert. Who can forget “Jamaican Market Place” (Market Woman), the swingland “A String of Pearls”, “Soldier, Soldier, Won’t You Marry Me?”, and “A Young Lutheran’s Guide To The Orchestra”? What fun the Chorale had learning and performing these “different” type numbers. Jason also picked many patriotic pieces that touched the members and patrons alike. At the top of my list of patriotic numbers is Michael W. Smith’s “There She Stands”, a moving tribute inspired by the September 11 attacks on our nation in 2001 and dedicated to all who have faithfully served our country. There are so many other wonderful pieces that Jason has taught the Chorale over the past ten years that it is difficult to name all my favorites.

As Jason has always told our patrons, the main requirement for participating with the group is a love of the Lord and of singing. He has made all of the members of the HLC better singers through his musical knowledge, teaching ability, and his dedication to the group. I honestly do not understand when he talks about many of the different musical terminologies. I do, however, understand his dedication to teaching us and do my best to learn what he is presenting.

I have had the privilege of working closely with Jason for many years and consider him a wonderful director, but more importantly, a very dear friend. I, along with the rest of the group, will be sad to see our time with Jason come to a close. We will, however, celebrate with great joy the start of a new chapter in the Mangels’ lives.

The Chorale and all of its patrons wish Jason and his family a wonderful experience in Phoenix. We appreciate so much what Jason has given to us in the ten years he has led the group. It is our prayer that we have been able to give back a small percentage of the love that he has shown to us.

The Chorale will be searching for a replacement for Jason so that the Houston Lutheran Chorale may continue to spread the love of God through music and song.

Buzz Loeschman, President

Jason, Cheryl, Cale, Cordand Jessica Mangels

HOUSTON LUTHERAN CHORALE - PAGE 3

religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

When the spring semester started and “The Promise of Living” was the theme that was on my heart, I did not know why! Since then my wife, Cheryl, and I through much prayer and deliberation have accepted a Call to Christ Lutheran School in Phoenix, Arizona. We do have a promise of living, but it will not be in Houston. That promise of living is the promise to follow the Lord’s will, His guidance, and know that with that promise comes immense blessing.

My family and I have been blessed to be a part of the HLC family for these ten years and will cherish them deeply. The music of my heart and love for the Lord and the members of the Chorale are soul deep. It has been the time in my life to pour my heart and soul into music to express my love of music and for the Lord.

This September our nation celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner! Come join the Houston Lutheran Chorale, along with the entire Nation, in the singing our National Anthem on July 4, 2014. The pride and respect for our nation lives on as we are reminded of the gift of freedom God gave through our forefathers and the documents they forged, giving us the right to worship and praise our God, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And we are all saved through the ultimate gift of freedom, freedom from our sins through Jesus Christ.

THE PROMISE OF LIVING (continued from page 1)

CONGRATULATIONS!Each year, the Chorale membership pauses from the hustle and bustle of concert preparation to acknowledge our members who have achieved significant service milestones – 5, 10, 15, 20 and yes, 25 years! We meet at Spaghetti Warehouse to show our appreciation for their years of devotion and commitment. We enjoy a great meal and more than a few laughs! This year is no different and in June, we are pleased to recognize Bernie Knudsen for her fifteen years of dedication. Bernie joined the Chorale in the fall of 1998 and sings soprano. To signify her service and in recognition of her time, she will be receiving a Chorale service pin. When you see the Chorale at the July 4th concert, you may notice many of our members proudly wearing their pins. Four members will receive their 30 year pins in June, 2015. They have been with the Chorale since its inception and have travelled the world over sharing the love of God through music. God has truly blessed the Houston Lutheran Chorale with a wonderful and dedicated group of individuals!

If you would like to join us, please watch for notification of the fall rehearsal schedule in your congregation’s bulletin and newsletters. We usually begin the end of August preparing for our Christmas celebration. Rehearsals are twice a month at Trinity Downtown on Sunday afternoons. Hope to see you become one of the newest members to receive a service pin. We sing to share the gospel of Christ through song.

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THE PROMISE OF LIVINGWhat: The Houston Lutheran Chorale presents a salute to our nation in music and song sharing the promises

of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness When: July 4, 2014 at 6 P.M.Where: Trinity Lutheran Church-Downtown, 800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TXSpecial Event following the concert – Join us for hot dogs and Frito pie with all the trimmings while waiting to watch the City of Houston’s fireworks from the parking lots. Free will offering.