Confirmation is a sacrament and a tradition in the Protestant church in which one makes a mature commitment to Christ, in front of the entire congregation. Dr. Norris and I would like to share this commitment to Christ with your child.

Dr. Norris will be leading a series of confirmation classes, taking your child on a faith journey so that he or she is ready to make a commitment to Christ on Confirmation day. After attending classes with Dr. Norris and me, I will lead the Emmaus weekend retreat, which will culminate with your child’s confirmation day on Sunday, June 3rd.

8th grade and older are welcome!

Please mark your calendar for confirmation classes which will take place before church on
May 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th
The Emmaus retreat will take place on Friday, June 1st-Saturday, June 2nd.

*Emmaus is a retreat which gives children a chance to reflect on who they are, their relationships with others and their relationship with Christ. Emmaus was a retreat that I experienced at Cardinal Newman High School, and it was an experience I will never forget!

Confirmation will take place during the church service on Sunday, June 3rd

*Please RSVP to Chrissie by May 1st!

June 11th-June 15th

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. every day

A fuzzy caterpillar crawls along a leaf, attaches itself to a twig, hangs upside down, and spins a chrysalis. Then God changes that little caterpillar. And it emerges, transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Our great God transforms people in even bigger ways.

BugZone: Transformed by Our Big God challenges students with life stories of people who were transformed by God. Students follow Joshua’s transformation from a slave in Egypt to the man who led God’s people into the Promised Land. God transformed Gideon from a frightenend man into a confident leader who believed in what God would do. God provided for Naomi and Ruth, transforming Naomi from a sad, bitter woman into a happy grandmother, and bringing Ruth a husband and joy. Zacchaeus had been a dishonest tax collector who charged people more money than they owed, but God changed him. God transformed Saul from a man who hated Christians into a man who served God by teaching boldly about Jesus. Our God transforms lives in big ways!

Responding to God is an extreme, life-changing experience. BugZone challenges students to obediently follow God’s leading; to bravely trust in His promises, power, and presence; and to obey Him even in hard times. Believing in Jesus as Savior transforms our lives so that we want to live to please God and tell others how God can change them too.

Join the Royal Poinciana Chapel on our journey with BugZone during the week of June 11^th through June 15^th, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. every day (Please arrive at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, the 11^th). 3 years old (potty-trained) through 10 years old are welcome to join us. 13 years old and older are welcome to join our program as junior counselors.

Please register your child for Vacation Bible Camp by Friday, May 11^th and send checks to the Royal Poinciana Chapel. We look forward to seeing your child(ren) in June!

April 15
Bluegrass Sunday
Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Guest Artists
The ONE Thing We All Have In Common

April 22
SERMON TITLE TBA
John (Skip) Randolph
Guest Preacher

April 29
Imagine There’s A Heaven…

May 6
Communion
When You Come to a Fork in the Road

May 13
Mother’s Day
God’s Secrets and Signposts

May 20
Oxymoronic Faithful Doubt
Dr. Lloyd Mims
Guest Preacher

May 27
Pentecost
Memorial Day Sunday
When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

MAUNDY THURSDAY
A Dramatic  Re-enacting of DaVinci’s
THE LAST SUPPER
Child Care Available with reservations (655-4212)

GOOD FRIDAY
April 6, 2012  12:00 Noon
DuBois, SEVEN LAST WORDS
Choral Cantata and Meditation

EASTER
April 8, 2012   9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Worship and Children’s Ministry
Dr. Robert S. Norris, Preaching
Children’s Egg Extravaganza on the Great Lawn
Immediately following the 11:00 a.m. Worship service.

———————————————————————————————

Chrissie Randolph Ferguson
Director of Children and Youth Ministry
The Royal Poinciana Chapel
60 Cocoanut Row
Palm Beach, FL 33480
work: (561) 655-4212

On Sunday, March 18, 5:00 p.m. the Royal Poinciana Chapel will host a catered “Make Your Own Sundae” social and be entertained by the popular barbershop music of “Women of Note” on the Chapel’s Great Lawn. The four part Women of Note will perform a mix of popular standards, country, oldies, gospel, patriotic and contemporary selections.

Reservations are required and should be made by Thursday, March 15th

What is the Women of Note Chorus?
The Women of Note Chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International.   They are an organization of female singers who meet regularly to practice, socialize and have fun.  In addition to the chorus, some members also sing in quartets. The choruses and quartets perform around the community and enjoy competing at the regional Sweet Adelines competition in Daytona each spring.

