What Is a Song Gift Weekend?
A gift of song.
Song for your community . . .
Song for your church . . .
Imagine a Saturday night concert of Lorraine’s inspirational music followed by the gift of a song written for your church and offered at worship the next morning.
Imagine a song written to accompany your sermon, scripture for the day, or particular theme.
Imagine giving members of your congregation a gift of song for one special Sunday that they can continue to sing well into the future, a song that is deeply personal.
"Lorraine’s ability to listen is magnificent. Not only was she able to hear where our community of faith was at, but also how the Holy Spirit was moving in and through the Word of God. She then put what she heard to music. I truly believe that what St. John’s received during our Song Gift Weekend was not just a song, but a God-breathed message from the Almighty."
—Pastor Ryan Nace, St. John’s Reformed Church, Red Hook, NY
Lorraine has released two award-winning CDs of music she wrote for her home church: “Songs from Hopewell” and “More Songs from Hopewell.” She is now bringing this gift of song to churches around the country. Appearing in concert with her husband, musician/producer Godfrey Nelson, and their eleven-year-old daughter, Lorraine’s concert program, “Songs and Stories of Love, Loss, and Hope,” is a journey of faith expressed in music, winding through love and loss—and ultimately to hope. Sunday services can be gifted not only with a memorable composed song but also with Lorraine's settings of service music, such as her “Praise God (Doxology),” now being sung in churches worldwide.
"The weekend that you spent with us has had a lasting impact on the worship life of our church. I long ago lost count of all those who have expressed their appreciation for the "Song Gift Sunday" that you shared with us. It was so much more than just a concert, it was a mountain-top spiritual experience for all in attendance."
—Christopher T. Jenkins, Director of Music and Worship, First Baptist Church of Springfield, VA
Song Gifts can be configured in different ways- from single night concerts to Sunday worship with an afternoon concert. Scroll down for comments, sound files, and sheet music from recent weekends.
For fee schedules and more information on how to bring a Song Gift Weekend to your church, email Ribbon Hill Music.
"Lorraine's music reached the very depths of personal pain and loss and kissed it with the healing touch of love and forgiveness. She is a gifted musician whose life is laid open in her own compositions, and in doing so she touched our emotions. We plan on having her back."
—Pastor Dave Hondorp, Lyall Memorial Federated Church, Millbrook, NY
Some of the churches, individuals, and organizations that have been gifted: The Reformed Church in America; Guideposts; Love, Inc.; Room For All; The Warwick Center; Pastor Randy Prentiss; Evelyn Freed; Pastor James Neevel and the Christ Community Reformed Church, Clifton Park, NY; Pastor Constance Moser and the Ascutney Union Church, Ascutney, VT; Pastor Taylor Holbrook and the Hopewell Reformed Church, Hopewell Junction, NY; Pastor Catherin Gumpert and the Readington Reformed Church, Readington, NJ; Pastor Kathryn Davelaar and the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack, Claverack, NY; Pastor James Beukelman and the Senior Choir of the Reformed Church of Port Ewen, Port Ewen, NY; Pastor Marlene Qualle and the Unity Church of Bloomington, Bloomington, MN; Christopher T. Jenkins, Director of Music and Worship and the Sanctuary Choir of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, Springfield, VA; Pastor Dave Hondorp and the Lyall Memorial Federated Church, Millbrook, NY; Pastor Ryan Nace and the Senior Choir of St. John's Reformed Church, Red Hook, NY; Pastor Miguel Cruz, Worship Leaders Dave and Cindy Driver, and the Haven Shores Community Church, West Olive, MI
A Recent Song Gift Sunday
The First Baptist Church of Springfield, Virginia, 11-8-09
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Chris Jenkins, Minister of Music and Worship, contacted me about coming to First Baptist Church for a Song Gift Weekend. He had been using some of my music in worship and was interested in a Song Gift where the concert would be on the same day as worship. After choosing a date, we began planning for the service through email and phone conversations. Five months later, Lauren and I arrived at this beautiful church on a Saturday night after the drive down from New York. Chris met us there and brought extra arms to help set up as my husband Godfrey was home with the flu! |
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A majestic organ and piano prelude played by Connie Jenkins and Chris Kang opened the morning service. Voices were raised in hymns and choruses and a sermon on God's Word was preached by Pastor Jim Weaver. I had the opportunity to sing with the choir several times during worship, singing "Praise God," "The Lord's Prayer," and "This I Believe." |
