Annual Retreat

The formal beginning of the choir year is the annual retreat, a two-day event combining work with fun and fellowship (that being descriptive, by the way, of the rest of the choir year as well).

Friday evening's agenda included dinner, celebration of the Lord's Supper, a light rehearsal, and time for fellowship.

On Saturday, practice began in earnest on the two dozen or so pieces of music that had been handed out -- anthems for upcoming Sundays, plus 15 selections for the "Lessons and Carols" service during Advent. The choir loft was a bit crowded at first, with no fewer than 37 taking every available seat. It's often noted that having "too many people" show up is a good problem to have; and in fact it was no problem at all: During the break for lunch, the low wall at the front of the loft was moved out, as it is designed to do, to make room for another row of chairs.

Many of the choir members reconvened Saturday evening for dinner at Macaroni Grill. A young waitress with aspirations to be an opera singer performed two Puccini arias. By way of thanks, Rick told her we would sing for her; and we did, joining together in a choir favorite, Peter Lutkin's benediction "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." There was appreciative applause from nearby tables. It was gratifying to share a choral blessing with strangers in a restaurant, and it was a memorable end to the retreat.

First Rehearsal

The first day of choir rehearsal is much like the first day of school when you were a kid – but without the bad parts. (Now that I think of it -- that makes it nothing like the first day of school). Wouldn’t it have been nice if, on the first day of school, you had already known:

- your teacher

- your classmates

- where your classroom and locker were

- what to expect for the day

That pretty much describes the comfortable environment that greeted returning choir members this evening. Even the new people had an easy time of it; there was none of the discomfort of being the new kid in class. They were warmly welcomed and made to feel a part of the group right from the start.

There was a big crowd tonight, consisting of 11 sopranos, 6 altos, 4 tenors, and 7 basses. Our director, Rick, led us through several pieces of music, some new and others familiar, the latter including Sunday’s anthem: “On Eagle’s Wings”.

Prelude

This blog will chronicle my observations as one of a thirty-some member church choir.

The church is a Presbyterian congregation near Dallas-Fort Worth.