Merry Christmas!!
Never forget
the
REASON FOR THE SEASON!
Hi Everyone!!
No, you didn’t miss the November newsletter….we just had so much going on I couldn’t find time to write! So, please forgive me, and let me get right to the new announcement!
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Faith:REFINED is pleased to announce the addition of Pete & Kim Rieche to the band!
Kim is a singer, songwriter, and musician. She lives with her husband and two children in the Houston area. Her most recent work as a composer/performer has been showcased in the independent feature film "The Goal". She has also written songs for a promotional video and a theme song for a pilot for a new sitcom. She is currently writing songs for two additional independent feature films. Most weekends you can find her playing in the worship band at her church. In her spare time, she works in the aerospace industry.
Pete Rieche is an occasional poet and a superb musician. He picked up the bass guitar only a few years ago but plays it like he was born with it. He played bass on the song "And They Run" with his wife Kim for the movie "The Goal". He has played with many church worship bands in the Clear Lake area. He's formally studied the Bible at a college level. In his spare time, he works at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
We are so blessed to have them with us!!
Unfortunately, we had to also say a sad “Good Bye” to our former vocalist, Jennifer Barber. Jennifer wants to focus more on her church activities and home-schooling for her girls. She is such a fantastic singer, and we will miss her greatly. But, we know that her family will be blessed to have her at home with them, and we wish her much success. Please continue to cover her in prayer during this time! You will still be able to hear Jennifer on our websites and on our debut CD, “By Faith”.
The departure of Jennifer left a void that needed to be filled. We began praying that the Lord would send us just the right person. At the same time, I had been toying around with the ideal of having a bass player join us. When Kim came along, and told us that her husband also played bass…..we knew our prayers had been answered!! Thank You Lord! We will be adding new music soon featuring Kim & Pete, but you can catch them live with us at our next gig, January 26th, 2007, in Seabrook, TX. Details can be found here: (under “Artist schedule”)
www.indieheaven.com/artists/debbielrice
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We have had our 1st Official Photo Shoot! Please check out our website and laugh at us! We even did a “Charlie’s angels” type of pose, and a ‘crazy hat’ pose! You can find our pictures at these two sites:
www.indieheaven.com/artists/debbielrice
www.myspace.com/debbielrice
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We’ve been nominated for 4 awards!! Now we need your help!!!
For Immediate Release:
Debbie L. Rice & Faith:REFINED Nominated for:
“Contemporary Artist of the Year"
“Worship Artist of the Year”
“Female Vocalist of the Year” &
“Song of the Year” (In Your Silence)
IndieHeaven Momentum Awards
Lake Jackson, TX, Dec. 5th, 2007 – IndieHeaven, the nations leading organization supporting Independent artists in the Christian music genre, is pleased to announce that Debbie L. Rice & Faith:REFINED have been nominated in 4 categories’ for the 2nd annual "Momentum Awards". This prestigious award will be handed out at the upcoming IndieHeaven CIA Summit2007 conference March 29 - April 1, 2007.
IndieHeaven founder and CIA Summit director Keith Mohr states, "It's important to recognize and applaud the efforts made in recent years by artists who are independent. By providing them the recognition they have earned, we hope to increase their platform and awareness. There are many independent artists who are doing an incredible job with their music and most importantly their mission. We look forward to the awards being a part of our annual artist’s conference."
Faith:REFINED is a band made up of members who have faced the Refiner’s fire and emerged stronger in their Faith than they were before. Led by Debbie L. Rice, herself a cancer survivor, their unique blend of Pop, Country, and Rock Contemporary Christian music tells the story of a faith refined each time a crisis is faced. Debbie L. Rice has won Honorable Mention in the songwriting category of the Unisong International Songwriting Awards for her song, “Building Idols in a Fallen World”, and her currently nominated song, “In Your Silence”, also was nominated for the 2005 Song of the Year at SongU.com. In addition to performing with her band, Debbie leads Children’s Worship for the 3rd-6th grade Wednesday night BreakOut program at Willow Drive Baptist in Lake Jackson, and she also serves as a small group leader for 6th grade girls. She is one of the Worship leaders for Children’s church on Sunday’s, and sings part time in the Choir. Darren Rice, Debbie’s husband, is the group’s manager, producer and photographer. Darren & Debbie’s children, Hayden, Emma and Joshua, also participate by performing a few children’s songs at the band’s live shows.
To register your vote for Debbie L. Rice & Faith:REFINED in each of the 4 categories’, Contemporary Artist of the Year, Worship Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year (In Your Silence), in this year’s Momentum awards, please visit
http://www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=mawards Likewise, you are invited to visit Faith:REFINED’s IndieHeaven website located at
www.indieheaven.com/artists/debbielrice.
Another awesome ‘Thank You’ to God!! And to you, for nominating us! Without Him and You, there would be no “Us”!
Please visit
http://www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=mawards
to vote. We would be so honored to represent you at the Awards ceremony! Voting only lasts till December 31st, and you can only vote ONCE.
Make sure to visit other IH artists and cast your vote for your favorites in the other categories while you are there.
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In our last newsletter, we asked about the weather where YOU live. Our first response came from Josh, in Dortmund, Germany! Poor Josh, it was a “dreary October day” for him at that time. For being the first to write in, Josh was featured on our homepage on Indieheaven.com. Thanks Josh!!
This month’s question has to do with your Holiday traditions. Write us and let us know what your favorite family ‘tradition’ is for the Holiday season. One of my favorites, in our family, is to bake a Birthday cake for Jesus. We sing the song, and blow out a candle for Him on Christmas Day. My 3 kids look forward to the cake, but it also helps us to remember just exactly what we are celebrating! You can leave your comments either on our Indieheaven.com page (
www.indieheaven.com/artists/debbielrice) in the bottom right hand corner, or you can e-mail me at dlrice@debbielrice.com. Or visit my personal website at
www.debbielrice.com and sign my guestbook.
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A Christmas Story
This is not my story, but I wish it were. We can all carry on her traditions that show that Santa Claus is indeed real!
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even
dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" She snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.
"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days.
"Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car. "Then
she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.
The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.
Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker
didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.
"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."
The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to
open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering
beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes.
That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked
inside: $19.95.
May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care....
And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!
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We love you guys!! We wish you a safe and blessed and very Merry Christmas!! Our prayers are with you for safe travel for you and your family, and a blessed time of fellowship with relatives far and near. Remember Christ, and keep Him first in your CHRISTmas celebration.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified. But the angle said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests”. (Luke 2:4-14)
Peace be unto you,
Debbie L. Rice
& Faith:REFINED
