Flipping Your Christmas Switch

48 hours from now, many folks will collectively flick their Christmas switch to "on" as they hit the malls, deck the halls and gear up for this special season. Voices In Praise has been rehearsing Christmas music since September and we're pretty excited to share it with you!

This morning, I was reading an online posting from a music teacher and director of several children's choirs, who wrote, "I equate Christmas decorations with panic over all the performances that come with the season. I’m never really able to enjoy the holidays until school is OUT."

And I thought to myself, "How sad." Her comments really struck me and I wish I knew her so that I could say, "God doesn't want you to panic, or to not enjoy this special time of year!" 

One of the things I like best about being a musician is that we have some responsibility for the season. After all, what would Christmas be without its music? Somewhere amidst Jingle Bell Rock and Deck the Hall, the quiet strains of Silent Night and the powerful call of O Come All Ye Faithful serve to re-focus our attention. God certainly has a choir of angels at his disposal and doesn't need me to sing a note, but I appreciate that he gives all of us (and especially the members of Voices In Praise) a role to play in the grand scheme of his universe.

How we carry out that role matters. It's the difference between looking at a December calendar and thinking "Ugh" or looking at it as an incredible opportunity to usher in the Savior of the world in a very special, very important way.

I hope you'll find a place on your December (or January!) calendar for a Voices In Praise performance. You'll find our performance calendar at the right of this posting - we'd love to see you.

Here's to flipping that Christmas switch on -- after we celebrate Thanksgiving. :-)

Flipping Your Christmas Switch

48 hours from now, many folks will collectively flick their Christmas switch to "on" as they hit the malls, deck the halls and gear up for this special season. Voices In Praise has been rehearsing Christmas music since September and we're pretty excited to share it with you!

This morning, I was reading an online posting from a music teacher and director of several children's choirs, who wrote, "I equate Christmas decorations with panic over all the performances that come with the season. I’m never really able to enjoy the holidays until school is OUT."

And I thought to myself, "How sad." Her comments really struck me and I wish I knew her so that I could say, "God doesn't want you to panic, or to not enjoy this special time of year!" 

One of the things I like best about being a musician is that we have some responsibility for the season. After all, what would Christmas be without its music? Somewhere amidst Jingle Bell Rock and Deck the Hall, the quiet strains of Silent Night and the powerful call of O Come All Ye Faithful serve to re-focus our attention. God certainly has a choir of angels at his disposal and doesn't need me to sing a note, but I appreciate that he gives all of us (and especially the members of Voices In Praise) a role to play in the grand scheme of his universe.

How we carry out that role matters. It's the difference between looking at a December calendar and thinking "Ugh" or looking at it as an incredible opportunity to usher in the Savior of the world in a very special, very important way.

I hope you'll find a place on your December (or January!) calendar for a Voices In Praise performance. You'll find our performance calendar at the right of this posting - we'd love to see you.

Here's to flipping that Christmas switch on -- after we celebrate Thanksgiving. :-)

Thankful Thursday: Choir Council

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

Who navigates the course of a choir? Who dreams the dreams, sets the standards, and wrestles with the tough decisions about what's best for the ministry?

You probably think I do, but I don't operate alone -- and today, I'm very thankful for that. In addition to the sage advice of our accompanist, Brie, I also turn to Choir Council, a small group of elected representatives from VIP. Choir Council has been around as long as VIP itself.  When VIP was established, we felt it was important that the singers have a strong role in leading and making decisions for the choir. That's still true today and each fall, the members of VIP choose two middle school students and two high school students to be their voice on Council.

As the director, I'm mighty glad to have a group I can lean on. Allison, Mackenzie, Mary Brooke, and Kate love VIP and are committed to its success. I'm grateful for them and thankful that we have a choir structure that provides for the input of people from all levels of our organization.

Thankful Thursday: Choir Council

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

Who navigates the course of a choir? Who dreams the dreams, sets the standards, and wrestles with the tough decisions about what's best for the ministry?

You probably think I do, but I don't operate alone -- and today, I'm very thankful for that. In addition to the sage advice of our accompanist, Brie, I also turn to Choir Council, a small group of elected representatives from VIP. Choir Council has been around as long as VIP itself.  When VIP was established, we felt it was important that the singers have a strong role in leading and making decisions for the choir. That's still true today and each fall, the members of VIP choose two middle school students and two high school students to be their voice on Council.

As the director, I'm mighty glad to have a group I can lean on. Allison, Mackenzie, Mary Brooke, and Kate love VIP and are committed to its success. I'm grateful for them and thankful that we have a choir structure that provides for the input of people from all levels of our organization.

Madrigal Dinner Cast List

Madrigal Dinner Cast List

 Jesters: Kate McGowan and Kerry McGowan

Knight: Michael Saunders

Hag: Carmen Ortiz

Queen: Ashley Marquardt

King: TBD

Saucy Serving Girls: Maegan Boerckel and Courtney Eversfield

Lady Scorned: Elizabeth Bennett

Lords & Ladies:

Cameron Boyd, Maddie Buckley,Thomas Charles, Ben Collinson, Sarah Damario, Jenna Dean, Mackenzie Garrison, Megan Gates, Hailey Guit, Kaitlyn Hynes, Olivia Ortiz,

Allison Parker

 Everyone who auditioned should be on this list! If your name is missing, please tell Holly. We will are adapting the script and may have some additions to this list.

