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2021 Conference Choir

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Welcome to the 2021 virtual Conference Choir of the Northern California / Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. Everyone is invited to be a part of the choir.  You do not have to be a member of an NCNC UCC congregation to join us.  

Here’s an example of a previous conference choir piece that we did:

For the October conference gathering, we will sing a simple arrangement of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”, also known as “What a Fellowship.” Here are different ways that you can participate:

  • Sing in the choir! Individuals will record their parts and submit them by 5:00pm on September 18.
  • Play an instrument!
  • Sing a verse in your congregation’s language. Last time around we had verses in Japanese, Cantonese, and Tagalog.
  • Be a part of a small group. Do you already make music with others in your congregation? You can submit a group recording that we will weave into the larger performance.
  • Write your own verse! You can create your own verse to sing for us with a group of friends.

If you would like to play an instrument, sing a verse in your congregation’s language, be a part of a small group, or write your own verse, please contact me at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com so that we can discuss what you would like to do.

If you submit a recording to us, we will use it in the following ways:

  • The recording of this performance will be played at the October 2 gathering of the Northern California / Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ.
  • We will upload the recording to our YouTube channels so that we can share it widely.
  • We will make the choir recording available to churches and other organizations that wish to use it in their worship or activities.

We need all kinds of singers and musicians.  If you would prefer to just stay on the melody, that’s great!  If you are comfortable on the alto, tenor or bass part, that would be great too!  Please choose the part that is most comfortable for you.  

Do your best with your video, but don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect.  Most tiny imperfections will magically vanish when your individual part is blended into the virtual choir.

Participation in the choir is on a volunteer basis. We hope you will join us for the joy of creating something that we will share with our churches to enliven worship. There is no pay or royalties for participants in this project. With that said, if you want to use verses in another language that are under copyright, we must pay the licensing fees for that music or get permission from its publisher to use it.

English and Non-English Verses

In the music and reference recordings, verses 1, 2, and 4 are in English and verse 3 is an “Ooo” verse.

People who are singing only in English should sing “Ooo” (like the vowel sound in “true”) for verse 3. People who want to sing a verse in another language can sing in that language during that verse 3.

During the editing process I will separate out the the different languages so that each language can be heard clearly. So we may end up with several verses between verse 2 and verse 4.

It is OK if we don’t have people to cover all four parts in a non- English language. As long as the melody is covered, the “Ooo” singers can provide background and harmony to accompany you.

I hope that everyone will sing all four verses. If someone is not comfortable singing in English, they can sing “Ooo” for verses 1, 2 and 4.

If a group from your church plans to sing in a language other than English, please coordinate with one another so that everyone is using the same words. Please also contact me at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com so that I know which languages to expect when I’m doing the final edit.

Instructions for Recording Your Part

To keep us together, sing the same notes and rhythms as the sheet music and reference recording. We have both video and audio reference recordings.  You can get the music and reference recordings from the Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Dropbox Folder.

If it works with your setup, we recommend using the video version.  The visual cues in the video version will help keep us together.

You will need a device to play back the reference recording and a device to record yourself singing.  This can be the same device, or you can use two devices.  For example, you might use your computer to play the reference recording and your phone to record a video of yourself singing.

Before you begin recording, take a moment to watch Mike’s video tips.

When you are ready, here’s how to record your part:

1)  Set yourself up so you can listen to the reference recording over headphones or ear buds.  The accompaniment should not be audible in the video that you make; all we want to hear is your voice.  Given the many variations in phones, computers and software, we can’t give you step-by-step instructions here.

2) Eliminate or minimize any background noise.  Make sure your T.V., radio, and computer aren’t playing any audio that could be picked up in your recording.  If you have a bird, dog, or other animal that likes to sing along with you, try to record in a different room from them.

3)  Find a well-lighted place to record your video.  Your face should be well lit: turn the lights on, face a window, etc. DON’T record yourself with your back to a window or a bright light.

4)  If you can, position your music so it’s parallel with your camera, not below it.  You want to be looking at the camera, not down at your music.

5)  Start your video recording app.  Please do not use Zoom to record your part, since Zoom often introduces audio problems.

