The new church year begins on Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent and will end with Christ the King Sunday next November. The worship guide for Scripture (Lectionary) also changes with the new church year. The three part Lectionary (Year A, B and C) is found in the hymnal as well as some supplemental worship books. The Lectionary contains the Scripture to be used in all of the worship services for the year. Some denominations, especially those with a specific format for worship i.e. Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and others often require that the hymns and special music be 'tied' to the designated Scripture of the day which could be either Lesson or the Gospel. The pastor/priest usually makes that decision. One of the interview questions that should be asked is how the Lectionary will affect your choice of special music for the worship service. Augsburg-Fortress, GIA and Concordia publish a Lectionary every year with listings of their publications that would be appropriate for each Sunday and special service during the year. This, of course, is a marketing tool to sell more of their publications. Theodore Presser used to publish a music guide that I preferred to the specific denomination Lectionary for the extra variety of titles. There is a Revised Common Lectionary available in a Protestant and Catholic edition. It is possible to go from church to church on a given Sunday and hear different Scripture unless the churches were using the RCL.

     There is a set of three music guides available with ideas for variety that would work within the specific format of the service. After the Prelude complied by Bill Mathis contains many ideas. Year A Print (CGB659) CD ROM (CGB658); Year B Print (CGB 568) CDROM (CGB 567); Year C Print (CGB 617) CDROM (CGB 616). The CD sells for $ 69.96 and the print copies $ 59.95. Information is reproducible.

     Hal Hopson has written a series of worship aids adaptable to any denomination and any type of worship service. Creative Use of Handbells in Worship   Book 1 (1956)  Book 2 (8282); Handbells in the Catholic Liturgy (2120). Each book is $29.95.  Other Creative Use volumes available: Choirs in Worship (8013) $49.95; Descants in Worship (8018) $29.95; Instruments in Worship (8071) $49.95; Piano in Worship  (8392) $39.95; and Organ in Worship (8070) $39.95. All are published by Agape and available from your local music dealer.

     The Missouri Synod Lutheran Church (Concordia Publishing) has a Festival Setting of the Communion Liturgy that uses 3-4 octaves handbells. This setting goes with the Lutheran Book of Worship Setting 1 or the Divine Service II (Hillert and Folkening 97-5958) at $4.50/copy. Handbell Descants for the Divine Service for 2-3 octaves, L3, goes with the Divine Service II Setting 1 or the Lutheran Book of Worship Setting 1. (Behnke 97-6512) $4.50.

     The most common use for handbells in the liturgy is hymn descants. There is a series Everyone Ring Praise Today that has only chordal accompaniment (Concordia) Book 1 - Advent, Christmas and Epiphany (97-6558); Book 2 Lent/Easter (97-6609); Book 3 Festivals of the Church Year (97-6610). The books can be used with 1 - 7 octaves of handbells and sell for $7.95 each. Harmonies for Hymns by Margaret Tucker are also chordal  accompaniments L 1/1+. Book 1 (CGB251) Book 2 (CGB 445) will work for 2- 5 octaves of handbells $7.95/copy.

     There are three other series of descants for consideration. Beckenhorst published the first set of descants as we know them. Book 1 Advent/Christmas (HB 9); Book 2 Passiontide Easter (HB 10); Book 3 General and Patriotic (HB 11); Book 4 General/Thanksgiving (HB12). Doug Wagner edited the series and they sell at $4.95/copy. The Alfred series was edited by Anna Laura Page and is $4.50 copy. Book 1 Advent, Christmas, Epiphany (11527); Book 2 Lent, Holy Week, Easter (11528); Book 3 All Saints, Ascension, Christ the King, Communion, Pentecost, Reformation, Trinity Sunday  (16057)   Book 4  Stewardship, Thanksgiving and Patriotic (16058). Hymn Stanzas for Handbells - reproducible is edited by Cathy Moklebust. Augsburg-Fortress publishes a 2-3 octave edition (0800657330) and 4-5 octave (0800655761) at $25.00 each.