What kind of music do we sing?
Women of Note performs four-part a cappella harmony, barbershop style. This style of music lends itself to songs from any era – today’s ballads, popular show tunes, even jazz.  They sing a combination of upbeat songs and ballads, a refreshing alternative to classical music.

A GALA OF OPERA FAVORITES

Palm Beach Opera’s Young Artists
Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 5:00 PM
Tickets: FREE

Palm Beach Opera’s Young Artists will present a concert of arias, duets, and ensembles as a part of the Chapel’s annual Concert Series.  The concert will feature selections from IPagliacci, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Romeo et Juliette, Tanhäuser, Rigoletto, Gianni Schicchi, and more!

More information about Palm Beach Opera…

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Soprano Emily Duncan-Brown is thrilling audiences with her “warm, rich middle, a shimmering, flexible top, excellent control… and her exquisitely beautiful delivery.”  In the 2010-2011 season she covered Ellie Dehn in the role of Inez in L’Africaine with Opera Orchestra of New York and performs Alice Ford in Falstaff with Mannes Opera.  Other upcoming engagements include Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore with International Vocal Arts Institute and the role of Phaedra in Chistopher Park’s opera Phaedra and Hippolytus to be performed at the Palacio das Artes in Brazil in 2012.  Emily recently performed the role of Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos at Tanglewood Music Center, under the baton of Maestro Christoph von Dohnanyi. Miss Duncan-Brown holds a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University, a Masters degree from Mannes College and is presently completing a Professional Studies Diploma at Mannes.  Visit website…

Alexandra Rafalo, is a Polish-American soprano. She has sung with Opera Fresca, DuPage Opera Theatre, Opera Tampa, and the Lyric Orchestra. Her roles have included Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Micaela in Carmen, Tosca, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Yvette, and Magda in La Rondine. Alexandra was awarded Grand Prize of the Elgin Opera competition (2008), and First Prize of the Sherrill Milnes Opera Idol competition (2008). Her solo concert performances have included: A Night of Kern and Romberg, Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah. Ms. Rafalo was an apprentice artist at Sarasota Opera, receiving the Leo M.Rogers award, and Opera Tampa. In those programs, she performed scenes as Tosca, Donna Elvira, Fiordiligi, Marguerite (Faust), Anna Bolena, Madama Butterfly. Ms. Rafalo has coached with opera greats: Sherrill Milnes, Tito Capobianco, Fabrizio Melano, and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.Recently Alexandra was a Resident Artist at the Lyric Orchestra, singing excerpts from Ernani (Elvira), I Vespri Siciliani (Elena), Manon Lescaut, Un Ballo in Maschera (Amelia) and more.

Iranian Canadian mezzo soprano Shirin Eskandani is an avid performer on both the operatic and recital stage.  Recent roles include Medoro in Handel’s Orlando, Carmen in La Tragedie de Carmen, Ruggiero in Alcina, and Mercedes in Carmen.  As a soloist she has performed in numerous works including Bach’s Matthaus-Passion, Handel’s Messiah, and Durufle’s Requiem. She has premiered several works including The Oratorio to End all Oratorios with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s performance of Handel’s Messiah. A frequent recitalist, Ms. Eskandani has performed in numerous concerts in Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In 2005, she had the honor of performing as a featured soloist for the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Shirin Ebadi.  Ms. Eskandani has worked as a young artist with Syracuse Opera, the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Green Mountain Opera and the Banff Centre.  This past summer she covered the role of Geneviève in Pelléas and Mélisande at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.  Visit website…

Originally from Mexico City, Evanivaldo Correa Serrano began his studies in 1998 at The College of Music. From 2002 to 2005 he participated in the SIVAM workshop with Professor Cesar Ulloa. In 2005 he entered into AVA (Academy of Vocal Arts) in Philadelphia and finished participation in January 2007.  He has been presented in concerts The Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City.  In 2010, he won First Place in the competition “Young Voices of the Bel Canto” in Mexico City, and a scholarship in La Scuola dell´Opera Italiana in Bologna Italia.  Last season at Palm Beach Opera he played the roles of Abdallo in Nabucco, Spoletta in Tosca, and Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte Family Performance. In his second year in the Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Program, he will be seen in the roles of Romeo in Romeo et Juliette Family performance and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, as well as cover BF Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly.

