Grace News January 4, 2022

Announcements

Dates to Remember

Devotionals Available

Berks Sinfonietta

Something Borrowed, Something New Berks Sinfonietta in concert

Berks Sinfonietta continues exploring the classical period symphony in works by Mozart, Haydn, Boccherini, and Swedish composer Elfrida Andrée. The concert is Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 4:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 517 N. Queen Street in Lancaster. For the safety of all in attendance, masks are required, and non-vaccinated individuals are invited to watch Saturday’s livestream broadcast for the cost of an at-will donation – more information can be found here.  

Mozart’s “Symphony No. 29” is perhaps his first fully mature symphonic work. Scholar Stanley Sadie describes it as “a landmark … personal in tone, indeed perhaps more individual in its combination of an intimate, chamber music style with a still fiery and impulsive manner.” While Mozart uses expected classical compositional conventions – a gently reticent slow movement, followed by a crisply energetic minuet and joy-filled finale – there is now greater complexity and a subtler tone.  

Originally written for an unknown opera, Haydn thought so highly of his “Overture la 7” that he later repurposed it as an alternate finale to his fifty-third symphony. The writing is typically joyful, brimming with energy and invention.  

Wranitzky’s “Symphony in C Major” (Op. 19), signifies a high point in his career. When Franz II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in Frankfurt in July 1792, Wranitzky was commissioned to compose a work to celebrate: this symphony was the result. It is marked by a suitably festive orchestration that includes horns, trumpets, and timpani, in music of stark contrasts, rhythmic drive, and harmonic ingenuity.

Born in Lucca, Italy, Boccherini studied music and the cello initially with his father and then in Rome. While much of his output understandably focuses on the cello, he wrote prolifically in every genre. As a youth, he toured throughout Europe gaining fame as a sensitive and virtuosic player. His “Sinfonia in D” originally served as an overture to his Il Giuseppe oratorio, but was quickly allowed to stand on its own as a three-movement symphony.  

Elfrida Andrée was born in Visby, Sweden and studied with Niels Wilhelm Gade. An activist in the Swedish women’s movement, she was one of the first female organists to be officially appointed in Scandinavia. “Andante Quasi Recitativo,” one of her best-known and touching works, was premiered in May 1877 conducted by the composer.

Live concert tickets ($15/Adult & $5/Child) are available at the door and online here

Longenecker Family Update

December 30, 2021

Merry Christmas! Amid the challenges of the past year, we celebrate the humble entry of God into our world and rejoice that His Kingdom continues to advance and His light continues to shine.

As we reflect on this past year, we thought we’d share a few highlights and challenges:

Highlights

• Spending significant time with our families while back in the U.S., participating with our church in Lancaster, seeing many friends despite the pandemic
• Arriving in West Africa and reconnecting with friends after being away for over a year
• Lucie and William enjoying Maternelle, making friends, and learning French
• Erin gaining confidence in the personnel role and building relationships—both with others on our local team and with SIM mentors around the world
• Joseph building 95% of a cable tool drill rig from scratch, including parts successfully manufactured by a local machine shop, in the process consuming 75 pounds of welding rods and producing 50 pounds of metal chips on the lathe

Challenges

• Saying good-byes
• Dealing with health issues like heat rash, styes, and allergic reactions to mosquito bites
• Walking with several friends in hard seasons: hospitalizations, death of livestock, lost ID documents, motorcycle breakdowns, job loss
• Responding to the growing number of internally displaced people—over 1.4 million—and the resulting increases in food prices

This last challenge underlines the need for reliable, affordable access to clean water, and Joseph is eager to begin testing the drill rig in the new year. Additionally, if you’re interested in helping our local team provide food and basic supplies to those displaced by violence, we’ve included a link to SIM’s famine relief fund below.

We’re so grateful for your encouragement, support, and prayers over the past year—thank you!

May this new year bring renewed hope and peace to you and your loved ones,

Joseph, Erin, Lucie, and William Longenecker

Pray

• Continue to pray for all those displaced by violence in West Africa. Praise God for the support our team has provided those affected by the conflict.
• Pray for wisdom for both Joseph and Erin as we discern priorities in our work and roles.
• Pray for Lucie and William as they return to maternelle after Christmas vacation.
• Pray for good health and renewed energy in the new year.

Support

Joseph and Erin: Here or search for missionary ID 043533

Famine relief fund: Here or search for project ID 093255

By check: Payable to SIM USA with the relevant ID number in the memo line. Mail to SIM USA at the address in the footer.

Creation Care

Cap Collection

We are still collecting caps for the Earth Savers Club at Central York High School. If you would like to help—drop off your clean/label free caps to the church office! Thank you for helping to protect our planet!

This Week’s Green Tip

Our Grace Family