6)  Don’t be so close to the camera that you’re near the edges of the video frame.  Leave some background to your left, right, and above you.  Don’t worry about getting the framing exactly right – we’ll probably trim some off of the edges of your video when we do the final layout.  It is better to have too much space around you than too little.

7)  Start your audio playback

8)  Sing along with the reference recording at a comfortable volume.  If you have a loud voice, you might need to be further from your recording device to avoid overwhelming your microphone.

9)  When done, stop your recording app.

10)  Return your recording(s) to https://www.dropbox.com/request/YNakU3DJPGI2YEWusY2e by 5:00pm on Saturday, September 18.  If you can send it in earlier, that would be helpful.

Send me an email if you have questions or need help.

Michael Patrick Ellard

mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com

Reference Recordings

There are a variety of reference recordings that you can use to practice and record your part.

  • All parts with percussion beats
  • All parts, no percussion beats
  • Alto part, synthesized
  • Tenor part, sung
  • Tenor part, synthesized
  • Bass part, sung
  • Bass part, synthesized

Feel free to use whichever reference recordings work best for you. If you would like a reference recording that isn’t here, please let me know and I’ll see if I can make one for you.

You can get reference recordings via DropBox, YouTube, or email.

YouTube

All Parts with beat (Synthesized)

Alto Practice Part (Synthesized)

Tenor Practice Part (Sung)

Tenor Practice Part (Synthesized)

Bass Practice Part (Sung)

Bass Practice Part (Synthesized)

All Parts, no beat (Synthesized)

Dropbox

All of the reference recordings will be available for download from the following link:  

DropBox Files

Email

I would be glad to email you audio or video practice files.  The files are quite large, so I will only send them to people who ask for them.  Send me an email at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com if you need something via email.

Christian Practice, Music Projects, News

PAAM Choir Project – April 2021

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UPDATE:  We received requests for reference recordings with sung versions of the melody and bass parts.  We have now created and uploaded those those recordings.  They are available on YouTube and in the DropBox resources folder.  

Thank you for your interest in being a part of the PAAM Choir 2021 performance of “Together We Are One”.

PAAM is the Pacific Islander & Asian American Ministries of the United Church of Christ.  In response to the harassment and violence towards the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities in Atlanta and elsewhere, Thursdays for the Soul on April 15th will be led by PAAM and other partners who are fighting anti-AAPI sentiments in this country and globally.  Our choir performance will be part of this program.

Everyone is welcome to be a part of the PAAM choir.  You do not have to identify as a Pacific Islander or Asian American in order to join us.  We need everyone to take a stand against harassment and violence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

If you submit a recording to us, we will use it in the following ways:

  • The recording of this performance will become a part of the April 15, 2021 edition of Thursdays for the Soul.   Thursdays for the Soul is a weekly digital program produced by Faith INFO and is archived in the UCC National You Tube channel.
  • We will upload the recording to our YouTube channels so that we can share it widely.
  • We will make the choir recording available to churches and other organizations that wish to use it in their worship or activities.

We need all kinds of singers.  If you would prefer to just sing the melody, that’s great!  If you are comfortable singing the alto, tenor or bass part, that would be great too!  Please choose the part that is most comfortable for your voice.  

This page has links to recording instructions and sheet music.

This is a learning experience for all of us.  Do your best with your video, but don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect.  Most tiny imperfections will magically vanish when your individual voices are blended into the virtual choir.

Please share this information with anyone you think might enjoy participating.

Instructions for Recording Your Part

To keep us together, sing the same notes and rhythms as the sheet music and reference recording. We have both video and audio reference recordings.  You can get the music and reference recordings from the Together We Are One Dropbox Folder.

If it works with your setup, we recommend using the video version.  The visual cues in the video version will help keep us together.

You will need a device to play back the reference recording and a device to record yourself singing.  This can be the same device, or you can use two devices.  For example, you might use your computer to play the reference recording and your phone to record a video of yourself singing.

Before you begin recording, take a moment to watch Mike’s video tips.

When you are ready, here’s how to record your part:

1)  Set yourself up so you can listen to the reference recording over headphones or ear buds.  The accompaniment should not be audible in the video that you make; all we want to hear is your voice.  Given the many variations in phones, computers and software, we can’t give you step-by-step instructions here.

