How committed are you to the Methodist church?
This question was asked by the wonderful Rev. Amanda Knouse at St. James' Parish in Lothian -- if you listen to our recording online, and wait - you'll hear her at the very end, and then you'll hear a lot of laughter. :-) Amanda rocks.
I'll admit, it's a question that has been in my brain since she asked. To be fair, it was a rhetorical question but let's ponder it anyway -- really, how committed are we to the Methodist Church?
It's an interesting question for Voices In Praise, given that nearly a third of our 41-singers are not Friendship UMC church members or even regular attendees. We have an open door policy - we'll take anyone in Grades 6-12, no matter who they are, where they're from, what they look like, or how well they sing. (Why this is the policy is a topic for another post - so stay tuned!)
But how does that open door policy translate into a commitment?
At some level, of course, we are committed to Friendship. VIP wouldn't exist without the tremendous support that we get from the Pastors (current and past!) and the people. We're incredibly grateful for their generosity, kindness, and enthusiasm, and the opportunities that they give us.
But there are times when God calls us out of Friendship. We sing at places where God calls us to go -- from prisons to hospitals to soup kitchens to street corners. I know that for many of us, it's these out-of-church performances that stick with us. It's the person with Alzheimer's who can't remember critical details about her life, but knows all the words to "Amazing Grace." It's the child in the hospital who forgets how sick she is, just long enough to clap along with "When the Saints Go Marching In." It's the woman in the shelter whose eyes fill with tears as she watches VIP and wonders how her own kids are doing.
We're committed to God, to going where he calls us, and to serving his people as best we can. And we're committed to each other. VIP (more than any other group I've seen) really works hard to support, help, and strengthen one another. This year's choir, in particular, excels in this area. They're amazing in the way they interact with their fellow singers.
Whether they realize it or not, VIP embodies this concept from Romans 12:
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Be devoted to one another. We do that. We do it well. And it's in that devotion that we are able to honor God in a very special way in a way that we couldn't do alone. Choral singing isn't easy. And it certainly isn't easy with kids with different talents, abilities, and experiences. But we do it anyway.
We need every voice (yes, all of them!), every heart, and every soul working away towards one common goal: to give our musical best for the glory of God.
That's the commitment of Voices In Praise, whether we're doing it at Friendship, St. James', or any other place on earth. To God be the glory - always.
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!
Commitments
How committed are you to the Methodist church?
This question was asked by the wonderful Rev. Amanda Knouse at St. James' Parish in Lothian -- if you listen to our recording online, and wait - you'll hear her at the very end, and then you'll hear a lot of laughter. :-) Amanda rocks.
I'll admit, it's a question that has been in my brain since she asked. To be fair, it was a rhetorical question but let's ponder it anyway -- really, how committed are we to the Methodist Church?
It's an interesting question for Voices In Praise, given that nearly a third of our 41-singers are not Friendship UMC church members or even regular attendees. We have an open door policy - we'll take anyone in Grades 6-12, no matter who they are, where they're from, what they look like, or how well they sing. (Why this is the policy is a topic for another post - so stay tuned!)
But how does that open door policy translate into a commitment?
At some level, of course, we are committed to Friendship. VIP wouldn't exist without the tremendous support that we get from the Pastors (current and past!) and the people. We're incredibly grateful for their generosity, kindness, and enthusiasm, and the opportunities that they give us.
But there are times when God calls us out of Friendship. We sing at places where God calls us to go -- from prisons to hospitals to soup kitchens to street corners. I know that for many of us, it's these out-of-church performances that stick with us. It's the person with Alzheimer's who can't remember critical details about her life, but knows all the words to "Amazing Grace." It's the child in the hospital who forgets how sick she is, just long enough to clap along with "When the Saints Go Marching In." It's the woman in the shelter whose eyes fill with tears as she watches VIP and wonders how her own kids are doing.
We're committed to God, to going where he calls us, and to serving his people as best we can. And we're committed to each other. VIP (more than any other group I've seen) really works hard to support, help, and strengthen one another. This year's choir, in particular, excels in this area. They're amazing in the way they interact with their fellow singers.
Whether they realize it or not, VIP embodies this concept from Romans 12:
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Be devoted to one another. We do that. We do it well. And it's in that devotion that we are able to honor God in a very special way in a way that we couldn't do alone. Choral singing isn't easy. And it certainly isn't easy with kids with different talents, abilities, and experiences. But we do it anyway.
We need every voice (yes, all of them!), every heart, and every soul working away towards one common goal: to give our musical best for the glory of God.
That's the commitment of Voices In Praise, whether we're doing it at Friendship, St. James', or any other place on earth. To God be the glory - always.
