First Christmas In Heaven

Join Chamber Singers for tasty season

Chamber Singers of Iowa City will hold auditions for their 41st season from 6 to 9 p.m. July 27 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2301 E. Court St. (Court Street at First Avenue) in Iowa City).

The singers are known for "firsts." Generally, this means that they are performing a piece that is being presented in Iowa City for the first time. While that tradition will continue, this coming season will have a few firsts of its own.

Rehearsals normally begin the Monday before Labor Day weekend. This year, they begin Aug. 8. The early start date will give the singers time to record their first Christmas CD and to have it ready for distribution by Thanksgiving.

While concert dates have not been set, the general outline of each concert has been decided.

The December concert will be a Christmas concert (no great surprise, but a rarity with the Chamber Singers) featuring old favorites from the vast repertory of classical music for the season, as well as some new original compositions. The Christmas CD will be available for purchase then as well.

The second concert (in late winter/early spring) will center on the power of song. Each of the pieces will mention song or singing in their titles. Highlights will include Monteverdi's and Schutz's "Cantate Domino," choruses from J.S. Bach's Cantata 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," Samuel Barber's "To be Sung on the Water," and Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing Me to Heaven."

The final concert will feature the "Battle of the (18th) Century: Mozart vs. Salieri. While the competition between these two musicians was heated at times, it was nowhere near the horrible and murderous tale depicted in the Broadway play and movie "Amadeus." In fact, the two composers worked together on at least one piece, and Salieri conducted several of Mozart's masses on various occasions. The finale concert will consist of Antonio Salieri's "Coronation Te Deum" and Mozart's "Requiem."

Now that we've tempted you with a tasty season, we'll tell you what you must do to sing in it. The audition will consist of a range check (singing to your highest and lowest comfortable note), pitch matching (listening to a series of notes, then singing them back in correct order), sight singing (reading a piece of music), and a short solo of about one minute in length. Many people use a favorite hymn or a well-known song such as "America." If you need an accompanist, please provide your own.

To schedule an audition, contact Barb Schanbacher at schanbacherrn@aol.com . For more information, go to www.icchambersingers.org .

My First Christmas in Heaven - Rule Domain, LLC

I wrote something on Christmas of 2000 after a relative passed away.  It kind of dawned on me as I was missing her that she was having her first REAL CHRISTMAS in heaven.  I wrote this as I imagined how it might be.  So many of our loved ones have passed on from HD, my mom and too many others.  There are a lot who have passed on recently and I wondered if this might be a comfort in some way.

For I am seeing with my own eyes that which I have only read about before

Other loved ones that have gone before; I have waited so long to see

Were all gathered round, waiting there for me

The reunion so blessed, filled with joy and sweet release

Compared none at all, to when I met the Prince of Peace

Oh I knew that it was my Jesus, as we stood there face to face

Tears of joy began to fall, as He wrapped me in His loving embrace

Falling down I could not help but worship, at my Saviors nail scarred feet

As he gently spoke my name, I knew my journey was complete

There is no more sickness, no sorrow and no pain

Just the sweet choirs of angels and saints lifting up His Holy name

There is Abraham and Joseph; there is Lazarus, Mary and Paul

Along with friends and family who have gone before us, in answer to His call

I really wish I could tell you, though words could never say

What awaits those who love Him when He gathers them some day

So I will wait for you in Heaven, though for a time we are apart

For the love we have between us, remains deep within my heart.

It is my first Christmas in Heaven. Can you hear the angels sing?

I am bowing down before Him for He is my everything.

A Child's First Christmas in Heaven

Jimmy's First Christmas in Heaven

Betty's bright idea; Deacon Pitkin's farm; and the first Christmas of New England, by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Christmas in Scandinavia

The First Christmas, What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birth