2) Eliminate or minimize any background noise.  Make sure your T.V., radio, and computer aren’t playing any audio that could be picked up in your recording.  If you have a bird, dog, or other animal that likes to sing along with you, try to record in a different room from them.

3)  Find a well-lighted place to record your video.  Your face should be well lit: turn the lights on, face a window, etc. DON’T record yourself with your back to a window or a bright light.

4)  If you can, position your music so it’s parallel with your camera, not below it.  You want to be looking at the camera, not down at your music.

5)  Start your video recording app.  Please do not use Zoom to record your part, since Zoom often introduces audio problems.

6)  Don’t be so close to the camera that you’re near the edges of the video frame.  Leave some background to your left, right, and above you.  Don’t worry about getting the framing exactly right – we’ll probably trim some off of the edges of your video when we do the final layout.  It is better to have too much space around you than too little.

7)  Start your audio playback

8)  Sing along with the reference recording at a comfortable volume.  If you have a loud voice, you might need to be further from your recording device to avoid overwhelming your microphone.

9)  When done, stop your recording app.

10)  Return your recording(s) to https://www.dropbox.com/request/D2kQaxfo4d5h9LuZdTbN by 10:00pm on Friday night, April 9.  If you can send it in earlier, that would be helpful.

Send me an email if you have questions or need help.

Michael Patrick Ellard

mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com

Reference Recordings

You can get reference recordings via DropBox, YouTube, or email.

YouTube

Several Reference videos are available on YouTube.

Sung Melody

All parts (instrumental only, no percussion beats)

All parts (instrumental only, with percussion beats)

Soprano practice part (instrumental only)

Alto practice part (instrumental only)

Tenor practice part (instrumental only)

Bass practice part (sung)

Bass practice part (instrumental only)

Dropbox

All of the reference recordings are available for download from the following link:  

DropBox Files

Email

I would be glad to email you audio or video practice files.  The files are quite large, so I will only send them to people who ask for them.  Send me an email at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com if you need something via email.

Music Projects

Silent Night Recording Project

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Thank you for your interest in being a part of the Foothills Christmas Choir 2020 performance of “Silent Night”. 

The recording of this performance will be played as part of our Christmas Eve service on December 24.  We will also upload it to YouTube so that we can share it with our friends outside of church.  

If you are comfortable singing the alto, tenor or bass part, that would be great!  Please choose the part that is most comfortable for your voice.  If you would prefer to just sing the melody, that’s great too!  We need all kinds of singers.

This page has links to recording instructions and sheet music.

This is a learning experience for all of us.  Do your best with your video, but don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect.  Most tiny imperfections will magically vanish when your individual voices are blended into the virtual choir.  

Please share this information with anyone you think might enjoy participating.

Instructions for Recording Your Part

To keep us together, sing the same notes and rhythms as the sheet music and reference recording. We have both video and audio reference recordings.  Information about finding the reference recordings is at the end of this page.

If it works with your setup, we recommend using the video version.  The visual cues in the video version will help keep us together.

You will need a device to play back the reference recording and a device to record yourself singing.  This can be the same device, or you can use two devices.  For example, you might use your computer to play the reference recording and your phone to record a video of yourself singing. 

Before you begin recording, take a moment to watch Mike’s video tips.

When you are ready, here’s how to record your part:

1)  Set yourself up so you can listen to the reference recording over headphones or ear buds.  The accompaniment should not be audible in the video that you make; all we want to hear is your voice.  Given the many variations in phones, computers and software, we can’t give you step-by-step instructions here.

2) Eliminate or minimize any background noise.  Make sure your T.V., radio, and computer aren’t playing any audio that could be picked up in your recording.  If you have a bird, dog, or other animal that likes to sing along with you, try to record in a different room from them.  

3)  Find a well-lighted place to record your video.  Your face should be well lit: turn the lights on, face a window, etc. DON’T record yourself with your back to a window or a bright light.

Optional instructions for Silent Night: it would be great if we can give people the sense of singing in a church after dark.  To achieve this effect, be in a somewhat dark room lit gently from the front (no actual candles are needed).  You don’t need to do this if it is a lot of trouble, but it would be a nice effect if you can do it without too much work.

4)  If you can, position your music so it’s parallel with your camera, not below it.  You want to be looking at the camera, not down at your music.

