August 2016 - Vol. 2 - No. 2

Coolest greetings one and all!!

Summer vacations, school breaks, etc. are winding down even though the temperatures are staying up, up, up. As some seasons continue, like that of summer, growing up, and the like, others can come to a close. I’m at the beginnings of a new chapter in my life and am looking forward to seeking out innovative ways of serving others through my music, my faith, and living life to the plus.

So, without carrying on much longer, here is the next issue of “Theodore Talks.” Enjoy!

All things music and creative!

A big change has taken place regarding the St. Louis Renaissance Faire. It has moved to a new season/time of the year, Autumn. This coming fall, I will again reprise my role as Francois I, King of France (1492-1547).

The Greenleaf Singers are off to a much earlier start for the new season than in years past. With the move of the St. Louis Renaissance Faire into the fall, we need to dust off the “old” before we bring in the “new.” For all of you who can’t wait until after Thanksgiving to see the Greenleaf Singers, come out to the St. Louis Renaissance Faire, and hear their wonderfully blended voices.

Compositional activities, especially with regards to the Lutheran Church Composer-in-Residence Program, are currently in transition. I have begun brainstorming ways to incorporate a more service-oriented dynamic into the presentation and marketing areas of my music. So, stay tuned as more will be revealed in the coming months.

(Two puns can be found in the last full paragraph above. Can you find them? If so, what are they?)

Living Life to the +Plus!

Last month, I provided some tips on reducing stress. Did you know that stress impacts sleep, and that how you sleep can either increase or help reduce stress? Well, making simple changes, one step at a time, to aid in improving our sleep habits, as suggested in the following list, can move us ever closer towards harmonious health and better sleep:

Our Stories
The first phrase of Psalm 51:11, “Cast me not away from your presence….” is a plea to God to keep us near him. Could we also be asking God to listen? So too, do others ask the same of us. One of the core elements of a Vibrant Faith, as well as in leadership, genuine hospitality, marketing, and even in music making, is relationships. A simple, yet significant pathway for building, nurturing, and sustaining relationships, involves taking time to listen and to learn about another person’s life story. So, how difficult would it be to show interest in someone else’s journey? Share in their joys, their sorrows, their fears? The only way to move forward together, is to know where we’ve been.

Past issues are now available on my website at: "Theodore Talks" - A Newsletter

If you know of anyone who would like to receive this newsletter, let me know and I can add their information to the list or you can send them to the contact/subscription page of my website: www.theodorejander.com/?page_id=40

Blessings to each of you!