This question was asked by the wonderful Rev. Amanda Knouse at St. James' Parish in Lothian -- if you listen to our recording online, and wait - you'll hear her at the very end, and then you'll hear a lot of laughter. :-) Amanda rocks.
I'll admit, it's a question that has been in my brain since she asked. To be fair, it was a rhetorical question but let's ponder it anyway -- really, how committed are we to the Methodist Church?
It's an interesting question for Voices In Praise, given that nearly a third of our 41-singers are not Friendship UMC church members or even regular attendees. We have an open door policy - we'll take anyone in Grades 6-12, no matter who they are, where they're from, what they look like, or how well they sing. (Why this is the policy is a topic for another post - so stay tuned!)
But how does that open door policy translate into a commitment?
At some level, of course, we are committed to Friendship. VIP wouldn't exist without the tremendous support that we get from the Pastors (current and past!) and the people. We're incredibly grateful for their generosity, kindness, and enthusiasm, and the opportunities that they give us.
But there are times when God calls us out of Friendship. We sing at places where God calls us to go -- from prisons to hospitals to soup kitchens to street corners. I know that for many of us, it's these out-of-church performances that stick with us. It's the person with Alzheimer's who can't remember critical details about her life, but knows all the words to "Amazing Grace." It's the child in the hospital who forgets how sick she is, just long enough to clap along with "When the Saints Go Marching In." It's the woman in the shelter whose eyes fill with tears as she watches VIP and wonders how her own kids are doing.
We're committed to God, to going where he calls us, and to serving his people as best we can. And we're committed to each other. VIP (more than any other group I've seen) really works hard to support, help, and strengthen one another. This year's choir, in particular, excels in this area. They're amazing in the way they interact with their fellow singers.
Whether they realize it or not, VIP embodies this concept from Romans 12:
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Be devoted to one another. We do that. We do it well. And it's in that devotion that we are able to honor God in a very special way in a way that we couldn't do alone. Choral singing isn't easy. And it certainly isn't easy with kids with different talents, abilities, and experiences. But we do it anyway.
We need every voice (yes, all of them!), every heart, and every soul working away towards one common goal: to give our musical best for the glory of God.
That's the commitment of Voices In Praise, whether we're doing it at Friendship, St. James', or any other place on earth. To God be the glory - always.
VIP High School at St. James on November 22, 2009
Voices In Praise high schoolers singing "Saints Bound for Heaven" (recorded at St. James during the 9am worship service).
Row 1 (left to right): Kate, Tara, Elizabeth, Maegan, Kaya, Kerry, Courtney, Carmen, Mary Brooke, Katherine
Row 2 (left to right): Jimmy, Dylan, Charlie, Jeff, Eric
Not pictured: Ashley, Leo, Petri
Row 1 (left to right): Kate, Tara, Elizabeth, Maegan, Kaya, Kerry, Courtney, Carmen, Mary Brooke, Katherine
Row 2 (left to right): Jimmy, Dylan, Charlie, Jeff, Eric
Not pictured: Ashley, Leo, Petri
VIP High School at St. James on November 22, 2009
Voices In Praise high schoolers singing "Saints Bound for Heaven" (recorded at St. James during the 9am worship service).
Row 1 (left to right): Kate, Tara, Elizabeth, Maegan, Kaya, Kerry, Courtney, Carmen, Mary Brooke, Katherine
Row 2 (left to right): Jimmy, Dylan, Charlie, Jeff, Eric
Not pictured: Ashley, Leo, Petri
Row 1 (left to right): Kate, Tara, Elizabeth, Maegan, Kaya, Kerry, Courtney, Carmen, Mary Brooke, Katherine
Row 2 (left to right): Jimmy, Dylan, Charlie, Jeff, Eric
Not pictured: Ashley, Leo, Petri
Monday Afternoon Scoop
I've been incredibly delinquent (again) about updating this blog. What can I say? -- some days are just so full of action that there's not much time to write about it. :-) But in an attempt to get back on track, here's a list (in no particular order) of what's been going on with VIP:
1.) VIP High Schoolers sang at St. James' Parish in Lothian, MD. We love singing in this very special place with its domed roof that offers truly exceptional acoustics. The relationship between our two churches goes back many years, and we were glad to get to visit our friends once more. (Pictures coming later this week!)
2.) We've decided to open our Dec. 19 to our congregation, friends, and neighbors! See this Rockapella/National Christmas Tree blog post for details. The cost is $50 for people age 18 and up; $30 for students under age 18. Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
3.) We've had some great moments in rehearsal as the VIPs work away on Christmas music. We've been challenged a bit by some scheduling conflicts and nasty colds that are taking a toll - but we're almost ready for our first performance at Festival of Trees on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1pm at Huntingtown High.