5)  Start your video recording app.  Please do not use Zoom to record your part, since Zoom often introduces audio problems.

6)  Don’t be so close to the camera that you’re near the edges of the video frame.  Leave some background to your left, right, and above you.  Don’t worry about getting the framing exactly right – we’ll probably trim some off of the edges of your video when we do the final layout.  It is better to have too much space around you than too little.  

7)  Start your audio playback

8)  Sing along with the reference recording at a comfortable volume.  If you have a loud voice, you might need to be further from your recording device to avoid overwhelming your microphone.  

9)  When done, stop your recording app.

10)  Return your recording(s) to https://www.dropbox.com/request/D2kQaxfo4d5h9LuZdTbN by 9:00pm on Saturday night, December 19.

Send me an email if you have questions or need help.

Michael Patrick Ellard

mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com

Reference Recordings

You can get reference recordings via DropBox, YouTube, or email.

YouTube

Several Reference videos are available on YouTube. 

All Parts, no metronome

All parts with metronome

Alto practice part

Tenor practice part

Bass practice part

Dropbox

All of the reference recordings are available for download from the following link:  

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sbtg22e4r09ul4o/AAALBRqZ80eFQfAM84Yba64La?dl=0

Email

I would be glad to email you audio or video practice files.  The files are quite large, so I will only send them to people who ask for them.  Send me an email at mikeellard@itinerant-preacher.com if you need something via email.

News, Reflections

Remembering Barry Wichmann

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Butterfly for Barry

Remarks from Barry Wichmann’s memorial service on April 21, 2018 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Berkeley, California.

Barry Wichmann supervised my clergy internship at New Life MCC from 1999 to 2001. He was a great mentor. He brought a rich theological background to his ministry. Barry started out Lutheran, spent time in a variety of Orthodox, Pentecostal, and Charismatic churches, and then found his way to MCC.

Barry’s husband Brian Cross used to say that MCC reminded him of the story of the Israelites bringing treasure with them as they fled from slavery in Egypt. When LGBT people left other churches to join MCC, they brought musical, theological, and spiritual treasures. MCC was unique in that it was the place where all of those traditions came together to form something new. Nobody embodied this kind of theological synthesis better than Barry.

Continue reading Remembering Barry Wichmann →

News, Reflections

The 2016 UFMCC Moderator’s Election by the Numbers

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Yesterday I had the opportunity to observe the business meeting of the General Conference of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

One of the more interesting parts of the business meeting for me was the moderator’s election and its failure to elect a new moderator. I think this outcome was interesting because there were several excellent candidates running for moderator, and it seemed clear that the vast majority of the delegates to the conference wanted to elect a new moderator. So with excellent candidates and a clear desire to elect a moderator, how is it that the General Conference ended up with a vacancy in the moderator’s position?

Continue reading The 2016 UFMCC Moderator’s Election by the Numbers →

Reflections

Remembering Alice Urbanowicz

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Acacia_Blossoms

I give thanks for the life of Alice Urbanowicz. Alice was my clergy mentor when I was an intern at New Hope MCC in Santa Rosa.

Alice was an extraordinary person. Her years as a parole officer gave her a commanding presence – she had a clear and unmistakable air of authority. But at the same time, she was also good-natured, funny, and playful. As my colleague Matt Broadbent might say, “She was spiritual, but not sanctimonious.”

I chose to do my internship with Alice because New Hope MCC was the model of what I hoped my ministry would look like: a small church that provided its members with the opportunity to experiment with new forms of liturgy and whose membership was passionately involved in every type of ministry.

New Hope’s culture was not an accident. Alice never forgot the people who had influenced her path as a pastor. I remember her speaking glowingly about Ken Martin, Wendy Foxworth, and Freda Smith. Alice did no less for her congregation. She was continually looking for ways to support people in developing their gifts and talents. In additional to our more traditional morning service, she set up a special evening service to give congregants a chance to try new types of worship.  She helped us experiment and explore, and she gave us many opportunities to put our ideas into practice.

It was wonderful to work with Alice, but from the very beginning it was clear that she missed her family in Texas. When Alice decided to return home to them, I knew that she was following the call of her heart. I am particularly grateful for Alice’s relationship with Molly, her spouse and partner. Molly has been amazing these last several years as Alice has experienced significant health challenges. I cannot imagine anyone having a better partner.

