 Sunday, April 27 was another Preschool Sunday at OPC. These occur monthly during the Orange Presbyterian Weekday School year. This past Sunday was extraordinary. 95 people packed the sanctuary, a nice blend of congregants and OPWS families. The sheer number of people attending raised the energy level of the service. Then the children shared one of their favorite preschool songs: "Shout Hosanna!" The kids were jumping and shouting, and very soon many in the congregation were, too! After the service, we hosted a reception for our preschool students and families. And as you can see in the photos below, everyone had a good time.
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 At OPC we have an Easter tradition -- Flowering the Cross. It begins with a cross made of gnarled logs, covered in chicken wire. This cross comes out of storage for the Maundy Thursday service and remains in the sanctuary for Easter Sunday. It's a reminder of Christ's ugly and brutal death. Easter Sunday congregants bring fresh-cut flowers from their gardens. (We also have a supply for those who can't bring their own.)  During the final hymn, everyone comes forward and positions their flowers into the chicken wire. If you're sitting in the pew, you'll just see a mob of people descend upon the cross. But when they all return to their seats, you can see something special has happened. The cross is now a colorful display of flowers -- a symbol of Christ's resurrection and triumph over death. The ugly has been transformed into something beautiful.   Easter Sunday is always a time of joy. For Easter 2025, we'll be joined in worship with a brass sextet, which should heighten that emotion.
The tradition of brass instruments playing during congregational hymns dates back to the Renaissance. Churches who could afford the musicians ensured brass ensembles were on hand for major holidays. This year you'll have an opportunity to experience that tradition as the sextet plays along with "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Crown Him with Many Crowns." There is also some truly special music in store. You'll hear the celebratory anthem "Gioioso!" for brass and organ. The original work by Charles Torian was commissioned for the inaugural concert of our new organ last year. It's an exciting work brimming with joy. The sextet will also play selections from "Christ Triumphant" for brass sextet, and "Lift High the Cross." And because Easter is a time of joy, Handel's "Hallelujah!" chorus will be performed as well. The service starts at 10:00 am, Apr. 20, 2025, but if you want to hear all the music, be sure to arrive by 9:45 am.  This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, a season of contemplation. It's a time to contemplate our relationship with God, and what it means to be part of the Body of Christ.
The Ash Wednesday service begins the annual Community Lenten Services. The Orange County Ministerial Association mounts this worship series. Each year a different church in the Town of Orange hosts the service and a communal meal afterward. The services start at 12:15 pm and the luncheon usually begins around 1:00 pm. It's an opportunity for all of us to connect as Christians. Normally we only see our own church family in worship. These services are a chance to see our extended church family -- from the church across the street, the one down the block, and the others spread across town. Human nature being what it is, many will come only for the service hosted by their church. Those who attend two or more of these services will be deepening their faith -- and help deepen the faith of others. Many folks "give up" something for Lent. Consider adding something, instead. Let's make these services truly community events.  Last week a tractor-trailer took the corner of Route 15 and Main St. a little to tightly. The trailer sheared off the fire hydrant in front of the Fellowship Hall.
The vehicle (and the rolling hydrant) also scraped the retaining wall. Actual damage was slight, and no one was injured. Look for some fresh brickwork coming soon! In the movies, vehicles crash into fire hydrants and water jets into the air. Not in this case. The shut-off valves for Orange's hydrants are located below street level. So no cinematic mayhem -- just a shattered cast iron collar.  The Orange Presbyterian Weekday School staff has enjoyed a nice Christmas break (and a couple of extra snow days!).
But we are looking forward to having the children back in school soon. In January we will learn about winter weather, snow, ice, and animals in winter. - Caroline Baldwin, director  Last week we welcomed preschool families to join us for Thanksgiving celebrations. It was wonderful to visit with parents and family members and celebrate all we have to be thankful for.
This week we prepare for Christmas and learn that "Advent is a Time to Wait." We look forward to sharing some of the songs we are learning on Preschool Sunday, December 15th! - Caroline Baldwin, director  My Morning Out (MMO) is serving the community beautifully this fall. We consistently have five or more children in the program each day.
Every month I visit MMO for music class, and it is always a joy. We recently had a class all about fall leaves! Last week we had a fun visit from our Grymes book buddies. We look forward to having them back next month! Ms. Ellen came to help the children make dog biscuits. They’ll be sold at the Holiday Market this weekend. - Caroline Baldwin, director Orange Presbyterian Weekday School  This was a special week at Orange Presbyterian Weekday School (OPWS). We had a wonderful visit from the Orange Volunteer Fire Company this week!
The children always learn so much and have a wonderful time. We conclude our study of community helpers this week and move on to PUMPKINS! We will begin this unit by visiting Sarah's Pumpkin Patch for our annual field trip on Friday. - Caroline Baldwin, OPWS director 
About the concert
We present a concert showcasing the organ playing a variety of musical styles. Accomplished musicians from across the area to demonstrate how the instrument blends and enhances soloists, ensembles, and choruses. This concert marks an important milestone -- the halfway point of our organ restoration and upgrade. Orange Presbyterian Church (OPC) has long been a vital part of the Orange music community. In 2021 Orange Presbyterian Church (OPC) elected to give the sanctuary organ a major overhaul and renovation. Time had taken its toll on the instrument. Parts of the instrument were unplayable, and beyond repair. The original organ was installed in our old sanctuary (now the Fellowship Hall) in 1915. When the new sanctuary was built in 1973, the organ was dismantled and moved into the choir loft. It was expanded with pieces from other organs to create an impressive instrument of over 1,100 pipes. Phase One of the project replaced the old console with a Viscount 363DK Classic Organ. This electronic organ, with its system of 26 professional-grade speakers and 99 presets is the instrument you'll be hearing this evening.
GIOIOSO! A CELEBRATORY CONCERT
MUSIC FOR ORGAN WITH BRASS, SOLOISTS, AND CHORUS OCTOBER 27, 2024 2:00 PM ORANGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 162 W Main St, Orange, VA 22960 CONCERT PROGRAM Gioioso! for brass sextet and organ Charles J. Torian, Jr. Brass Sextet: John Harding, Dick Stageberg, trumpet; Sara Lindgren, French horn; Scott Colley, Steve Sanford, trombone; Tracey Stakem, tuba; Theresa Torian, organ Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Ludwig van Beethoven, (setting by Joel Raney) Greg Harris, piano; Theresa Torian, organ Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Orange Community Chorus; Greg Harris, director; Theresa Torian, organ Fanfare Prelude on “Old Hundredth” Louis Bourgeois Theresa Torian, organ Pie Jesu from "Requiem" Charles J. Torian, Jr. Betsy Smith, soprano; Theresa Torian, organ Hymn # 1 Holy, Holy, Holy John B. Dykes Congregation, Instrumentalists, Theresa Torian, organ Meditation, Op. 76, No. 6 Cécile Chaminade (arr. by Charles Callahan) Heather Welch, clarinet, Theresa Torian, organ National Hymn for Brass & Organ George W. Warren Brass Sextet; Theresa Torian, organ Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 Johann Sebastian Bach Alice Layman, organ When the Saints Go Marching In Spiritual (arr. by John Rutter) Heather Welch, clarinet; Steve Sanford, trombone; Theresa Torian, piano Introit and Kyrie from "Requiem" Charles J. Torian, Jr. Orange Community Chorus; Greg Harris, director; Theresa Torian, organ Toccata from Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 Charles-Marie Widor Alice Layman, organ |
