August 2012

Welcome Home!!!

 

I don't know about you all, but it was truly a blessing to be back with you all for a new season of dance and praise!! I said "Welcome Home" because that is what it felt like - warm hugs and sincere exchanges of peace and well being.

To those of you just joining our mini family - welcome, welcome, welcome!! I hope you enjoy your time with us on this portion of your path. If you've come for awhile or just for a moment, rest assured that you are loved, prayed for and blessings will be spoken over you and yours in the days to come.

So the work begins! I'm very excited about our new season of dance. We have great things in store for us and it will take each and every one of us to bring our joy to life!

What's here at the blog - lots of stuff.....

Off to the side is where you will see the monthly calendar posted. Don't forget to follow the blog and sign up for email alerts. Here's what else is here....

• On our HOME page (where you are right now) you will find a weekly note from me, usually posted on Sunday evenings. 

• THE MOVEMENT OF PRAISE HANDBOOK is where the parameters for our ministry are posted. Information about attendance, uniforms, presentations, etc will be posted here. While it is a living document, the information on that page doesn't change often. 

• DANCE COMMITTEES is where you find out how you can help our ministry grow and flourish. Use this page to get to the committee sign up page.

• GET THE LYRICS is where you can find the words to many of the songs we use during the season. Sometimes it helps to know what the words are to a song as you learn to steps. Especially for songs you are not familiar with, this gives you a chance to read the message, even if the style of music may not be your choice.

• CONTACT ME is how to get in touch with me 24/7 be any means necessary ^_^.

• WHATNOTS...well I'm just a plethora of information about all kinds of stuff. Recipes, upcoming events, interesting tidbits, just any old thing I think about sharing with you. Feel free to pass on items of "whatnots" to me to share on this page as well.

• PHOTO ALBUM is where I post pictures and videos of the ministry in action. Your pics and vids, my pics and vids....if you send them, I will post ^_^!

So here's to a great season - welcome once more! Our journey has just begun.......

Monday, May 7, 2012

Good morning everyone!

Quite a bit of business to take care of here today and so, I hope you will read with patience and focus.

First - let me send a Shout Out to the CYT Dance Ministry for their participation in the Sacred Dance Concert on Saturday, May 5th at Detroit School of Arts! Despite the low attendance and ups and downs of getting there, you did what you were destined to do - Show and share the love you have for God through the dance! Thank you for a job well done! And a special THANK YOU to dance mom, Melissa "Missy" Ross for helping backstage!

Second - on that note, the Children, Youth and Teen Dance Ministry (CYT) is officially on break until July 2, 2012. For the four weeks of July, I will be working with the Teen Dance Ministry members only. They will present on the fifth Sunday in July. There will be a reminder sent out via blog (hopefully email, don't count on text ^_^) at the end of June.

Third - Welcome to our newest Dance Ministry members - Brittany Major, Deja Graham, and Kyndle Saffold!! We look forward to sharing and growing with you. Again, welcome to the family!

Fourth - Adult Dance Ministry is meeting on Monday, May 7, 2012 to discuss our summer sessions and Pastor's Anniversary Presentation. Hope to see you all there ^_^

Fifth - There is a new uniform for the CYT Ministry members. Most of the children have outgrown their old dresses and we have new members. Check the "Movement of Praise Handbook" page for the information regarding these uniforms. Adult Members - your new uniforms will be ready for September's Women's Day Celebration. I will be contacting you individually to confirm sizes and pieces needed. Thank you for your patience and understanding regarding our uniforms.

In order to facilitate payments for uniforms, during the summer break, there will be a PayPal account set up for parents to make payments towards the new uniforms. Please email me at lifewaterdance@gmail.com in order to receive your individual access information. I will not be accepting cash or check payments over the summer break.

Sixth - I want to take this moment to thank each and every member of the dance ministry for this wonderful season. There have been many changes, we've experienced some trying times and plenty of happy times. We've shared tears of joy and sorrow, pain and exuberance, and above it all, we've shared a love for God, Jesus and each other. I am so glad that you have been in my life as I walk this portion of my path. You have accepted me, flaws and all ^_^.  If you don't see me or hear from me frequently, know that you are always in my heart and prayers. Thank you!

Monday, April 23, 2012

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! Rehearsal for the Children,Youth and Teen Dance Ministry (CYT) will be Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10:00am until 11:30am at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church. Check the board for room assignment. Again, please make every effort to attend this rehearsal. The CYT present on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at the 11:00am service and we need a cleanup practice prior to presenting. Please contact me if for any reason, you are unable to attend! Thanks!!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Well well well, what April does bring! Lots of challenges and changes to all things. Here's the update to the calendar!
There is no rehearsal on Monday, April 23, 2012 for the dance ministries. I would like to meet with the CYT Dance Ministry on Saturday, April 28, 2012. We are presenting on Sunday, April 29, 2012 and will definitely need a clean-up practice before presentation. We are presenting "Move" (get the lyrics on our Get The Lyrics page). The children, youth and teens need to have blue or black jeans, Shine T-shirts and bare feet. Please make every effort to be at the Saturday rehearsal. Contact me if you cannot make it for whatever reason ^_^

I've added the Adult Dance Ministry Easter presentation to the Pictures page. You can view it there.

Stay tuned for information regarding the Detroit Public Schools' Second Annual Sacred Dance Concert!!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Good Morning!
Immediate Topic - Adult Dance Rehearsal Cancelled for Monday, April 9, 2012. Children, Youth and Teens will meet this evening as usual 5:30pm - 6:40pm. We are preparing for 5th Sunday of this month, so please make every effort to attend rehearsal.

