Marni is the creator of "Forte,"  a program of brief worship services which can be heard by phone, CD, or on the website of All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. Each service includes readings, music and prayers "offered for your comfort." They are designed as a resource for those who are ill, lonely, sad or afraid -- though they are also cherished by those who enjoy a regular time of worship, each day, in sickness or in health.

The 21 services of Forte are each approximately 8 minutes long and are available by phone, day or night at 805-456-2722.  All Saints, Forte's sponsor, is now creating a CD  with all of the services recorded, including the first set of 14 day-and-night services which are offered by phone but now adding a set of 7 new services. In addition to prayers, readings and solo music, the new services feature choral music as well.  These CDs will be available soon.

For more information: Call All Saints at 805-969-4771 or contact Marni at marni@marnimcgee.info

A BRIEF HISTORY OF FORTE:  Marni's mother is the real founder.  Born in New Orleans in 1917 Katharine Sellers grew up as a committed Christian in the Baptist tradition -- no alcohol and no dancin' on Sundays! She married Claude Broach, a liberal Baptist preacher from Georgia, and they had three children, Kathy, Marni, and Claude, Jr. who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina where their father served as the pastor of St. John's Baptist Church.

    Over the course of his long ministry, Claude became increasingly involved with issues of racial and social justice and with ecumenism. Katharine shared the journey, and by the time of her death in 2006, she was as comfortable with Episcopal liturgies as she was with the hymns of her Southern Baptist upbringing. When Katharine approached the end of her long, good life, Marni created two sets of services which she and her mother shared by phone in the evenings. (One lived in North Carolina; the other, in California.) They found it a beautiful way to end the day -- with one another and with God.   

    At first Katharine was able to participate in  the readings. Later, she became a quiet, but grateful listener. Marni realized how very comforting it was to her mother to have these moments of worship before she went to bed at night. Marni began to wonder if this experience might be one she could expand and extend to others. With this thought, Forte was born.

HOW BEST TO USE FORTE IN YOUR CHURCH, DIOCESE, HOSPITAL, NURSING CENTER, OR RETIREMENT HOME: We have learned that Forte needs to be offered frequently and to a changing "clientele."  The people who need and want it keep changing! We have found it useful to offer Forte "business cards" and telephone stickers.  These will soon be available as a download from the All Saints website. Similarly, the CD will soon be offered as a download. Alternatively, All Saints will make and mail copies, requesting only a minimal donation to cover the expense of mailing.

Visit the All Saints-by-the-Sea website:  www.allsaintsbythesea.org

To choose and hear Forte services online,

go to:  http://www.allsaintsbythesea.org/Templates/cumforte.html