Being a creature of the academic year, I always feel that, in many ways, September and the Labor Day week-end usher in New Year's Eve.

For some 43 years, I would gear myself to resume a new year of teaching and with that routine would come a certain amount of "taking stock" of the past and looking for new ideas for the coming season. In my "retirement" in Rehoboth, to some extent, I am not so bound by the calendar year, for church music goes on all year. At Westminster, however, at Labor Day, we do away with our two service model and switch to one service. We are just the opposite of what most churches in non-resort towns are doing. When we are winding down, they are gearing up.

It is, for me, a time to look at the summer music and think about the coming fall. I would like to share some of those observations with you.

First, I make the observation, that the singing of the congregation at both services is really wonderful! We certainly make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Our summer special music would certainly not have been as exciting without the marvelous talent of Dirk Grove and his sons, Cale and Tyler. Dirk has voluntarily arranged many combinations of people and instruments into wonderful performances of folk and gospel music to the obvious pleasure of many in our congregation. Thank you!

We will continue to enjoy Dirk's music from time to time in the upcoming months. I also thank Dianne Deming for weaving the magical sounds of the flute around many of our summer musical offerings. Many of our singers/performers have received loud 'Amens' and occasionally applause at the end of their performances. The tradition of applause that has started in many Protestant churches is a relatively new phenomenon. It is, to my way of thinking, perhaps a dangerous one. All music during a church service is sung to the Glory of god and that is its primary purpose.

When the element of applause is added, it signifies that the music is performed as a concert and when do we stop applauding? Should we not applaud the sermon, the organist voluntaries and other parts of the service that give us delight? If one soloist gets a lot of applause because of the nature of the music performed and another performs a more contemplative piece, there is often little or no reaction. Is one better than the other?

Obviously, in many houses of worship, applause and emotional response are a large part of the worship service. I personally would prefer no response at all, since I like to hope that all of our efforts are appreciated equally, and it is God who is the recipient of our gifts. But, I welcome your thoughts on these ideas and I add that these are strictly my thoughts; I am interested in yours, so let me know.

The choir will soon be starting a new season of music making, again to the Glory of God. I welcome them back. Our numbers have been reduced to about 17 as some of our faithful members have moved or "retired." This puts a lot of pressure on a very few people. In order to perform at our best, we need to have everybody present. When one or two or absent, there is a big difference.

We have the good fortune to be able to pay some additional talent, IF it can be found. Our paid soprano of the past two seasons, will not be able to join us this year, so we will hope to find someone to claim her place. We, of course, are always looking for tenors....as are most churches, so that Dirk can return to singing Bass!! Our volunteers are wonderful and do try their best to be present as much as possible. We can always use more and if any of you are so inclined, please tell me of your interest. Choir rehearsal starts on Thursday, September 13th at 7 p.m. and the choir will sing beginning on September 16th.

Finally, I come to my last concern and that is the question of "When does the Morning Service start?" With the return to one service, I would like to address a long time concern of mine, but one which has not been so evident during the summer services. That concern is the loud talking that continues after the usual 5 minute prelude begins.

At times it becomes a dialogue between the organ and the 'talkers'...who can get the loudest? (If this really became a contest, I think the organ would win!) Some music of the preludes has built in crescendoes and diminuendos and the volume of talking goes right along with the organ. If there is a sudden stop in the music, the sudden ceasing of talking is almost comical.

I would ask the congregation to please note the small statement printed in the bulletin: "During the organ prelude, the congregation is requested to use the time for quiet reflection and meditation." It would help greatly if everybody who feels the need to talk would simply whisper and save the talking for the coffee hour. I earnestly ask for your cooperation.

Faithfully,

George Johnson, Music Director