4.) We wrapped up our greenery and cookie dough fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who supported us in our efforts! Thanks to our generous friends and family, we raised nearly $3,000 and we appreciate it so very, very much.
5.) We have been working to secure instrumentalists to join us in our Epiphany Concerts on January 10. We love singing with a Chamber Orchestra, and we're blessed that there are many talented instrumentalists in our community.
6.) Rolinda Collinson (uniform guru) has made sure that every VIP has a full and complete uniform -- no small task with 40 singers.
7.) I (Holly) went to Chicago to prepare for Choir Tour. While I was there I:
1.) VIP High Schoolers sang at St. James' Parish in Lothian, MD. We love singing in this very special place with its domed roof that offers truly exceptional acoustics. The relationship between our two churches goes back many years, and we were glad to get to visit our friends once more. (Pictures coming later this week!)
2.) We've decided to open our Dec. 19 to our congregation, friends, and neighbors! See this Rockapella/National Christmas Tree blog post for details. The cost is $50 for people age 18 and up; $30 for students under age 18. Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
3.) We've had some great moments in rehearsal as the VIPs work away on Christmas music. We've been challenged a bit by some scheduling conflicts and nasty colds that are taking a toll - but we're almost ready for our first performance at Festival of Trees on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1pm at Huntingtown High.
4.) We wrapped up our greenery and cookie dough fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who supported us in our efforts! Thanks to our generous friends and family, we raised nearly $3,000 and we appreciate it so very, very much.
5.) We have been working to secure instrumentalists to join us in our Epiphany Concerts on January 10. We love singing with a Chamber Orchestra, and we're blessed that there are many talented instrumentalists in our community.
6.) Rolinda Collinson (uniform guru) has made sure that every VIP has a full and complete uniform -- no small task with 40 singers.
7.) I (Holly) went to Chicago to prepare for Choir Tour. While I was there I:
- Worked out our accommodations -- we're spending 5 nights at Springhill Suites River North (nice, huh?). I'm so excited that we were able to get a great rate at this excellent hotel! God truly moved some mountains for us.
- Got to visit with VIP Alums Bennett Umhau and Jenny Sturrock.
- Saw a concert at Rockefeller Chapel and attended a gospel worship service at St. Paul's United Church of Christ.
- Visited the warm and welcoming Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.
- Explored a host of mission possibilities - more details coming later.
- Ate awesome Chicago deep-dish pizza at Gino's and started my Christmas shopping at Macy's (aka Marshall Field's). :-)
Monday Afternoon Scoop
I've been incredibly delinquent (again) about updating this blog. What can I say? -- some days are just so full of action that there's not much time to write about it. :-) But in an attempt to get back on track, here's a list (in no particular order) of what's been going on with VIP:
1.) VIP High Schoolers sang at St. James' Parish in Lothian, MD. We love singing in this very special place with its domed roof that offers truly exceptional acoustics. The relationship between our two churches goes back many years, and we were glad to get to visit our friends once more. (Pictures coming later this week!)
2.) We've decided to open our Dec. 19 to our congregation, friends, and neighbors! See this Rockapella/National Christmas Tree blog post for details. The cost is $50 for people age 18 and up; $30 for students under age 18. Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
3.) We've had some great moments in rehearsal as the VIPs work away on Christmas music. We've been challenged a bit by some scheduling conflicts and nasty colds that are taking a toll - but we're almost ready for our first performance at Festival of Trees on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1pm at Huntingtown High.
4.) We wrapped up our greenery and cookie dough fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who supported us in our efforts! Thanks to our generous friends and family, we raised nearly $3,000 and we appreciate it so very, very much.
5.) We have been working to secure instrumentalists to join us in our Epiphany Concerts on January 10. We love singing with a Chamber Orchestra, and we're blessed that there are many talented instrumentalists in our community.
6.) Rolinda Collinson (uniform guru) has made sure that every VIP has a full and complete uniform -- no small task with 40 singers.
7.) I (Holly) went to Chicago to prepare for Choir Tour. While I was there I:
1.) VIP High Schoolers sang at St. James' Parish in Lothian, MD. We love singing in this very special place with its domed roof that offers truly exceptional acoustics. The relationship between our two churches goes back many years, and we were glad to get to visit our friends once more. (Pictures coming later this week!)
