The Stewardship Committee approached me and asked if I'd speak about VIP. Of course, I have a million wonderful things to say about our ministry but I thought that the message might be better coming from someone else. So, I emailed the VIP Alumni and asked them to reflect on a bunch of questions like:
What surprised you most when you joined VIP?
What are VIP's greatest strengths?
What VIP memory do you carry closest to your heart and why?
How has VIP impacted your relationship with God?
How does VIP exemplify stewardship?
Instead of writing their responses, I asked the alumni to submit them via audio, video, or even voice mail. It was fun, enlightening, surprising, and really, really moving to get their responses. The alumni spoke from their hearts and it was -- just amazing to hear how the VIP ministry has impacted each of them. I compiled the presentations, edited them, and put together into one presentation with some existing material on Effective Stewardship. Click here for the post with video link.
Funny stuff - I emailed Pastor Byron yesterday and asked him to introduce the video. I described this process and asked him to tell the congregation about it. Here is part of my email to him:
"I didn't script anything out or tell them what to say. You just know that some smart alec is going to insinuate that I wrote this (the video) -- and quite honestly, Byron -- the material is so amazing, so heartfelt, and so... completely real that I couldn't have scripted it if I tried. I took this project on because I thought it was the best way to communicate the VIP message to the congregation. What I didn't see coming was the depth, the great love, and the appreciation that these young adults have -- and just how they'd communicate with ME. "
Today in the service, Byron didn't say anything prior to the video showing and though, "Hmmm, well maybe he'll speak at the end." But then he didn't. And it dawned on me -- Byron never read my email. Ugh! Totally my fault. I assume people check email at the same (semi-ridiculous pace) as me, and that was a really dumb assumption.
So where's the funny part? Well, during joys and concerns, I express my thanks for the the VIP Alumni. And Byron says something like, "Yeah, they did a great job with the script" or something like that! Ahhhh! Leave it to Byron to BE my smart alec. He was totally serious. He hadn't read my email and being the good, everyman that he is - he hit the nail on the head.
I'll give him credit - he set me up so that I got to say, "Actually, there was no script." There's the silver lining, and proof that if you really want someone to do something, you should not leave it to just an email. :-)
And that's the background on the making of this video!
Welcome! Voices In Praise exists for the glory of God and in service to others. As the youth choir of Friendship United Methodist Church, the group is open to all youth in grades 6 -12 who have a desire to sing and a willingness to make the commitment to the group. Singers are not required to be a member of the church or to have any background in singing. Our doors are open to everyone!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.
New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!