Music Made in Heaven Fall 2019, vol 7
|
|
|
|
Music Made in Heaven is a very special handbell ensemble. Each of our bells has been donated in memory of a child who has died and is inscribed in remembrance. We play to express our joy and gratitude for the lives of these children. We also play to inspire healing and hope in others. Most importantly, our playing is a gift to our children, providing them a way to add beauty to our world through music.
We call it
Music Made in Heaven
|
|
Celebrating Our Children with Happy Memories
|
|
As parents, relatives and friends of our children who left us way too early in their lives, we all know that one never gets over their loss. Originally we were numb with grief. Now we seek ways to stay connected with our loved ones beyond time, year after year.
We have celebrated their lives by donating a handbell to Music Made in Heaven, composed inscriptions placed in the bell handles, and had the gift of hearing our inscriptions read and their bells sounded at our annual Gathering Concert. The roster of our children appears in most concert programs and orders of service in which we ring so that they continue to be individually remembered. We remember them on their birthdays. We celebrate each life.
|
|
Birthday parties, a sledding adventure in the snow, amazingly hilarious mischief and fun at the beach are among
happy memories
that can coax a smile or a chuckle. Hence, at the Fifteenth Annual Gathering Concert last May 19, we had a surprise for our audience.
|
|
This video shows us with our Hawaiian shirts, some straw hats, and sunglasses as a prelude to playing our final piece, “Good Vibrations” made famous by the Beach Boys.
While the voices of our children echo in all the music we ring, we know they would also want us to keep alive the memories of the happy times and good vibrations we shared with them.
|
|
Through the Eyes of a Child
After The Gathering this past May, Music Made in Heaven received the following email from one of our bell donors.
I also want to share a precious moment from the last family concert. I brought my 5 year old granddaughter with me. Her sisters had attended other years. I felt she had a good understanding of what was going on. After the delightful concert while eating cake, she said to me, "So, this is heaven, Grammy?" I was speechless for a moment and then processed how she came to this conclusion. We just heard music that was made in heaven, so therefore.... this place is heaven, and we will walk out of heaven when we leave. I loved the idea so much that it seemed unnecessary to say anything but yes! If only it was that easy to visit our angels!! Her innocence brought me much joy and I wanted you all to know your part in giving her the feeling that we had spent time in heaven that day.
Many thanks and God's blessings.
|
|
|
Email subject line: "A small surprise for you from Fred."
Sound intriguing? That's what MMIH director Barbara Marley thought when she received a message so titled shortly after the first of this year from Fred Gramann. Fred is a friend and internationally respected composer of over 100 pieces for handbells and vocal choirs and 43-year Director of Music at the American Church in Paris. So of course she opened it immediately, and was simultaneously blown away and overcome with emotion as she read his words, which said in part:
|
"It was a gift for me to work with Music Made in Heaven a few years ago and I look forward to the next opportunity. I have had in mind writing a simple piece for you and the choir for a while. Finally I had the time to do just that. So please accept my humble musical gift in admiration for the mission of this very special handbell choir. I hope you will enjoy directing it and the group will enjoy ringing it. Best, Fred"
|
Attached to this email was a piece Fred had composed for us,
Called Home to Heaven.
On the front page, Fred wrote a dedication to the group and included our mission statement and purpose, along with a lovely visual of stairs in the sky leading to sunshine through a circle of clouds. We premiered this beautiful, ethereal arrangement, which is based on the familiar hymn tune
Holy Manna
, at our annual Gathering concert in May to much acclaim, and it will henceforth be our signature song.
Fred recently informed us that the piece will be published next year, allowing his gift and our mission to be shared with the greater handbell world like the widening ripples from a pebble tossed into a pond. "A small surprise" wins the award for Understatement of the Year. Thank you, Fred - and we love you :)
|
|
November 21, 7:00 pm
Holiday Service of Hope & Remembrance
First Baptist Church
99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh NC
December 8, 7:00 pm
Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting Service
Apex United Methodist Church
100 S. Hughes Street, Apex NC
December 16, 7:00 pm
The Longest Night Service
Hayes Barton United Methodist Church
2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh NC
December 18, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Holiday Tunes at Duke Hospital
Duke Medicine Pavilion Walkway
10 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham NC
|
|
SAVE THE DATE!
May 17, 2020
The Gathering
Music Made in Heaven's
annual concert has been scheduled for
May 17, 2020 at 2:00 pm
.
First Baptist Church
99 N. Salisbury Street,
Raleigh NC
We hope to see you there!
|
Music Made in Heaven is happy to welcome Doreen & Phil Herold to the group. We look forward to making beautiful music together!!
|
|
We greatly appreciate all financial contributions as they help us with;
- insurance on the bells,
- purchase of music and auxiliary equipment,
- printing and communication costs
- upkeep to our website.
|
|
Why I Give....
I support Music Made in Heaven because it provides me an additional way to show gratitude for the gift of my son, Bryan, whose life was very short. Through the music of the ringers, the memory of his life is a ray of sunshine not only for me but also for many others.
Caralie Brown
|
|
Gifts for Special Occasions
One gift that fits all is a donation to Music Made in Heaven in honor of someone or in memory of a loved one.
A beautiful certificate can be sent to the recipient letting them know of your thoughtful gift.
Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, holiday gift or just a thoughtful gesture, email your request to
MusicMadeinHeaven@gmail.com
or call 919-373-0103.
For more ways to
donate
, please visit our website and don't forget to choose Music Made in Heaven as your donation recipient when shopping
IGive
and
Amazon Smile
.
As always, thank you for your support!
|
|
Music Made in Heaven is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
|
|
Music Made in Heaven | 919-373-0103 | mmihraleigh.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
