February 7, 2024
At the end of the year, we enjoyed a couple of inspiring musical events. Our Christmas Cantata and Christmas Eve services helped us celebrate the birth of our Savior. We also had our annual New Year's Eve concert with concert organist, Isabelle Demers. She played masterfully, and the event was well attended. In early January 2024, we welcomed the Dordt University Chamber Orchestra. Another successful event in our lovely sanctuary! Preparing for and hosting these events requires much preparation and effort, but it's so worth it. How blessed are we to have such joyful activities that give glory to God!
After a restful vacation with my wife, Miah, I turn my thoughts and attention to the coming Lenten season. This year, our Lenten journey to the Cross and to Easter will be full of uplifting and meaningful music. During Eastertide, we will offer an All-Bach musical program on Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m. in our sanctuary. We will have two guest keyboardists--Julia Brown from Mayflower Congregational Church and Greg Crowell from St. Mark's Episcopal Church--to perform Bach's concerto for two harpsichords and strings in C minor, BWV 1060. Our Chancel Choir, with guest soloists, also will perform the Bach Cantata, BWV 166, "Wo gest du hin? (Where are you heading?)", and the guest chorus, the Choral Scholars, will sing the Bach Motet BWV 230, "Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (Praise the Lord, All Ye Nations)."
Also, mark your calendars for the Choral Scholars Concert on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Central.
We are so blessed to enjoy these abundant opportunities to share our musical talents and interests with guest musicians through these services and concerts in our sanctuary. As the director of music ministries here at Central, I would like to say "Thank You" again for your prayers, support, and for your participation at these special events.
Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Central Connections - Music Ministry
November 21, 2022
When I was younger, I would become a bit arrogant after I directed
successful church concerts. I had to tell myself, “Taemin, you should remember
this wasn’t possible without the help of everyone around you.”
Nowadays? I was surprised when, rather than thinking that way, I
just felt and realized that this wasn’t possible without the help of many
others, no matter how much I worked hard and prepared for the event. Yes, the
Festival Organ Concert on Sunday, October 23, was a success, an...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Take Note - Central Reformed Church
April 19, 2022
Throughout
the challenging years of the COVID pandemic, we have tried to be flexible and
creative in fulfilling our ministries in glorifying God while faithfully
serving our congregation and community. Easier said than done!
In Central's
music ministry, a small number of talented singers and instrumental players-and
loyal members of the adult bell choir-have served as the backbone for our
musical offerings during services. As I write this article in late February, I
have heard the good news...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Take Note - Central Reformed Church
March 22, 2022
More
than any other time of year, I am aware during Advent of what it means to
"wait," though without the benefit of a timetable for that
"waiting." Advent means "coming" and it is derived
from the Latin in adventus. With every arrival, there is a period
of waiting beforehand.
I cannot even imagine the patience required by the
Israelites as they waited some thousands of years for their Messiah to arrive.
Patience is still required of us, believers in Jesus Christ, as we study his
earthly l...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Take Note - Central Reformed Church
March 1, 2021
Around each
New Year's Eve, many people make a couple of resolutions for the coming new
year. I, too, did exactly that this year. Even though there are plenty of
possibilities that I can't even remember, some of them forgotten not long
after, it is much better to start the year with new plans rather than to start
without any plans.
First, for
my physical health, I bought two things: golf clubs and an indoor exercise
bike. During the wintertime, the best thing I can do for golfing inside is ...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Music Notes - Central Reformed
December 8, 2020
About a week after election day, the weather in Michigan was like early spring, sunny with temperatures sometimes over 70 degrees. During my first year as an international student in Michigan in 1997, I experienced this strange weather in early November. One of my friends told me it's called "Indian Summer." I thought this was God's great gift at the beginning of a harsh and gloomy winter in Michigan.
I hope we can have this kind of relief moment when encounter difficult times in our lives ...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Music Notes - Central Reformed
September 16, 2020
Time
flies and the end of summer suddenly came up to us. Even with an unclear
forecast for our choir year schedule, I decided to clean up our choir room and
choir members' folders. While emptying their folders, I could see what
happened in the middle of March this year. Most folders have the same
titles of music from months ago, and it reminded me that our choir had to stop
singing for service without enough time for warning. They didn't have time to
return their music. It looked like a scene...
Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Music Notes - Central Reformed
May 8, 2020
Proverbs 16:9 (New International Version)
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Ever since the coronavirus crisis struck the United States in mid-March, the first impression I had felt was that all the plans we set up wouldn't be possible without God's permission. Even before this unprecedented situation, it was true that we prayed for good weather and other routine factors for every event we planned and for successful results. But now, with an inte...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Music Notes - Central Reformed
September 11, 2019
It has been half a year since I
started serving as director of music ministries
at Central. I have been happy with all the people in our musical groups and the
congregation of Central Reformed Church as a whole. I have enjoyed the
excellent musicians in this area too. With these wonderful relationships, I
started my musical activities smoothly, with meaningful and graceful rehearsals
and services.
During summer time, our
musical offerings during services have been fruitful with solo and e...
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Posted by Taemin Han. Posted In : Music Notes - Central Reformed