choir boy

Early Sunday morning, I found a space where I could be alone, I bowed my head and tucked my chin down to touch my chest for eight counts or so. Then I tilted my head waaaay to the left. Then of course... waaaay to the right.

.

Next, I relaxed and sounded a long, steady, smooth, low note with my voice, paying special attention to produce the air from deep in my gut.

.

After that, I did scales. They were not loud. I tried to keep the throat relaxed the whole time. Our choir didn't warm up as a group, so I hope my efforts were of some help.

.

After that, lots of hot tea--no sugar. Cough drops. I grabbed some bottled water from the case--room temperature... not chilled.

.

During the past few weeks, I have been trying to build up vocal endurance by singing (hard) in the car on the commute to and from work. Last Monday's choir practice left me hoarse, and I could barely get through the ending on the last song. Sunday morning, my throat was still a little sore from Saturday night's rehearsal, and I had to find a way to make it through morning rehearsal and then two worship services!

.

When we got through with the first four songs, the choir got a break, so that the regular team could do their song. I remembered someone's advice, so I went back into the church office. There, I found some olive oil that we use for anointing. Using a plastic spoon, I measured a quarter-teaspoon and swallowed it. (Not so tasty.) They say it lubes the throat, enabling singers to last longer. I rinsed the stuff off my tongue but didn't gargle. Finally, I prayed, that the Holy Spirit would carry me through, so that --at the very least, I would not be a distraction.

.

Easter songs are triumphant. I believe they need to be sung with a certain... gusto! I held nothing back. But between all the hot teas, sips of water, cough drops and swigs of (shudder) olive oil, thank the Lord that I made it through the whole way without crashing horribly.

.

Whew! Choir is done, and now I can go back to being the sound guy and hide behind the booth. No bruised uvula or sprained larynx... I think.

.

I hope your Easter Sunday was amazing and wonderful, and that you can experience the uncontainable joy of celebrating the Lord's rising from the grave.

.

How do you volunteer at your church?

gloomy day

It was a dark and stormy... week. Sure, there were moments of relief briefly interrupting the pattern, but we've had more rain and clouds and cold high winds than usual this week. This Canada Goose doesn't seem to mind.

.

Yesterday I came in to work, and there seemed to be a gloomy haze hovering over everybody's head. I wanted to order a big tank of nitrous oxide and pump it into our air supply lines.

.

But maybe it is good this week to ponder heavy things. I find that the Easter celebration is sweeter when I first take the time to contemplate the events that led up to Resurrection Sunday. Some of us observe this in different ways. For me and my house, we do not do lent like liturgical churches. I did not give anything up for lent. Whether I eat meat or abstain from it has nothing to do with any of the days of the week or season. Nevertheless, I would acknowledge that there is a benefit to treating the days before Easter as something special.

.

My desire for you is that you have had the opportunity to remember and be intentional about a somber reflection upon the life of Christ, and the events of Holy Week. Then, on Sunday, may you fully embrace all the richness of the day.

gotcha

I waited last week for this chickadee, but it did not come. This time I shot through the closed window, but I think they still came out okay. I wish there were something I could do about the light though. There is a strong backlight, and not enough up front. I seriously considered pounding out a sheet of aluminum (from a gutter) to attach to the sill, so we could see the bird's face clearer. If the window was open, I would have used the flash. Anyway, Taa-Daa!!

.

I trust you had a good Easter. My pastor gave a message that highlighted the different reactions to the Lord's resurrection. I am fascinated by varied responses to the same initial data. People are interesting.

first string

The music reached a new high at Easter service. Before leaving I wondered what it would be like if that same level was maintained every week.

◊

It is not practical though, is it? This worship leader put some crazy hours into the preparation for this program. And we simply do not have the time or the resources to operate at the same level on a weekly basis. But imagining that somehow it could be done...

Easter prep

We’re supposed to get more snow this weekend. I’m glad. I love living in the Chicago area. They say, “If you don’t like the weather here, just wait five minutes.” It’s not really that bad, and I have nothing against people who live in Florida (Hi Mom & Dad!), but I just like the changing of the seasons.

One reason for this affection of mine, is that after a hard winter, spring begins to bloom. And especially when it’s been a brutally tough winter, the bursting forth of life with its colors, sounds and smells, (inhaling deeply) aaaaahhh, it’s so invigorating!! There is a feeling of appreciation for spring that bubbles over; you don’t have to try to notice; it’s just there!

I said that to say this:

I used to work in retail. One year, Easter snuck-up on me. I must have been too caught up in my work and the Lenten season was practically ignored. When Easter Sunday came, there was something missing. Nothing was different about the historical event, or Sunday service, or how my brothers and sisters were celebrating. The difference was in me.

I knew in my mind that the day was special, but looking at the uncontainable enthusiasm of my churchmates, I realized that their preparation had an effect on the day. That effect was like the soul’s slingshot aimed up towards the sky… the deeper the preparation, the higher the exhilaration.

I hope you don’t see me as a simpleton being swept away by shallow emotions, but instead, won’t you join this simpleton as he invests his affections on heavenly things?

If you’re fasting, you probably want to keep that between you and God, but maybe you can share good ideas about how to we might observe lent. For example, Charity has Lenten meditations.