2.) We've decided to open our Dec. 19 to our congregation, friends, and neighbors! See this Rockapella/National Christmas Tree blog post for details. The cost is $50 for people age 18 and up; $30 for students under age 18. Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
3.) We've had some great moments in rehearsal as the VIPs work away on Christmas music. We've been challenged a bit by some scheduling conflicts and nasty colds that are taking a toll - but we're almost ready for our first performance at Festival of Trees on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1pm at Huntingtown High.
4.) We wrapped up our greenery and cookie dough fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who supported us in our efforts! Thanks to our generous friends and family, we raised nearly $3,000 and we appreciate it so very, very much.
5.) We have been working to secure instrumentalists to join us in our Epiphany Concerts on January 10. We love singing with a Chamber Orchestra, and we're blessed that there are many talented instrumentalists in our community.
6.) Rolinda Collinson (uniform guru) has made sure that every VIP has a full and complete uniform -- no small task with 40 singers.
7.) I (Holly) went to Chicago to prepare for Choir Tour. While I was there I:
- Worked out our accommodations -- we're spending 5 nights at Springhill Suites River North (nice, huh?). I'm so excited that we were able to get a great rate at this excellent hotel! God truly moved some mountains for us.
- Got to visit with VIP Alums Bennett Umhau and Jenny Sturrock.
- Saw a concert at Rockefeller Chapel and attended a gospel worship service at St. Paul's United Church of Christ.
- Visited the warm and welcoming Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.
- Explored a host of mission possibilities - more details coming later.
- Ate awesome Chicago deep-dish pizza at Gino's and started my Christmas shopping at Macy's (aka Marshall Field's). :-)
Rockapella/National Christmas Tree Trip Open to VIP Families & Alumni
VIP is planning a special field trip to see a Holiday Concert by Rockapella, a 5-member, all male, primarily a cappella group and to sing at the National Christmas Tree. VIP Families, Alumni, and Alumni Families are welcome to join in! (Note: if we have extra seats, we will open the trip up to the congregation.) Here are the details:
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12:15pm: Meet at Friendship (Please eat lunch before you come.) Travel to George Mason University
2pm: Rockapella Concert
4pm: Leave GMU and head to Pentago City Mall for dinner and free time. (Singers should bring $10 - $15 for dinner, or it can come from their choir accounts.)
6:45pm: Depart Pentagon City for the Natl. Christmas Tree
7:30pm: Choir assembles for warm-up
8pm: Voices In Praise sings!
10pm: Return to Friendship UMC
Cost for adults: $50
Cost for kids under 18: $30
Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. Dinner will be on your own!
If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12:15pm: Meet at Friendship (Please eat lunch before you come.) Travel to George Mason University
2pm: Rockapella Concert
4pm: Leave GMU and head to Pentago City Mall for dinner and free time. (Singers should bring $10 - $15 for dinner, or it can come from their choir accounts.)
6:45pm: Depart Pentagon City for the Natl. Christmas Tree
7:30pm: Choir assembles for warm-up
8pm: Voices In Praise sings!
10pm: Return to Friendship UMC
Cost for adults: $50
Cost for kids under 18: $30
Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. Dinner will be on your own!
If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
Rockapella/National Christmas Tree Trip Open to VIP Families & Alumni
VIP is planning a special field trip to see a Holiday Concert by Rockapella, a 5-member, all male, primarily a cappella group and to sing at the National Christmas Tree. VIP Families, Alumni, and Alumni Families are welcome to join in! (Note: if we have extra seats, we will open the trip up to the congregation.) Here are the details:
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12:15pm: Meet at Friendship (Please eat lunch before you come.) Travel to George Mason University
2pm: Rockapella Concert
4pm: Leave GMU and head to Pentago City Mall for dinner and free time. (Singers should bring $10 - $15 for dinner, or it can come from their choir accounts.)
6:45pm: Depart Pentagon City for the Natl. Christmas Tree
7:30pm: Choir assembles for warm-up
8pm: Voices In Praise sings!
10pm: Return to Friendship UMC
Cost for adults: $50
Cost for kids under 18: $30
Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. Dinner will be on your own!
If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12:15pm: Meet at Friendship (Please eat lunch before you come.) Travel to George Mason University
2pm: Rockapella Concert
4pm: Leave GMU and head to Pentago City Mall for dinner and free time. (Singers should bring $10 - $15 for dinner, or it can come from their choir accounts.)
6:45pm: Depart Pentagon City for the Natl. Christmas Tree
7:30pm: Choir assembles for warm-up
8pm: Voices In Praise sings!
10pm: Return to Friendship UMC
Cost for adults: $50
Cost for kids under 18: $30
Cost includes motorcoach transportation and a concert ticket. Dinner will be on your own!
If you'd like to go, please let Holly know.
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