Grace Notes Spring 2012 Rehearsal and Orientation Schedule

Singing at the bedside of a family and friends is an act of compassion and love.  Singing at the bedside of others is an act of boundless love and compassion. 

Grace Notes is a group of singers who bring gentle songs of love and comfort to the bedside of those who are on hospice services. A hospice choir, if you will.  Twice a month we, a small and growing group of volunteers, visit people throughout the Twin Cities, MN metro on Asera Care Hospice's roster.

Twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Mondays, we practice our a cappella, paperless music in the choir room at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in St. Paul's Merriam Park neighborhood (1895 Laurel Ave -- the corner of Laurel and Howell).  It's an open rehearsal from 7-9 p.m. - if you're curious it's a good way to feel out the waters. 

On the ocassional month with five Mondays, we gather for a potluck on the last Monday.  This event is open to all as well.  In 2012 potlucks will be in January, April, July, October and December.  Please contact us through the Email subscription form for location details. 

Singing at the bedside is allowed once volunteer training with Asera Care is completed.  Becoming a volunteer includes learning more about hospice, background checks to clear you for working with vulnerable people, other medical tests, and some other paperwork.  2012 training dates will be held in February, May, August and November.  To find out more, please contact Ruth at Asera Care, 952-943-0009.

Are you ready to sing with your full heart?  Come and join us at the bedside.

SHH in the library - 2012 dates

Just a simple post with the details.

First Sundays of the month, except January, September (traditionally holiday weekends) and any other dates the library might be closed. In 2012 it looks like:

- Feb 5
- Mar 4
- Apr 1
- May 6
- Jun 3
- Jul 1
- Aug 5
- Sep ... Oops not tis month
- Oct 7
- Nov 4
- Dec 2

Jot those dates in your calendar, send reminders to yourself and then find yourself in the OSF library between 4-6pm. Updates on parking to come soon.

"Come, come, whoever your are .."

SHH, Dec 4, 2011

• What:  Sing Heavenly Harmony, a.k.a. SHH, in the Library - a contemplative, reflective, meditative singing flash mob.  You'll walk away a little clearer and more connected to your heart. 
• Where:  O'Shaughnessy Room 108, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, University of St. Thomas, NW corner of Summit and Cleveland Ave, St. Paul, MN (parking)
• When:  late afternoon on Sun, Dec 4, 2011.  The room is reserved between 4-6 p.m.  SHH may be the first hour or the second, but not both.  We'll update this as soon as details with the videographer are finalized.  (What's this about a videographer?)  UPDATE:  SHH will be at 4 p.m.

Gratitude blogroll 2011

Points of Light Music is grateful for many things this year... Here's the list as I know it (and many apologies for anyone omitted). 

Song Level ($1,000+)

• Metropolitan Regional Arts Council - for awarding us a Community Arts Award from the Arts & Cultural Legacy funds to start Grace Notes and providing so many free workshops for artists to grow through business
• Springboard for the Arts - for being the fiscal sponsor for Points Of Light Music and strengthening our capacity to tell our story
• Creative Community Leadership Institute & Intermedia Arts, i.e., Bill, Wendy and Erik - for inviting me to be a Fellow this summer
• AseraCare Hospice, Bloomington - for partnering with Points Of Light Music to create Grace Notes

Stanza Level ($300-999)

• Friendly Streets Initiative - for inviting me to be a Placemaking Artist at their Block Parties this summer.
• Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network - for providing arts internships in the Creative Aging field, and especially the songwriting one I participated in with Charlie Maguire
• Mark Bussey
• Janice Weller

Verse Level ($100-299)

• Marta Barnett
• Henry Borchardt
• Karen Mateer

Phrase Level (under $99)

• Anonymous (3)
• Sarah Bowman
• Al Bostelmann
• Ruth Goettig
• Lucy Heegaard
• Will Hale
• Ana Hernandez
• Karen Hogan
• Glenda Huston
• Rochelle James
• Janice Kragness
• Theresa Krier
• Sarah MacDougall
• Julie Robinson
• Jan Sedgewick
• LeeAnne Watkins

Note-worthy Level (non-financial)

• All my CCLI fellows, especially lab partners, Barry and Sheronda, and mentor Sandy
• All my Friendly Streets Placemaking artists, especially Molly
• All the good people in the Hamline-Midway and Frogtown neighborhood associations and the St. Paul Fair Lending Coalition, especially Jun-Li, Alan, Lily, Sam, Dave, and Needham
• All the staff at AseraCare Hospice, especially Renee and Ruth
• All the members of Grace Notes hospice choir
• All the AseraCare Hospice patients, their families, friends, roommates, and caregivers
• All my fellow Morning Star Singers, especially Barbara, Rena, Jules, Kris, Jessica, and Jeanne
• All my colleagues at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, St. Paul
• All my colleagues at the University of St. Thomas Libraries, especially Julie for scheduling Sing Heavenly Harmony (SHH!) in the O'Shaughnessy Room
• All my peers and mentors in the Music for Healing and Transition Program, especially Marcia and Melinda
• All my Dances of Universal Peace partners, especially Hakim, Zahir, Francis, and Will

Infinite Silence Level - The beginning of all things, which without it would make all of the above null and void. 

• The blessing of being placed on this earth with the skills to bring awareness of the suffering and pain surrounding us and the gifts to share joy, comfort and compassion at this time.