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After worship, a wonderful lunch was served. Lauren is still talking about the delicious lasagna. Our thanks go to the chefs and the kitchen staff for preparing such a feast. The time of food and fellowship was enjoyed by people of all ages. |
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Back in the sanctuary, I rehearsed with my special concert guests, the Melody Makers and the Young Musicians children's choirs. They had prepared the song "Feed Your Sheep" under Chris's direction. Thank you, young choir members, for singing so beautifully! | |
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The sanctuary began to fill up and soon it was time for...the concert! Lauren and I enjoyed playing for such an attentive and generous audience. I'd especially like to thank the children's choirs for being such polite audience members. | |
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Afterwards, Lauren and I had the opportunity to speak with many people in what was a wonderful end to our Song Gift Sunday. We send our heartfelt thanks to everyone at First Baptist for the hospitality and warm welcome you gave us. You made our visit a blessed one that we'll remember! |
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We spent the first days of spring at St. John's and the light did shine in! When Pastor Ryan shared his vision for the future of the church, the chorus of this song came to me. What a blessing to have a wonderful choir to continue writing for. My thanks to Pastor Ryan for including "The Lord's Prayer" (sung beautifully with Rebecca and Lynn), "Create In Me, O God," "Speak, Lord," and "Praise God (Doxology)" in the worship service. My thanks to the choir and the congregation for singing so splendidly and for being such gracious hosts.
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Dedicated to Pastor Dave Hondorp and the congregation of the Lyall Memorial Federated Church, Millbrook, New York
Pastor Dave asked if I could write a song to celebrate the different religious traditions that have come together under one roof at Lyall, a song to pay tribute to the church’s past as it imagines what the future may hold. I was pleased to offer this on Sunday morning as well as to get the whole congregation involved in singing some new music. My thanks to the junior and youth choirs for singing “Feed Your Sheep,” to the adult choir and congregation for singing “Praise God (Doxology),” and to sisters Louise Roeller and Christine Horihan for joining me in a beautiful rendition of “The Lord's Prayer.” mp3 - Photo: Lorraine with Pastor Dave |
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Pastor Connie's sermon for our song gift weekend, "The Great Physician," inspired my song “Wounded Healer.” We spent a wonderful weekend in this beautiful Vermont town, made some new friends, and had a truly inspiring visit. Visit the Scrapbook page for photos, along with the story of a newly revived church tradition called “Dan’s Crosses,” in which we were honored to participate. Photo: Lorraine with Pastor Connie
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Love Lifted Me
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Comments on Song Gift Weekends
"What a gentle but profound experience! Lorraine and her family are a joy to be with, and they connected in a meaningful way with parishioners. We are still a small Vermont church that is facing many challenges, but a song of hope continues to echo in our hearts, thanks to Lorraine's concert."
—Pastor Connie Moser, Ascutney Union Church, Ascutney, VT
"Listening to Lorraine is another means of having a spiritual experience. Her lyrical voice and her music both elevated my soul and expanded my heart. It was a time of healing and celebration of humanity and our oneness."
—Diane Naas, Unity South Church, Bloomington, MN
"The church family at Wentworth Congregational Church and I as Pastor want to thank you for the beautiful concert you gave. It was a mountaintop experience for all of us. The variety of music you played and the use of the instruments—keyboard, piano, organ, and harp—were an inspiration. It was one of those special concerts that you wish would go on for another hour. We want you to come back to Wentworth this summer for a concert on our village green. Wentworth Congregational Church is honored to have you as a friend."
—Pastor Don Sweimler, Wentworth Congregational Church, Wentworth, NH
"Every time you sang your beautiful songs I cried. You have a divine gift for pulling out emotions of love and joy to the listener. Your performance was magnificent. Thank you for your gift."
—Judy Moen, Music Director, Unity South Church, Bloomington, MN
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