     Service Music for Handbells 3 octaves L2 edited by Wagner contains some introits, the Doxology, Amens and other specific sung responses. (Beckenhorst HB 41) $4.25.  Easy Hymn Arrangements for the Church Year - Keller can be used with 2-3 octaves of handbells L2 (Concordia 97-6947).  4 Ringer+ Hymn Descants complied by Geschke for 2-3 octaves (Concordia 97-6700) sells for $5.25/copy There are positioning suggestions included for 4-in-hand.  7 Handbell Descants for Easter for 2-3 octaves L 1+/2 edited by Kohrs ( Concordia 97-6816) sells for $5.00/copy.

     All of the above materials are available from your local music dealer and should help you add some variety and new sounds to your worship service.

Saturday, December 17 - 2:00 pm (and maybe 4:00 pm), Christmas Concert by bellissimo! First United Methodist Church (Downtown 4th Ave N. at Broadway), Billings. Music from the Messiah, with a free-will offering accepted.

Friday & Saturday, April 27-28, 2012 - Big Sky Handbell Festival "Magic Fest." For information, contact Julie Draeger, daved93@bresnan.net.

Sunday, December 11 - Exaltation Handbell Ensembleof St. Matthew Lutheran Church will provide the pre-concert music to the 21^st annual Big Horn Brass Holiday Concert at St. Matthew, 10390 SW Canyon Road, Beaverton. Bells begin at 6:10 pm and Big Horn Brass at 6:30 pm. This "free to the public" concert is a gift to the community thanks to the Erik Weswig Foundation and coincides with the Compassion Friends' annual candle lighting event. For a generous sampling of Big Horn's holiday music and for more information about this gift to the community go to www.bighornbrassholidayconcert.com. Contact Shosh Meyer, 503-644-9148, shoshm@smlcfamily.org  for more information.

Sunday, December 18 - Hosanna Handbell Ensembleof St. Matthew Lutheran Church will take part in a truly festive Christmas drama/musical. This "free to the public" presentation begins at 3 pm in the church's sanctuary, 10390 SW Canyon Road, Beaverton. "The Christmas Station" drama and the music of "Sing Gloria!" bring together a talented group of actors, full orchestra, handbells, soloists, choirs, a Rodgers organ performance by Dan Miller, and includes a sing-a-long for audience accompanied by the orchestra. Contact Shosh Meyer, 503-644-9148, shoshm@smlcfamily.org for more information.

Friday, March 23, 2012 - Techniques Workshop with Michele Sharik, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, First Unitarian Church, Portland. Additional information or email Ellie Hodder ehodder@firstunitarianportland.org.

Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Pacific NW Youth Handbell Festival with Michele Sharik, guest clinician, First Unitarian Church, Portland. Additional information or email Ellie Hodder at ehodder@firstunitarianportland.org. 

Friday & Saturday, May 4-5, 2012 - Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference, Ashland Middle School, Ashland. Guest clinician: Mich�le Sharik. Repertoire list. For additional information, email Diane Barnes, dkbarnes@jeffnet.org.

Sunday, December 4 - 3:30 pm, American Lutheran Church, 332801 Hwy 2, Newport.

Saturday, December 10 - 6:30 pm, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 4320 S Conklin, Spokane.

Sunday, December 11 - 4:00 pm, Evangelical Free Church, 2211 Sand Canyon Rd, Chewelah.

Bells of the Sound presents "Bells in Toyland":

Friday, December 2 - 8 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church, 3940 41st Avenue SW, Seattle.

Saturday, December 3 - 7 pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th Street SW, Lynnwood.

Sunday, December 4 - 4 pm, Lincoln Avenue Bible Church, 1250 Lincoln Avenue, Bremerton.

Friday, December 9 - 8 pm, Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Avenue SE, Mercer Island.

Saturday, December 10 - 7 pm, Fairwood Community United Methodist Church, 15255 SE Fairwood Boulevard, Renton.

Sunday, December 11 - 4 pm, Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N 70th Street, Seattle.

For more information, visit www.bellsofthesound.org, email info@bellsofthesound.org or call 206.931.7669.