Madrigal Dinner Cast List

Madrigal Dinner Cast List

 Jesters: Kate McGowan and Kerry McGowan

Knight: Michael Saunders

Hag: Carmen Ortiz

Queen: Ashley Marquardt

King: TBD

Saucy Serving Girls: Maegan Boerckel and Courtney Eversfield

Lady Scorned: Elizabeth Bennett

Lords & Ladies:

Cameron Boyd, Maddie Buckley,Thomas Charles, Ben Collinson, Sarah Damario, Jenna Dean, Mackenzie Garrison, Megan Gates, Hailey Guit, Kaitlyn Hynes, Olivia Ortiz,

Allison Parker

 Everyone who auditioned should be on this list! If your name is missing, please tell Holly. We will are adapting the script and may have some additions to this list.

Thankful Thursday: Veterans

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

 

Veterans Day is more than a day to relax because we are off school and some of us are off work. Veterans Day is a day where we honor those who served and still serve in the US Armed Forces.
 

How many  of us have taken the time to really think about what our veterans do for us? Our veterans deserve sincere gratitude from every American citizen, for it is because of them that we are able to live as freely as we do.
 

No matter their age,gender or race, it takes an immeasurable amount of courage to join the military. Each day thousands of people risk their lives while we sleep warmly in our beds. If it wasn't for our armed forces we might not even be allowed to be a part of wonderful groups like VIP.
 

Take the time today to remember our veterans and all they have done for us, what they still do for us, and what they will do for us.

Written by Allison Parker

Thankful Thursday: Veterans

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

 

Veterans Day is more than a day to relax because we are off school and some of us are off work. Veterans Day is a day where we honor those who served and still serve in the US Armed Forces.
 

How many  of us have taken the time to really think about what our veterans do for us? Our veterans deserve sincere gratitude from every American citizen, for it is because of them that we are able to live as freely as we do.
 

No matter their age,gender or race, it takes an immeasurable amount of courage to join the military. Each day thousands of people risk their lives while we sleep warmly in our beds. If it wasn't for our armed forces we might not even be allowed to be a part of wonderful groups like VIP.
 

Take the time today to remember our veterans and all they have done for us, what they still do for us, and what they will do for us.

Written by Allison Parker

Four and a Half Years Later

Last week, I was out and about in the thriving metropolis of Sunderland when a woman came up to me and said, "I know you."  I had no idea who she was! Here's how the whole scene went:

I know you.
Oh, really?
You lead a choir.
Yes, I do. Voices In Praise at Friendship United Methodist.
Yes, yes. You came to our church.
Where do you go to church?
First Baptist Upper Marlboro.

Wow. I figured she'd say Smithville or St. James, or any number of places where we have sung recently. Want to know the one and only time we sang at First Baptist Upper Marlboro? 

June 4, 2006. (No, I did not know this date -- I looked it up!)

And I thought to myself, "This woman has a mind like a steel trap." It has been nearly 4 and a half years since we were there, and you remember us? Wow.

We certainly remember that worship service. It was Chamber alone and I think we did 3-4 pieces as part of their worship service. We always liked singing at different churches, and especially ones of different denominations because they were just... well, different. We became pretty adept at adjusting to service orders and different rituals.

That service was particularly memorable... the sermon was on the story of David and Bathsheba. And the preacher described in (ahem) very strong language. I remember the Choir and I looked at each other with wide eyes and a bit of shock. The preacher was, of course, biblically accurate. It was just a little more than we were used to!

It was memorable for us and I was really touched that after so many years, this woman remembered us. Those types of lasting impressions matter a lot, and help connect the years of the Voices In Praise ministry.  I let the woman know that the choir was still around and singing well. We had a nice conversation and I hope that she'll come see the choir sing this year.

This Sunday (Nov. 14, 2010), the high schoolers of VIP journey to St. James in Lothian to sing in worship at their 9am and 11am services. Who knows who will remember this performance in 4 and a half years?!

Four and a Half Years Later

Last week, I was out and about in the thriving metropolis of Sunderland when a woman came up to me and said, "I know you."  I had no idea who she was! Here's how the whole scene went:

I know you.
Oh, really?
You lead a choir.
Yes, I do. Voices In Praise at Friendship United Methodist.
Yes, yes. You came to our church.
Where do you go to church?
First Baptist Upper Marlboro.

Wow. I figured she'd say Smithville or St. James, or any number of places where we have sung recently. Want to know the one and only time we sang at First Baptist Upper Marlboro? 

June 4, 2006. (No, I did not know this date -- I looked it up!)

And I thought to myself, "This woman has a mind like a steel trap." It has been nearly 4 and a half years since we were there, and you remember us? Wow.