The extent of Alice’s influence on my ministry might surprise people. At a first look, it might not seem that we had much in common. My office is remarkably lacking in stuffed frogs, and I have yet to invite any seminarians to my home in order to serve them the world’s best tater tots. But at a deeper level, I hope my ministry reflects what I learned from Alice: to see people’s hidden talents, to give them opportunities to explore their gifts, and to help them to express their spirituality with courage, compassion, and joy.

Sermons

The River

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MillstoneRiver

This sermon was given at Foothills Congregational Church (UCC) on September 28, 2014.

It’s the final week of the creation series at our church. We started the month with a sermon from Rev. Matt about the forest. The next Sunday Rev. Evelyn talked with us about the land, and last week John and Wil Aney talked about the wilderness. This week our topic is rivers.

Rivers are wondrous. They’re powerful and deep. They may appear still and silent on the surface, but underneath they have enormous strength. Rivers are also a source of life – they feed and nourish the land. Here in California during our drought, we know how important it is for us to have water in our rivers.

Rivers appear throughout the holy stories that make up our tradition. We start out with Abraham, who comes from Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia means “between two rivers,” referring to its location between the Tigris and Euphrates. Later, we have the story of Moses and the Nile in Egypt, then the story of Jesus and John the Baptist in the Jordan. Finally, at the very end of the Christian scriptures, John the Evangelist tells us about a new river, a river that doesn’t exist yet.

Continue reading The River →

Reflections

The Narrative Structure of John 9:1-41

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John 9:1-41 is a fascinating text with many subtleties. One of its characteristics that it blurs the distinctions between insiders and outsiders, disciples and Pharisees, and Jesus and his followers.

The text starts with a three part opening section (verses 1-7). This is followed by four short dialogs (verses 8-34). The passage ends with a three-part closing section (verses 35-41) which echoes the introduction. This structure can be seen in the color-coded translation below. You can also click the following link for a larger, resizable pdf of the color-coded analysis.

The introduction has three parts:

  • Question: The disciples (students) ask a question. “Who was it that sinned?”
  • Theological statement: “Neither this one or his parents sinned…” Instead this is an opportunity to do the works of God. As per verse four, these aren’t just works for Jesus to do – the whole group listening is supposed to be engaged in these works.
  • Pastoral action: the healing of the person’s blindness.

Continue reading The Narrative Structure of John 9:1-41 →

Reflections

In Praise of Jim Mitulski

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Monasterboice

I don’t think Jim Mitulski ever encouraged me to go into ministry. When I told Jim that I was interested in becoming a pastor, he told me to talk with Penny Nixon. Penny’s guidance was quite clear. “If there is anything else you can do and be happy, do that instead. Don’t go into ministry unless there is nothing else in life that can satisfy you.”

That was good advice.

There was nothing else in life that could satisfy me, so I quit my job, sold my house, and became a pastor.

Continue reading In Praise of Jim Mitulski →

Christian Practice, Reflections, Sermons

I’m a Pilgrim

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I was in the Old City of Jerusalem, not far from the Lions’ Gate, when the reporter from CBS Radio found me. He got right to the point, “Are you a pilgrim?”

This was not first time I’d been asked this question. It was Good Friday, and I had come to walk the Via Dolorosa, spending fifteen minutes in meditation at each of the Stations of the Cross. Periodically along my journey, people would ask me, “Are you a pilgrim?”

I hadn’t planned this trip to Jerusalem in advance, but an unexpected business trip had brought me to Israel. So the first few times I was asked, I was able to answer quickly and easily. “I’m not a pilgrim. I’m just here by accident.”

But when you’re talking to a news reporter, you have to be a little more careful. If your remarks make it onto the air, all your friends will be calling you up to tell you what they heard, so it’s good to think things through before responding.

“No,” I wanted to reply, “I’m not a pilgrim. I’m just someone who got up at four o’clock this morning in order to drive an hour and arrive here before dawn, and then walk the ancient city streets of Jerusalem barefoot, spending fifteen minutes in meditation at each of the stations of the cross. Why would you think that I’m a pilgrim?”

Continue reading I’m a Pilgrim →