Shout Out to Tyra, Sharon and Julie H. for an anointed presentation at the 11:00am Easter Celebration Service. I received a text from Pastor J, simply saying "Absolutely Wonderful!!". I can't wait to go back to the LiveStream, so that I can enjoy the presentation as well. Thank you to Yolanda her background support, Lolita, Pauline, Sophie and the Teens who were there to calm us before and after the presentation.

Check out this awesome Christian poetry performance - you have to really listen to these two. Afterward, check out Janette...ikz on YouTube. She delivers a powerful message through her spoken word.

Have a great week! I will see you all next week!

March 27, 2012

Wow, it's seems like forever since I posted last on March 4, 2012. I definitely have to catch up. Here's the highlights of what's been happening:

1) Children and Youth Dance Ministries presented "Ise Oluwa" on the 2nd Sunday of March at the 11:00am service. It was wonderful to see the children and their presentation was well received! (Check out the Photo Gallery page to see some pre-presentation pics of the dancers)

2) March 19th was our Second Dinner with the Dance Ministry. We dined at the "not-so-new-anymore" 1917 American Bistro, just down Livernois from NPMBC. Five of our CYT members and eleven of our Adult members gathered for an evening of fun, laughs and good food! (Photos have been added to the Gallery page)

3) Check the calendar on the left side of the screen for the April calendar!

4) The CYT and Adult Dance Ministries have been invited back to the Detroit Public Schools 2nd Annual Sacred Dance Concert, May 5, 2012 at the Detroit School of Arts (DSA). Stay tuned for more details as they are available.

5) Check out the new Dance Ministry WhatNots page! The first post is a yummy recipe for Cauliflower Crust Pizza!

6) Lyrics have been posted for "Move" the CYT's current HipHop Praise piece! See the lyrics on the 'Get The Lyrics' page!

Okay, so that is what's happening. Remember, no practice, Monday, April 2, 2012 and come support the CYT ministry on the 5th Sunday of April!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Happy Sunday Everyone!! Blessed Son's Day!!

Here's what happening Monday night -
Children, Youth and Teens Rehearsal from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. I plan for the CYT Dance Ministry to present on Second Sunday this month, so come prepared to review, review, review!! I will be bringing some costume pieces some of the children to try on. White dresses are the uniform for Sunday. We will be presenting the "Amen/Ise Oluwa" Mini Ballet for second Sunday. "Move" will not be presented until the 5th Sunday in April.

Adults will meet from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. I should have music CD's available with the semester's music. I have been given a new idea, so be prepared to finish "I've Been Changed" in this rehearsal.

Please the new calendar is up for March (look on the left side of the page ^_^)

I have tentatively set March 19, 2012 (that's Monday night, y'all) for our next Dinner with the Dance Ministry. It will be at the 1917 American Bistro on Livernois at Outer Drive. (Yes, I heard what you all said about frequenting Detroit establishments). The link for the menu is here  http://www.1917americanbistro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=362&Itemid=68  I've been to this restaurant several times in the past and have enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. We will gather at 6:15pm, so please join us. Casual attire is just fine. I do need to know how many people plan on attending, so please comment your plans here!! I would also love for the children, youth and teens to join us (they can sit at their own table if there are enough of them). There is a lovely burger selection on the menu.

Okay, that's it for this week. See you Monday!

February 26, 2012

This is a special SHOUT OUT to Sister Sharon for holding down the fort while I calmly (yeah, right) paced the halls at Oakwood Hospital last Monday evening and Tuesday morning, anxiously awaiting the arrival of my very first grandniece!

Ms. Sabrina finally made her appearance on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30pm, weighing in at 7lbs, 8oz. Her mom and dad (my oldest nephew) did a stellar job with this little wonder. And so a new trend begins in this part of the Latten family. My father (of 9 brothers and 3 sisters) had 4 girls, who, between them,  had 9 boys and 1 girl. Now a new generation of girls (my daughter's first will probably be the only boy, lol) is led by the venerable Ms. S.

February 13, 2012

The CYT Dance Ministry is currently working on a series of pieces (a ballet) for presentation on the second Sunday in March. If the piece is completed, it may be presented for Black History Month at the end of February. The piece is based on this Yoruba song "Ise Oluwa". I heard and fell in love with this music when I was younger and watching the epic mini-series "Roots". We will be using the following version, as well as the version by Sweet Honey In The Rock, as well as additional pieces of music, to round out our ballet. Below is the basis of the song and a video that features the beautiful voice of Letta Mbulu, who sang the "Roots' version of the song. Believe and enjoy!

Ise oluwa, kole bajey o.

That which the creator made
can never be destroyed.

West African (Yoruba)

January 30, 2012

Here's what's happening today!!

Children, Youth and Teens have their regular rehearsal this evening from 5:30 until 6:45pm. Adults will meet this evening for Internet 101 and then class. Hope to see all of your bright and shining faces this evening. Peace!

January 9, 2012

We had an awesome returning rehearsal with the CYT Dance Ministry this past week. The youth and teens came ready to learn as we began our newest piece "Sweet In The Morning". I look forward to seeing everyone again this evening. Children, Youth, Teens and Adults, this is also a reminder that next week is our back to dance dinner at Anita's Kitchen. So far I have only heard from two of the adult members. I hope to see most, if not all of us there.

Don't forget to follow the blog by email or RSS feed. I will be sending out an email with this information as well.

Please note on the side bar the calendar for the month of January. February's Calendar will be up on the last Monday of the month. This is, of course, a living document and will be changing as the year progresses. 

I wanted to share this video with each of you - this is my favorite Psalm and I have several versions of it. Bobby's reminds me of contemporary Gregorian Chant.

December 30, 2011

Happy New Year!

from our house

to yours

Here’s to a Peaceful and Joy Filled New Year!!

See you all on Monday, January 2, 2012!!

Children, Youth & Teens 5:30pm

Adults 6:45pm