Community Cantata Choir  
 

Home
HisStory
Prayer & Support
Participant Info
News & Plans
How to join
Performances
Testimonials
2008 Photos
2007 Photos
2007 Spring Photos
2006 Christmas
2006 Photos
2005 Photos
2004 Photos
2003 Memories

  

Testimonials

The Community Cantata Choir has meant a lot of things to a lot of different people over the years...both to participants of the choir and to those who have come to experience the performance.

From 2008 choir:
 

  • It has indeed been a true blessing and honor to rehearse and perform with such a quality group of people led by a true spiritual and accomplished leader such as yourself.  Just the music/lyrics of the cantata has had an effect on me in a very positive way.  It has given me hope again, something I have not had in awhile.  I find myself smiling during the entire run through of songs (here at home rehearsing), and am thankful for all of you and of course our Savior !  After these 57 years I finally realize the true meaning of Christmas, the rest is just commercial broohaha which we could all live without, well maybe not our children ! 

From 2007 audiences:

  • "I just want to say a big THANK YOU ... and GOD BLESS! (to) each participant in the cantata.  (We) felt so blessed by your wonderful offering of music.  Thanks for all you do.

  • Last evening at the Covenant Church, we were again privileged to worship with the Community Cantata Choir -- your powerful embrace, combined with creative music choices and dynamic leadership to truly bring a gift of music -- faith, trust, reflective, joy -- to our lives, our community.  We make some observations:

    • The 'reflective' sharing of the late start emerged in the spirit of the musicians -- all of you were reflecting a profound radiance -- joy, humble connection -- beyond the music with Christ, with one another.  It -- the spirit -- washed over all of us.

    • It was a moment of serendipity in the music of 'The Night Heaven Kissed Earth' -- in the back a child cried.  The musicians' text a child's crying.  You don't plan moments like that.  You embrace them, sealed in your memory of mysterious faith.

    • We loved the text, 'Shepherds left their sheep and found a lamb.'  That image holds -- WOW!

    • We have long been moved by 'soul singers and Gospel choirs'.  We worked amidst black Gospel churches and musicians in Los Angeles and we were transformed by the white touch of black soul in 'Not an Ordinary Baby'.  You can sense what it does.  Hooray to the soloist and choir for bringing it!
      Hooray!  Thanks be to God for your lives, your faith, your sharing!

  • Thanks Lee, it truly was an impressive effort of the whole choir to provide for both the spiritual and physical needs of so many people over this holiday season.  I felt blessed to be able to attend two of the performances and our food bank was blessed 10 times over!  Thank you so much and please pass YCAP’s thanks on to the whole choir.  They are an amazing, giving group of people!
    Lee Honore Means,
    Executive Director,YCAP

From 2007 choir:

  • I am thrilled too.  I have never, in all my many years, been so honored to be a part of such a group.  Thanks be to God for this.
    I have attached several versions of 1 Peter 1:8, which is the Biblical source of the expression "Unspeakable Joy."  The King James uses the term "unspeakable,"     [the other translations refer to it as "inexpressible and glorious" (NIV) and "inexpressible and full of glory" (NASB).]

  • The GOOD stuff ...was about being there so God could minister to His children.  ... I am so "grateful" that God reminds us, on occasion, that His handy work is still a work in progress, and we are the clay He is forming. We seldom know how He is using the opportunities He gives us to minister and bless our corner of the world.

From 2006 audiences:

  • "I can't tell you how much of a blessing the concerts are in my life, as well as to the Food Bank.  I truly believe that God's spirit is working through the cantata, the choir and your spirit of giving in many more ways than just the gift of your offering." Tricia Harrop of Yamhill County Food Bank 

  • From a well-known local band director:  "I have enjoyed your choir several times on TV this season.  ...  Thank you."
  • "A grateful thanks - thanks to ... all the singers, musicians, sound folk and ALL your family, including the offering touch of the spirited-gentle grand-daughter!
  • We were privileged to be the recipients of your "Canticle of Christmas" offering last evening (12/6/06) and were blessed by it - again this year.
  • We thank you for ... [sensitive] utilization of a superb sound system, a powerful blending of foundation accompaniment of your singers, amazing interpretation of percussion, synthesizer and bass, accenting the singers, piano as well, without getting in the way of the soul-touch expression of the singers.  It is a balance-blend we commend.
  • Our blessing, respect, gratitude pour out."
  • “Cantata Over the Top!  ...bringing the total to $7,012.32 for the season!  This money will go to YCAP to buy food that will be distributed to the area Food Pantrys.  By the way, $7,012.32 will purchase approximately 35 TONS  of food (at 10-cents per pound)!  Thank you to those involved with the Christmas Cantata Ministry!  God is good!  Have a blessed Christmas.”  David Hakola, Dayton Community Food Bank
  • "A special thank you for the life you pour into a season celebrated with worship.  What you do takes a lot of time that could be used in different places.  Thank you, for what you do is great."
     

From 2006 choir:

  • "How can I say 'thanks!'  ...  Well, I'm 'in harness' and ready to roll into spring."

From 2005 audiences:

  • "You are creating songs of angels for many audiences & bringing joy to many hearts.  I know it happens to you, too."
     
  • "Thanks for helping us keep 'Christ' in Christmas.  It is great to be able to bring the Good News to our communities."


  • "Perhaps in Heaven you may get to know the HUGE difference you have made in my life ... and the lives of so many others."
     
    •
  • From a local couple involving a retired Lutheran pastor (I shared something similar from the same couple early in the 2006 season):

"We were privileged to be guests at the 12/14/05 offering -- what sheer joy -- the energy -- the 'soul' -- the competence -- the dedication -- it was sheer wonder.  Thanks -- thanks -- thanks.
It has been and was a significant event in our 2005 Advent / Christmas observance.  We reflected on many aspects -- some of the more joyous specifics.
~~ the 'signing' is not only for the hearing challenged, but also adds much profound visual dimension to the offering, especially the wondrous interpretive sweep of 'Gloria';
~~ the soloists -- with such 'soul' using their gifts to offer a message they loved -- not just the outer/auditory competence, but it came from deep within -- what wonder -- a commendation to all;
~~ a few 'cross-over' -- sensing the 'foundation bass' player who emerged as the lilting flutist -- that was really a serendipity;
~~ accompanying instrumentalists -- percussion -- bells -- were so sensibly integrated accenting moods/texts/passages in distinct ways;
~~ one of our 'visual' surprises -- seated in the audience was a young girl -- she brought a warm joy to our hearts -- she 'mouthed' all the words -- we suspect her Mom (??) was a soprano, but she 'did' the entire cantata -- it was magical to observe her;
~~ your leadership, Lee, was concise -- aggressive and firm and still echoed the passion of faith you have and the sensitive touch that allowed the grandeur and yet gentle embrace of 'Gloria' to adorn all.
The great support of 'hunger' gave sustained foundation, our thanks for this gift you and all your musicians offered to all of us privileged to share!"

  • "Saying thanks doesn't come anywhere close to expressing how you guys have facilitated what God has done because of the choir, it's music and its message."