{"id":31432,"date":"2022-12-10T16:08:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T21:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=31432"},"modified":"2022-12-27T11:28:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T16:28:17","slug":"2022-cantata-to-give-a-touch-of-the-messiah-12-18-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=31432","title":{"rendered":"2022 Cantata to Give a Touch of The Messiah (12\/18\/22)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">A long-held PUMC tradition is to hold a Candelighting Cantata on the Sunday before Christmas&#8230; always at 4:15 PM!\u00a0 A shorter-held tradition is to present Handle&#8217;s Messiah as that cantata every five years.\u00a0 It was last presented back in 2017, so we&#8217;re doing it again this year (2022).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Because of the pandemic, our choir (and other local choirs) haven&#8217;t yet geared up to full speed.\u00a0 So this year&#8217;s presentation won&#8217;t be as elaborate as it was in 2017.\u00a0 Instead of the entire &#8220;The Messiah&#8221;, we&#8217;re presenting &#8220;A Touch of The Messiah&#8221;.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">A Touch of the Messiah&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The &#8220;vocal horsepower&#8221; of local choirs is a bit limited this year, so we&#8217;re presenting the most familiar parts of Handle&#8217;s work instead of the full-blown production that we&#8217;ve done in the past.<\/p>\n<p>But the name &#8220;A Touch of the Messiah&#8221; is so appropriate!\u00a0 It doesn&#8217;t only comment on the scale of a musical production, but the name also draws us into the depth of our Savior&#8217;s love.\u00a0 May we all crave to be &#8220;touched&#8221; by Jesus this Christmas season.\u00a0 \u00a0Even a production with a full string orchestra and an 80-member choir is useless if it doesn&#8217;t inspire us to seek a &#8220;touch&#8221; from our Messiah.\u00a0 During His earthly ministry, the physical touch of Jesus brought spiritual and physical healing, and He would love it if we could &#8220;touch&#8221; Him with our faith and service.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">The Touch of Jesus&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Bible records the stories of many hurting people whom Jesus touched and healed.\u00a0 Here are a few examples (<em><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">click on each tab to reveal the story, and then click on the link to read the Scripture\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><i>reference)&#8230;<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tMute Man\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tBlind Man\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tDead Son\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tDrowning Disciple\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tDusty Disciples\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tMute Man\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Mark+7%3A31-35&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mark 7:31-35<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A man couldn&#8217;t hear or speak.\u00a0 Imagine the darkness this person must have felt, likely for his entire life.\u00a0 But some friends brought him to Jesus, and Jesus reached out to touch his eyes and to put His finger on the man&#8217;s tongue.\u00a0 Jesus&#8217; touch gave this man speech and hearing.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tBlind Man\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+9%3A1-7&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 9:1-7<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A young man had been born blind, but his condition was used to bring glory to God.\u00a0 Jesus touched him: with saliva and mud.\u00a0 The man could see, and he fearlessly went and told the world about the Light of the World who had healed him.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tDead Son\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke+7%3A11-15&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luke 7:11-15<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A widow was grieving over the death of her son.\u00a0 As the funeral processed through the streets, Jesus reached out and touched the dead son, simply by taping on his coffin.\u00a0 The boy rose and miraculous healing was brought to that community.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tDrowning Disciple <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+14%3A25-31&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Matthew 14:25-31<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Maybe confused and blurred by the sight of Jesus walking on the water, Peter wanted proof.\u00a0 He answered Jesus&#8217; call to step out on to the water. But as the danger of his surroundings came into view, his faith faded.\u00a0 When we lose our faith, we sink.\u00a0 But Jesus remains faithful.\u00a0 His touch will save us from being pulled down by our own fears and doubts.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tDusty Disciples <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+13%3A2-5%C2%A0&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 13:2-5\u00a0<\/a><\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When you travel in sandals, your feet get dirty.\u00a0 When we walk through our worldly culture, we become &#8220;dirty&#8221; with sin.\u00a0 We lose contact with God.\u00a0 But Jesus reaches out to touch us with His forgiveness and &#8220;cleansing.&#8221;\u00a0 Like our Lord, we too must reach out and humbly serve those who need the Savior&#8217;s touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>Jesus has risen into heaven and He&#8217;s no longer physically on earth.\u00a0 But His presence remains.\u00a0 It remains through the Holy Spirit and also through His Church (all who believe and obey).\u00a0 Through faith, prayer, and honest desire, we too can be touched by the Messiah.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Touching Jesus&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Jesus reached out and touched many needy people.\u00a0 But other people recognized their needs, reached out, and touched Jesus&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tSinful Woman\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tBleeding Woman\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tDoubting Disciple\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tGrieving Disciple\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tSinful Woman <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke+7%3A37-38&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luke 7:37-38<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A &#8220;sinful&#8221; woman (<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>likely a prostitute<\/em><\/span>) found her way into a party thrown by the religious elite.\u00a0 She needed forgiveness and she recognized who Jesus was.\u00a0 Fearlessly, she bowed at Jesus&#8217; feet to humble herself, and then she offered her tears (<em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">and probably even her life&#8217;s savings<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 She did that to worship and thank the Lamb of God.