Christmas Rush Week

Any incoming freshman (duck .. incoming freshman!!) can tell you "rush week" is a really big deal when it comes to college life. This is the time when the fraternities/sororities .. like Un Kappa Fifth, Tappa Kegga Bru, Eata Bita Pi, etc. .. on campus make an all-out effort to persuade the "newbies" to pledge.

It's a very intense and time-consuming week if you choose to participate in every activity that is offered (of course this is for the more desirable candidates .. for some reason it was just a normal week for me .. ♪♫ you're nobody 'til somebody loves you ♪♫).

My Christmas rush week (as far as music ministry is concerned) started last night with a program that featured handbells (I can't remember all their names .. but their faces ring a bell) and the SonShiners .. 'tis the season for seasoned singers.

Both groups did an excellent job and received many positive comments.

Today, the SonShiners will be taking their "show on the road" .. they are singing at one of the local nursing homes this afternoon .. spreading a little Christmas cheer (hopefully that's all we'll be spreading .. it's not only the holiday season .. it's also the cold and flu season) to the residents.

The day ends with a rehearsal in Memphis (ROAD TRIP!! for Katie, Dinah, Dr. Ben and me) at 9 PM (yes, I know that is past Dr. Ben's bedtime .. if you are scheduled to have dental work on Tuesday morning .. reschedule) with the Bartlett Community Concert Band members who are playing for next weekend's program.

December .. gotta love it.

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." - Luke 2:16

Break Time

It's Sunday and there's plenty going on at FBC Humboldt (Worship this morning at 10:30 .. handbells and SonShiners musical tonight @ 6 pm .. ya'll come).

We'll talk on Monday.

"The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing." - Isaiah 14:7

Precious Memories, How They .. (I Forget)

This Sunday evening at 6 o'clock, our SonShiners (a choir for seasoned singers) will be presenting the musical, MEMORIES OF A MERRY CHRISTMAS at First Baptist Church in Humboldt (our handbell choir will ring three songs, as well).

I have really enjoyed working on this project and I know the choir is going to do a great job.

When the preschoolers sing (btw, that is on Wednesday, December 9) you never know what they are going to do. Some cry. Some wave. There's always one who can't take the pressure and runs off the stage to sit with his mommy.

I have great aspirations for this group and hopefully none of these things will happen on Sunday night .. I'm reasonably sure no one will be running off the stage to sit with their mommy because (a) none of them can really move that fast (the musical will last an hour .. the music is only 30 minutes long, but it takes fifteen minutes to get in and fifteen minutes to get out of the choir loft) and (b) most of their mommies would have to be well over a hundred (it's going to be raining Sunday night and they won't get out when it is cold and damp).

During the program three or four of the choir members will be sharing some actual memories they have of Christmases from the past .. a simpler time when there was only one musical Christmas program to worry over.

If I had been thinking ahead I would have added the children's choir to sing at the end.

That way after the senior adults finished, I could get up to lead the bell choir (as the SonShiners leave the stage and the boys and girls enter) and say, "We are now going to ring out the old .. and ring in the new."

Of course, I never think ahead .. or just think, for that matter.

"They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness."

- Psalm 145:7

Trying to Ketchup

Yesterday's outing with the YYs turned out being a lot of fun .. and somewhat productive (since I was driving one of the vehicles, we played the CD to our Christmas program on the way to Nashville and back .. four choir members were with me and they had their books .. can you say Mini Rehearsal?).

We laughed a lot at the play, Christmas Belles (although I was a little nervous at first about the content .. it turned out fine) and it's always a treat being with "old" friends .. senior adults rock!

The play was over in plenty of time to get back for the community Christmas tree lighting (man, that thing went up in flames really fast this year) and I was able to attend.

Note to self: go by the house next time and get a heavy coat and toboggan (for you Yankees .. that's a stocking cap not a sled). I'm reasonably sure the powers that be refer to the Farmer's Almanac and look for the absolute coldest night they can find for the event. At least it wasn't raining, snowing or sleeting like it has in years past.

A few months ago I was asked to lead some Christmas carols during last night's festivities. Since I wasn't sure if we'd make it back from Nashville, I lined up a friend (former Music Minister from FBC Humboldt, David Whaley) to do the honors.

Although I did get back in time to lead the singing, I "let David do it" (George wasn't available) because I wasn't prepared .. imagine that.

He did a great job leading Mary Key and me (I saw one other guy moving his mouth, but I'm pretty sure he was on his cell phone using Bluetooth) in some songs of the season. However, I know he had to be miserable (David stays cold .. I've seen him wear a coat at the beach).

Maybe one day we'll be friends again.

Since I was out of the office all day Thursday, I need to go in this morning and tie up a few loose ends.

In the words of one of the characters from yesterday's play ..

I just love Christmas!

".. thy servant was busy here and there .." - I Kings 20:40a

Head 'em Up .. Move 'em Out

Right next to the word "stressed" in the encyclopedia you will find a picture of a music minister with a December calendar in his/her hand.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year .. just as soon as all our programs are complete.

So, what am I doing today, December 3?

Going to Nashville to see a play (Christmas Belles at Chaffin's Barn) with our senior adults, the YYs .. Why? .. Why?

Didn't we just get back from Pigeon Forge?

For some crazy reason when we planned this "day trip" months ago I thought it would be a nice "diversion" during a busy time.

What was I thinking??

Don't take that the wrong way.

I love my senior adults and they are "tons of fun" to be with. I'm just afraid with a lot on my mind (upcoming Christmas programs, speaking engagements, Sunday School class parties, etc..) I'm going to be like "Debbie Downer" .. not much fun to be around today.

Oh well. The lot has been cast .. you can purchase this lot for just pennies on the dollar .. and we are leaving at 8:30 sharp (or in my case .. dull, boring and stressed to the max) this morning.

I need to get off the computer and get going. The Bluebird bus is full of fuel. However, we are also taking the fifteen passenger van for this little outing and I need to go gas it up (insert joke of your choice here).

By the way, we can't dilly-dally (is that really a word?) after the play. My friend and recently retired bus driver for the Youth of Yesterday, Gus Hicks (♪♫ hop on the bus, Gus ♪♫) is the honoree at the lighting of the community Christmas tree and there's no way I'm going to miss it ..

.. unless we get caught in traffic.

I love Christmastime (insert sigh and roll eyes here).

" .. they rushed with one accord into the theatre."

- Acts 19:29b

Kev's Klip of the Week

Since our handbell choir is ringing this Sunday night .. before the SonShiner's musical, "Memories of a Merry Christmas" .. today's clip seems appropriate.

It was first aired in 1987, the year my daughter was born ..♪♫ memories .. light the corners of my mind ♪♫

"For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring .." - James 2:2a

I Think I Can .. I Think I Can ..

No time for chit-chat this morning.

The West Tennessee MoMs (Ministers of Music) are singing for the pastors and wives at Union University this morning and I have to be in Jackson for an early rehearsal.

With December as busy as it is, this would be a wonderful opportunity to "ditch." However, that's not going to be possible since I am the "conductor" of the group (yep, I drew the short straw).

How do I get myself into these predicaments? .. I have to "train" myself to say NO before I completely run out of "steam."

That's it for the day.

I need to get my "caboose" in gear and get out of here!

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." - Isaiah 6:1