December 24th, 2007 – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

There have been so many gifts in the past week that the congregation members have given one another. Simply being with people in worship reminded me of who they were and what they gave Creator this past year.

I appreciated Ron at the early service greeting us with the lighted hat he traditionally wears. Then there was Dave at the late service with his plush Santa’s hat bringing joy to those around him. There was also the festive beauty of the sanctuary space transformed once again since the last Advent service.

This service the special music covered a broad musical spectrum. The Dobbes treated us to a cover of Relient K’s I Celebrate the Day. Kim and Vaune offered us Salve Regina and Do You hear the Mother? with their wonderful tight harmonies; the choir sang Gloria with Lux Venit, Emmanuel and Kelly’s Nunc Dimmitus; Kelly and Geoff as a duet reprised the warm, comforting Pietro A. Yon’s Gesu Bambino; and Clare Brauer-Rieke sang two pieces, O Holy Night accompanied by her father and Amy Grant’s Breath of Heaven accompanied by David, as gentle prayers on this holy night.

Pastor Mark gave the Christmas Message at the early service and Pastor Dayle gave hers at the 11:00 service. Both talked about the traditions, the busy pieces and the holy pieces of the season.

Singing the traditional carols recreated and communicated the spirit of the season like it has each year. Silent Night allowed us all to enter into that special moment where the candlelight from each candle, the voices of those close to us, the place where this is shared and our God both near and beyond all blend together.

December 9th 2007 – Notes of Hope - A concert to support the research of the OHSU Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program

I know I was not alone in my anticipation of this evening that honored Bethany Hartung and was a result of Jacob Nolte’s work on his senior project. This was a major event for many at Creator and there were many familiar faces throughout the Clackamas High School Auditorium.

The musical performers on the program were Jacob Nolte, Juli Johnson, Kirk Hartung, Kelly Carlisle, Merrily Gulglielmo, Christopher Nolte, and David Lee. Toni Hartung and Brandon Hayes-Lattin were speakers for this event.

This was a special Sunday night where it was difficult to determine highlights in a concert filled with a memorable selection of covers and originals. Jacob began the concert with a powerful set of songs. Juli, Jacob’s piano teacher, also turned in a great performance.

Kirk played a challenging piece accompanied by Kelly (they reversed that for one of Kelly’s pieces). Kirk played a Bach opus in memory of Bethany. Bach was a favorite composer for her. There was a plaintiveness that filled every note of his performance.

Kelly’s set consisted of original compositions. He premiered a new song he wrote, which set the prayer of St. Francis to music. Kirk accompanied him on this piece. There was a profound grace to the moment, the words and music as Kelly sang and the two played.

Merrily sang an Elliott Smith song, Let’s Get Lost. She played it in memory of Bethany. Elliot Smith was another one of her sister’s musical favorites. Merrily also performed an original song where she set Donald Hall’s poem, Without, to music she composed. Hall wrote the poem about his wife, Jane Kenyon, who died of leukemia in 1995.

Toni and Brandon both spoke eloquently about the evening and about Bethany. Their speeches underlined the purpose of the evening and highlighted why the work of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program was so important.

Then the evening turned to musical performances again. Christopher Nolte, after his great piano improvisation based off some familiar hymns, acknowledged his son Jacob’s dedication and maturity to being able to organize the evening.

David Lee played the great Eubie Blake number, Memories of You, with a unique quality all its own. He next performed an original composition Celebration which definitively captured one part of the energy of the evening.

Jacob closed the show with one of his father’s compositions, titled Linda. This was a wonderful piece of music that showcased Jacob's talent.

The show was well-attended and, hopefully, may become an annual event.

It was clear in the course of the night that Bethany touched many lives. I will end this entry with lyrics to a song I wrote that was inspired by my memories and reflections on Bethany.

Bethany's Song

The swan and a swallow stay in Bethany's song.

Still our world is diminished, she is gone.

Her time far too brief here,

How the heartstrings are cut,

And there's too much of nothing “But,

Life moves on" some say,

“At times she comes,

At times she flies away.”

While the unending endings tucked away in us all,

Turn our heads to the skyline we recall,

Soaring migrations,

The beating of wings,

And a wild call from the passion that sings,

“Pray whatever you may,

At times we come,

At times we fly away.”

And she’d remind us,

If a day comes whenever,

We can't be together,

Keep me in your heart

I'll stay there forever.

So Lord let your servant's swan song always stay,

And help guide us from darkness into day.

Knowing God's truth looms as mystery,

Learning God's treasure is love,

She leads us, we listen to rise above.

She sings what God's words say,

With a love that comes

To never fly away.