The Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary in concert “DMVAE: Celebrating 20 & Looking Forward” on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm. in the sanctuary of Faith Lutheran Church.

Under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor, Dr. Timothy A. McMillin, the Ensemble will feature the world premiere of “When Thou Commandest Me To Sing” by David Brunner, a commissioned work in honor of the Ensemble’s 20th anniversary season. The composer will be in attendance.

The celebration also highlight the winners of the 2012 Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble Composition Contest for collegiate and high school composers. Stephen Lounsbrough’s Scholar division submission “Oh, the Depth of the Riches”along with “Lux aeterna” by Apprentice division winner, Ben Sides, will be premiered. Both winners will be recognized with a cash prize each.

Guest conductor appearances will include Carol Stewart who lead the Ensemble from 2000 until her retirement in 2008 and long-time member and former assistant conductor, Earl Sides.

Music sung in native tongues from around the world are featured including works of Brahms, Ticheli, Weidner, Woo, Aguiar, Lundvik and arrangements by Jennings, Erb, Shaw and Halloran.

The Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble was formed in the spring of 1992 with the vision of promoting excellent choral performance. For the past 20 seasons, the primary goal of the Ensemble has been to bring a variety of serious choral musical styles to the community within a chamber choir setting. DMVAE: Celebrating 20 & Looking Forward is sure to provide a memorable musical experience celebrating the Ensemble’s dynamic past and looking forward to its bright future.

Individual tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 at the door. Student tickets are $6. Purchase or reserve tickets at www.dmvae.org.

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The Heartland Youth Choir would like to announce the Lullaby CD Project. HYC is creating a CD that focuses on lullaby-style music featuring all of the ensembles of the choir. The CDs will be donated to Blank Children’s Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and ChildServe. Maternity and neo-natal intensive care unit staff will give these CDs out to the families who can use them to help their newborns grow and develop through the power of music.

There is evidence to suggest that lullabies help provide a good night’s sleep, promote bonding between the infant and caregiver, enhance cognitive, speech, and language development, as well as listening skills and motor development. Lullabies have also been shown to help sick babies in intensive care maintain normal behavioral development, making them less irritable, upset and less likely to cry. Lullabies may help strengthen premature babies. Preemies who were exposed to music gained more weight, and had lower blood pressure and a stronger heartbeat.

The songs will be featured at the HYC Annual WorldSongs concert on Mother’s Day, a perfect time to sing this special music in honor of Mothers and caregivers. The concert is open to the public and takes place on May 13, at 4:30 on the Sheslow stage at Drake University. Tickets are $15/adults and $7/students and will be available at the door.

For more information or to make a donation to the project, please call 515-221-3922 or email heartlandyouthch@qwestoffice.net.

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Join me for f.e.d.d. on Thursdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As busy working parents, it can be hard to fit in a Bible study in the evening or early morning. Many of us use our lunch hour to run errands. How about running an errand for six weeks to help you nurture your faith? Join me for a new Bible study, f.e.d.d. (Faith Education During the Day).

During this six-week Bible study for adults, we will work through a group Bible study written by Timothy Keller called A Reason for God. We will start promptly at 11:45 a.m. in the Faith Lights room with a 15 minute video (just enough time to eat your sack lunch.) Then we will spend the next 20 min discussing the video and digging into God’s word. At 12:30 p.m., you can head back to work with your brain full of God’s word. Feel free to invite a co-worker!

R.S.V.P. to Melinda at melindalittler@faithlc.org by April 4!

f.e.d.d. will start April 5 and continue on Thursdays through May 10. I challenge you to give a six-week study a chance!

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Seeds of Faith Early Learning Center is seeking part-time Teacher Associates for the 2012-2013 preschool year. The hours would be Monday through Thursday from approximately 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This position requires an individual with experience working with small children. A qualified candidate should possess a warm and caring personality and a genuine love for young children. A degree in education is desired, but not required. A job description is available online at www.faithlc.org/preschool. If you are interested in the position, please submit an application and resume by March 15, 2012, to Heidi LaBounty, Seeds of Faith Director. Please contact Heidi at 689-8334 or seedsoffaith@faithlc.org if you have any questions concerning the position.

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Attention 9th through 12th Graders: Spots are still available for the 2012 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. (Yes, you can bring your friends!) The Youth Gathering, scheduled for July 16 through 23, 2012, is a once-every-three-years event attended by over 36,000 Lutheran youth and adults from across the U.S. to encounter Jesus in each other and to respond to God’s call to make a difference in the world. It includes five days of incredible music, speakers, activities, sight-seeing, Bible study and service in the great city of New Orleans. Total cost is only $250, and scholarships are available. Interested? Contact Jake Bouma at jakebouma@faithlc.org or 210-3510.

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