Baritone R. Kenneth Stavert, a native of Southern California, has been hailed for his strong sense of theatrics as well as commanding vocal prowess. Kenneth has performed with companies such as Glimmerglass Opera, Opera North, Center City Opera Theater, Cincinnati Symphony, Pasadena Pops Orchestra and the Northwest Young Recitalist Association. This season at Palm Beach Kenneth will sing Yamadori in Madama Butterfly and Gregorio in Roméo et Juliette. Recent roles include Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Schaunard in La bohemé, Dancaïro in Carmen and Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte. Kenneth has been a Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Finalist, a Houston Grand Opera Semi-Finalist, and a Finalist in the Jensen Competition. He has twice been a Prize Winner in the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, the first Place winner in the Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition and the Grand Prize Winner of the Florida Grand Opera Young Patronesses of the Opera Vocal Competition.  Mr. Stavert’s Young Artist residency is sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild. Visit website…

Benjamin Clements holds a Master of Music in Voice from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Michigan State University.  Mr. Clements returned this summer to the Santa Fe opera as a member of the young artist’s program.  For the SFO he performed the role of the First Apprentice in Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, and the role of the Catholic Priest in Menotti’s The Last Savage.  Last year Mr. Clements performed the role of Zuniga in Bizet’s Carmen with the Florida Grand Opera.  In 2009 at the Music Academy of the West he sang the role of Lothario in Thomas’ Mignon.  In the same year Mr. Clements appeared as Figaro in Juilliard’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro.  At Juilliard he also performed a recital with pianist and coach Margo Garrett.  In the summer of 2008 he appeared as Blitch in the Chautauqua Institution’s production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah.  During that year Mr. Clements made his Carnegie Hall debut as the bass soloist for Musica Sacra’s production of Handel’s Messiah. Visit website…

HAROLD BROWN, PIANO

Seagull Cottage at The Royal Poinciana Chapel

Tickets: FREE

American pianist Harold Brown has been heard throughout the United States, in Europe, Australia and South America, as well as on television and radio, in recital, in chamber music, and as a soloist with symphony orchestras. Mr. Brown has participated in numerous music festivals and has often appeared in master classes and lecture recitals. He has an extensive repertoire ranging from Bach to Messiaen. His performances of Ravel’s complete piano works have garnered high critical acclaim.

Mr. Brown recently released a CD featuring the Chopin Preludes and works from the French repertoire. During the past seasons he has been heard on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and in televised performances of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto during an extensive tour throughout Brazil and Chile. Mr. Brown recently gave the premiere performance of American composer Donald Waxman’s Serenade and Fantasy with Saul Bitran, first violinist of the twice Grammy-nominated Cuarteto Latinoamericano. In addition to solo and concerto appearances, recent performances have included collaboration with Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Constantine Orbelian.

Mr. Brown’s formal studies were at George Mason University and at the Juilliard School. His teachers include Nina Sveltlanova, Adele Marcus, and Josef Raieff. His keen interest in style and performance traditions has led him to a broad range of study and research in various musical centers throughout the world. Of special importance were studies devoted to Baroque and early Classical keyboard music in Germany with Edith Picht-Axenfeld and in Oxford, England with Rosalyn Tureck. Mr. Brown’s close association with French piano music began as the result of his extensive work in Paris with Gaby Casadesus and Vlado Perlemuter both of whom were closely associated with Ravel and Fauré. Mr. Perlemuter is the only person to have studied Ravel’s entire oeuvre for piano solo with the composer himself. For performances of Olivier Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-]ésus in 2008, the centenary of the composer’s birth, he has worked under the guidance of the great French pianist Yvonne Loriod Messiaen, who premiered nearly all of her husband’s piano music. As a student of Alicia de Larrocha, he received the Specialization in Spanish Music diploma from the Academia Granados Marshall in Barcelona.

Currently on the faculty of the Palm Beach Community College, Mr. Brown is also frequently asked to serve as a judge for various competitions. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife, the singer Rhonda Brown. They have two children, Harold II and Elizabeth.

JESUS; First Person Present
The “I AM” Statements of Jesus

February 26
First Sunday in Lent
ONE DAY AT A TIME
I AM the bread of life. – John 6:35

March 4
Second Sunday in Lent
Communion Sunday
REACH OUT AND TOUCH
I AM the true vine. – John 15:1

March 11
Third Sunday in Lent
Daylight Savings Time Begins
ONE IN 1.0 x 1024
I AM the light of the world. – John 10:9

March 18
Fourth Sunday in Lent
PLEASE COME IN
I AM the gate. – John 10:9

March 25
Fifth Sunday in Lent
WHAT IF CARL SAGAN, ALBERT EINSTEIN
& STEVEN HAWKING ARE CORRECT?
Before Abraham was … I AM. – John 8:58

April 1
Palm Sunday
Communion
NO FOOLING!
I AM the way, and the truth and the life. – John 14:6

April 8
Easter Day
LIVE NOW … FOREVER!
I AM the resurrection and the life. – John 11:25