everyone sang at Bethlehem

"Come to Bethlehem" is the children re-enacting the birth of Jesus. Right up front is the stable. In the photo see the shepherds adoring the child. Remember this is rehearsal.

Pastor Scott is adjusting the mic for Katie at the lecturn. Sherry at far right is giving directions. The angel choir is in white.

I was excited to see so much participation. Maybe it's not Broadway, but, hey, we told the story. Actually, it's better than Broadway.

million pieces of Christmas

There's a million of pieces that come together to make Christmas really come. At least when working with the young people and the musicians of a church.

The Saturday before Christmas Eve energy was high at Zion. All over the sanctuary, overflowing into the fellowship hall and the hallways. Mini-rehearsals were taking place in Sunday school rooms. On the "stage" of the church it all came together under the brilliant supervision of Sherry.

Here Art and Joyce share the joy of the moment.

It was a wonderful expression of cooperation, love, joy, and beauty when it all came together Sunday and then on Monday, Christmas Eve.

my first staff meeting

The word went out yesterday. Staff meeting at noon.

When do we have staff meetings? I asked. Whenever needed, not often. Maintenance was there. Assistant pastor. Other asst. pastor was out. Secretary and financial secretary. Pastor came late from a meeting.

Meeting at 12? I noticed. Well, we have lunch together. Yum. The office is already regaled with cookies and candies, but this was solid Costco meat balls. Someone goes to the youth room and brings soda.

What an easy-going meeting, often interrupted by persons coming into the office, right across the hall from our room.

I need "mail boxes" for the choir to keep their folders in, and I learn how to get that done. Tomorrow the organ tuner is coming. There's a tunnel for the heating system most people don't know about. Lots of interesting and useful stuff. I loved it.

For supper I'm going to another fellowship meal. Then it's choir rehearsal for the second time in the new rehearsal room.

First shall be last

In the sermon Pastor Hunter mentioned that famous phrase, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Well, the last hymn comes on Sunday. I'm waiting for the organist to lead it. I look to the accompanist for direction. Then it struck me--I'm in charge of the singing, duh!

I'm "first" but I was last to catch on. The organist shakes her head. Pianist signals, I don't know. What is wrong? Okay. I sit at the piano and bang out the last hymn, "Go Tell It on the Mountain."

And who would have guessed it? They sang with full heart.

Third week on the job and I'm learning faster all the time. Nobody else is getting these ducks in a row. That's what I'm here for.

To process or not to process

One of those existential questions is facing me down. I'd like to duck. Does the choir process during the entrance hymn, "O Come All Ye Faithful"?

In a large church with a not immutable tradition of ceremony, one voice says why march in in robes. Another voice says why not?

I'm going to say, Yeah, we process. My choir is loaded with germs of inspiration and I want them to infect the whole worship space. I want them to stop in dead center of the aisle and sing their voices and hearts out on "sing choir of angels, sing in exaltation, sing all ye citizens..."

The choir is the leader of the song of worship. What better place to lead than from center-center, right in the heart. I want the organ to cut back on that 3rd verse and make the rafters ring with human spirit air.