\u00a0 Her touch continues to serve as an example to us.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tBleeding Woman <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Luke+8%3A40-48&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luke 8:40-48<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Shunned by society because she was constantly &#8220;unclean,&#8221; a desperate woman reached out to touch Jesus.\u00a0 She pushed through the crowded obstacles of this world&#8217;s values.\u00a0 Her hunger and persistence drove her to touch the Savior, and she received complete healing and forgiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tDoubting Disciple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+20%3A26-28%C2%A0&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">John 20:26-28<\/span>\u00a0<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thomas wasn&#8217;t there when Jesus showed Himself several days earlier.\u00a0 Thomas needed to touch Jesus, much like we need the assurance of a sturdy handrail when we walk in the dark.\u00a0 Jesus was there; He let Thomas touch Him to receive that assurance.\u00a0 Jesus is still here, waiting for our touch.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tGrieving Disciple\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John+20%3A15-18&amp;version=NLT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John 20:15-18<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mary couldn&#8217;t get enough of this Savior who had given her a new life.\u00a0 She came to the tomb in tears but left in wonder.\u00a0 She needed to touch Jesus, and when given the chance she couldn&#8217;t let go.\u00a0 If only we could be so hungry to cling to our Savior in every moment of our lives!<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>Engaging the music of Handle&#8217;s Messiah will lead us to worship The Messiah.\u00a0 Giving gifts, praying, and worshiping our God are all ways that we can reach out to touch God.\u00a0 The Savior who wants to touch us is ready for us to touch Him.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Pre-Prayering for The Messiah<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Leading into the<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16603\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> 2017 cantata<\/a><\/span>, we posted a series of articles giving the meaning behind each part of Handle&#8217;s Messiah (it was a 7-part series entitled &#8220;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/\/?s=%22The+messiah%22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Countdown to The Messiah<\/a><\/span>&#8220;).\u00a0 \u00a0This year, we have assembled a choir of nearly 40 voices.\u00a0 Several of the solos will be presented, and the choir will sing five of the work&#8217;s seven Choruses.\u00a0 To &#8220;Pre-Prayer&#8221; for the cantata, consider the context and meaning of these five choruses (<em><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: 10pt;\">click on the links to learn more, and keep in mind that these posts reference the 2017 cantata<\/span><\/em>):<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li class=\"default-style\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16553\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">And the Glory<\/span><\/a>&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<div id=\"attachment_16606\" style=\"width: 159px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16606\" class=\"wp-image-16606\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Handel-GF-400x300-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"149\" height=\"111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Handel-GF-400x300-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Handel-GF-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 149px) 100vw, 149px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-16606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">G.F. Handel<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"default-style\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16592\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">O Thou That Tellest<\/span>&#8220;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"default-style\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16594\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">For Unto Us<\/span>&#8220;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"default-style\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16596\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Glory to God&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"default-style\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=16601\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Hallelujah Chorus<\/span>&#8220;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-31432 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-medium'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Messiah12-_Sue-100_0026-400x300-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Messiah12-_Sue-100_0026-400x300-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Messiah12-_Sue-100_0026-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/XmasEve18-_sr-IMG_3118-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/XmasEve18-_sr-IMG_3118-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/XmasEve18-_sr-IMG_3118.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">The 2022 Touch<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Is the annual cantata just a tradition?\u00a0 Is it just a service of inspiring and entertaining music?\u00a0 It&#8217;s easy to see it that way.\u00a0 But it can also be an opportunity to feel the touch of our Risen Lord and Savior.\u00a0 Take in the power of the music, but let your mind wander to the wonder of our majestic God.\u00a0 Consider the God who created everything, loves us beyond measure, and would like nothing more than our touch of love for Him.\u00a0 Let the light of the candles bring the Light of God into your hearts this Christmas.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #008000; font-size: 18pt;\">+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0+<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For more about Worship at PUMC, click this button:\u00a0 <a href='https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?page_id=28' class='small-button smallblue'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Worship<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our annual Candlelight Christmas cantata will be held on Sunday December 18, 2022.  It will start at 4:15 PM.  This year, we&#8217;ll continue the &#8220;every five year&#8221; tradition&#8221; and present Handle&#8217;s Messiah.  The production won&#8217;t be as large as it was in 2017, but the Touch from Our Messiah-Savior will be as powerful as ever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,9,14],"tags":[123],"class_list":["post-31432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mus","category-evann","category-worship","tag-christmas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31432"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31466,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31432\/revisions\/31466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}