We certainly remember that worship service. It was Chamber alone and I think we did 3-4 pieces as part of their worship service. We always liked singing at different churches, and especially ones of different denominations because they were just... well, different. We became pretty adept at adjusting to service orders and different rituals.

That service was particularly memorable... the sermon was on the story of David and Bathsheba. And the preacher described in (ahem) very strong language. I remember the Choir and I looked at each other with wide eyes and a bit of shock. The preacher was, of course, biblically accurate. It was just a little more than we were used to!

It was memorable for us and I was really touched that after so many years, this woman remembered us. Those types of lasting impressions matter a lot, and help connect the years of the Voices In Praise ministry.  I let the woman know that the choir was still around and singing well. We had a nice conversation and I hope that she'll come see the choir sing this year.

This Sunday (Nov. 14, 2010), the high schoolers of VIP journey to St. James in Lothian to sing in worship at their 9am and 11am services. Who knows who will remember this performance in 4 and a half years?!

Thankful Thursday: Karen Boyd

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

 

VIP is fortunate to have an amazing group of VIP Parents who support us in every way possible. The choir is grateful for ALL that they do, and as the Director, I find myself often counting VIP Moms and Dads among my great blessings!

 

One of those awesome parents is Karen Boyd. In addition to being a VIP Mom, Karen represents us (and the whole music dept.) on the Board of Trustees -- a group that oversees the building, property, and ALL of the equipment. Not an easy task, to be sure.

When I was in Russia over the summer, one of the things that struck me was how different the United Methodist Church buildings are. You won't find a "traditional" brick church like Friendship in Moscow or St. Petersburg. What you will find are groups of people who take community centers, office buildings, and vacant shops and convert them into places of worship. It's very different and very cool. 

But back to the point of this post... I appreciate the way Karen carries out her role with kindness, trust, and a focus on helping everyone work together for the good of our whole church. She's a wonderful resource and support.

 

On Monday night, she went above and beyond the call of duty. I was making copies before rehearsal in the house that serves as the church office when a motorist accidentally hit the house with her car. It was scary and a little unnerving. After I called 911, I called Karen. I'm sure she could hear the urgency in my voice when I asked if she could please come to the church right now.

And she did. She left her family dinner and was at the church in minutes. She smoothly took over the accident scene, working with the police and managing all the insurance "stuff" in the days that followed. Her arrival helped calm me down and freed me up to go to rehearsal, knowing that Karen had everything covered.

Thanks, Karen, for all that you do for me, for VIP, and for Friendship!

Thankful Thursday: Karen Boyd

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

(Psalm 101: 1)

This post is part of a Thankful Thursday series - check back every week to see what we're MOST thankful for this week!

 

VIP is fortunate to have an amazing group of VIP Parents who support us in every way possible. The choir is grateful for ALL that they do, and as the Director, I find myself often counting VIP Moms and Dads among my great blessings!

 

One of those awesome parents is Karen Boyd. In addition to being a VIP Mom, Karen represents us (and the whole music dept.) on the Board of Trustees -- a group that oversees the building, property, and ALL of the equipment. Not an easy task, to be sure.

When I was in Russia over the summer, one of the things that struck me was how different the United Methodist Church buildings are. You won't find a "traditional" brick church like Friendship in Moscow or St. Petersburg. What you will find are groups of people who take community centers, office buildings, and vacant shops and convert them into places of worship. It's very different and very cool. 

But back to the point of this post... I appreciate the way Karen carries out her role with kindness, trust, and a focus on helping everyone work together for the good of our whole church. She's a wonderful resource and support.

 

On Monday night, she went above and beyond the call of duty. I was making copies before rehearsal in the house that serves as the church office when a motorist accidentally hit the house with her car. It was scary and a little unnerving. After I called 911, I called Karen. I'm sure she could hear the urgency in my voice when I asked if she could please come to the church right now.

And she did. She left her family dinner and was at the church in minutes. She smoothly took over the accident scene, working with the police and managing all the insurance "stuff" in the days that followed. Her arrival helped calm me down and freed me up to go to rehearsal, knowing that Karen had everything covered.

Thanks, Karen, for all that you do for me, for VIP, and for Friendship!

VIPs Record Public Service Announcment

Back over the summer, we blogged about a special recording project that a few VIPs took on. Just days after Choir Tour, Kaitlyn, Robbie, Jenna, Ellie, and Allison hit a recording studio to sing the soundtrack for a Public Service Announcement for a Federal project called Safe Schools/Healthy Students.

We got word today that the video is final and is now being promoted! Check it out:



Congratulations Kaitlyn, Robbie, Jenna, Ellie, and Allison – thank you for representing VIP so well.

VIPs Record Public Service Announcment

Back over the summer, we blogged about a special recording project that a few VIPs took on. Just days after Choir Tour, Kaitlyn, Robbie, Jenna, Ellie, and Allison hit a recording studio to sing the soundtrack for a Public Service Announcement for a Federal project called Safe Schools/Healthy Students.

We got word today that the video is final and is now being promoted! Check it out:



Congratulations Kaitlyn, Robbie, Jenna, Ellie, and Allison – thank you for representing VIP so well.