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Daily Archives: December 21, 2012

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

Pan Am Flight 103 Memorial Cairn

On December 21 at 1:30PM the Pender UMC Choir traditionally sings for the Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie) Memorial Service at Arlington National Cemetery.

Last year was my first time experiencing this service and it was so touching. One of the songs we sang is traditionally sung at this service – “Under His Wings”, which was composed in memory of the victims. Last year was the 23rd anniversary of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. A C-Span video of last year’s event (video run time is 1 hr 3 min): http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Flight10

Last year’s speakers included:

Eric Holder, United States Attorney General
Robert Mueller, FBI Director
Frank Mulholland, Lord Advocate of Scotland
Ali Aujali, Libyan Ambassador to the Unites States
John O. Brennan, Deputy National Security Advisor and Assistant to the President
Brian Murtagh, Department of Justice Prosecutor for the Lockerbie case

For a full remarks about last year’s service, including speaker’s notes, please see http://www.victimsofpanamflight103.org/events/2011/arlington

Here’s a timeline of the event, December 21, 1988:

Extraordinary Response Pan Am 103

A summary of the Memorial Service from 2008, the 20th anniversary:

Epiphany Lunch, Sunday January 6

21 Dec

Pender’s First Ever Epiphany Lunch!

We will have many fun activities for everyone including trivia, a sing-along, and hopefully some camel races. Not to mention great Mediterranean fare for lunch!

Please take a moment to sign up in the Narthex so that we know how many people to expect!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, January 6th at noon.

Christmas Music, Part 21 – The First Noel

21 Dec

The First Nowell (also written The First Noël) is a traditional classical English carol, most likely from the 18th century, although possibly earlier.

The word Noel comes from the French word Noël meaning “Christmas”, from the Latin word natalis “birthday”.

The melody is unusual among English folk melodies in that it consists of one musical phrase repeated twice, followed by a refrain which is a variation on that phrase. All three phrases end on the third of the scale.

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Refrain

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Refrain

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
Over Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Refrain

Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie;
One entered it them for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty.

Refrain

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Refrain

Between an ox stall and an ass,
This Child truly there He was;
For want of clothing they did Him lay
All in a manger, among the hay.

Refrain

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Refrain

If we in our time shall do well,
We shall be free from death and hell;
For God hath prepared for us all
A resting place in general.

Refrain

The University of Utah Singers perform “The First Noel” arr. by Dan Forrest live in concert, December 11th & 12th, 2009 in Libby Gardner concert hall under the direction of Dr. Brady Allred.