Singing with the Chorale

I haven't posted anything this week because I've been out and about. (I'm sure you've really missed it. hahahaha)

Anyway, I've been singing with the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale at the Tennessee Baptist Convention and at a pre-convention concert.

Why do I sing with the chorale? It's good for me and for my congregation. That probably sounds a bit strange to say it is good for my congregation, but here's why.

1. The fellowship with other Worship Pastors (we used to be called Ministers of Music - well, actually, most still are) is very refreshing, which gives me a great boost in my work at my church.

2. It makes me a better musician as I sing challenging music with 80 other men.

3. It reminds me that we are all in this together - that worship leaders all across our state are working to lead their people in worship, Sunday by Sunday, and to build effective Music and Worship Ministries. And that we all struggle with the same things is encouraging: to know that others have times when half the choir shows up or when budgets are tight or lead a wonderful time of worship only to have someone complain about it. (not that that ever happens here.......)

4. In rehearsals I'm reminded of all those nice "choral" things that I need to help my choir with. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to get things ready to sing on a Sunday that we forget the vocal production kinds of things that we all need to work on.

Sunday night after the concert at Springfield, Cheryl (my lovely wife) and I went to O'Charley's with some friends. I stopped by the restroom to wash my hands. Some guy came in and began washing his hands at the sink next to me. He looked at me there in my tux and said, "What? Was everything else in the laundry?"

Hahaha. Nope, just trying to bring a little class to Springfield.

Here's a picture of us singing at the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall in Nashville last summer. That's me on the end of the third row.

Sunday's Music - Nov. 9 - updated

We'll begin Sunday morning's worship with
Come Christians, Join to Sing - Alleluia! Amen!
followed by
He Reigns (oops, had the wrong song here earlier)

The choir will sing
My Redeemer Lives with Traci singing the solo.

Later in the service we'll sing
Lord, Reign in Me for the welcome

The next set of songs begins with that old gospel song I'd Rather Have Jesus paired with Who Can Satisfy? (which we were going to sing last week, but we cut it to save some time.)

Sunday night the music you'll want to hear will be at Springfield Baptist Church in (duh) Springfield, TN.
http://hilldaleworship.blogspot.com/2008/11/tennessee-baptist-mens-chorale-in.html
At 7:00 the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale will be in concert. OOooooooOOooo. They are so good (I know I'm a bit biased. OK, a lot biased. and I'm the President of the Chorale this year - but just until we elect new officers Monday night.)

You realllllly aught to come over and hear us.

I'll be looking for you all Sunday! 9:00 or 10:30 at Hilldale and 7:00 at Springfield.

Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale in Concert

Coming to a church near you! (If you live near Springfield, TN)

You won't want to miss an incredible evening or music and worship as the Tennessee Baptist Men's Chorale is in concert at Springfield Baptist Church in (duh) Springfield, TN this coming Sunday night, November 9.

Here we are at FBC, Huntingdon. Notice the dashing, young violinist!

The concert is at 7:00, so people who attend worship services at Hilldale will be able to join us. Since yours truly (where did that saying come from) is the President this year it would be really great is there were a lot of people there from Hilldale (and if anyone out there is from my former church, FBC, Joelton, you all are invited too). The chorale is only in this part of the world every three years when we are on our way to the Tennessee Baptist Convention, so this is a rare opportunity for you to hear one of the best men's choirs in the country.

Here we are at FBC, Millington.

Chorale Concert Pics

Someone took a picture of the chorale while we were singing at FBC, Huntington. Please notice the dashing young violin player. (Well, he looks young from a distance.) You can click on the picture for a larger view. Hmmm, perhaps dashing is a bit much. But it just wouldn't sound good to say "look at the skinny old violin player".





So here's a funny story. At least everyone else thought it was funny. I stand right in the middle of the first row. The 2nd tenors are in the middle. We were singing The Old Rugged Cross and half-way through I realized How Deep the Father's Love was next and that is one of the songs I play the violin on. And our director, Paul Clark, Worship Specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, had asked the audience to not clap on three songs about the cross but rather to contemplate on the meaning of the cross (or something like that).





"So," I thought to myself - while still singing (rather nicely too, I might add) - "I have to get from the middle of the loft to waaaay over there to play and there won't be any applause and everyone will be staring at me while I walk over..."





As soon as the song was over I quickly stepped out in front of the new guy who was standing next to me. Unfortunately, he hadn't read my mind and didn't know I had to move quickly to waaaaay over there to play and he didn't let me by. In fact, he kind of bumped me with his folder. At least he said he did, I don't really remember, because when I was in front of him and couldn't get by I was on the wrong foot when he bumped me and the riser we were on was rather narrow and so my left foot stepped right on the edge - sorta sideways - and I started going down! Yes. I didn't want everyone to watch me walk waaaay over there and have to wait for me and instead they ALL saw me fall. Fortunately there was a trombone sticking up right next to me (on a trombone stand) and I grabbed it and the guitar player in front of me grabbed me to try and catch my fall and the guy who pushed me grabbed me and I eventually got my feet under me and I walked, slowly and in a dignified manner, waaaaaaaaay over there. Also fortunately there was someone reading a scripture to introduce the song, so I had more time than I thought.





To make a long story longer...

This picture was taken during God of Wonders. Notice how I am NOT in the middle of the choir. I had to speak next and wasn't about to walk back and forth.




After How Deep the Father's Love (which has a lovely violin part, by the way) we sang God of Wonders and then, since I am President of this illustrious group. I had to introduce all of the guys who had people from their church present at the concert. I walked up to the pulpit. Looked out at the crowd and said in a somewhat quiet voice, "Normally you don't mention it when something unplanned happens, - pause - then a little louder "but I know you all saw me falling up there in the choir loft!"

I'm so sorry you can't hear the laughter still ringing in my ears...





I'm glad they all enjoyed it. It really was rather funny!


Oh! By the way! You can hear and purchase songs from the chorale on iTunes now. Go to www.iTunes.com and search for Tennessee Men's Chorale.

Why I Sing with the Chorale

1. Hanging out with my friends from across Tennessee

2. Singing great music

3. Making beautiful choral sounds. An all-male choir has a wonderfully rich sound

4. Singing challenging music I won't ever sing at my church (you know, high brow classical type stuff) but I love it and it makes me a better musician

5. Getting to worship as I sing and I don't have to be in charge

6. Sharing ideas with other Worship Pastors (Ministers of Music)

7. Praying together about our churches and families and ministries

8. I'm the president this year, so they expect me to show up (but I would anyway)

9. Wearing my glasses (better to see the music all day) (I do have old eyes, you know) and no one saying "I didn't recognize you with glasses"



FBC, Huntington

FBC, Millington

An Interesting Drive

I haven't fallen off the blogging wagon, I've been out of town. Actually, I'm still out of town. I don't even know where I am! I'm at a hotel - not my usual kind of place to stop - at exit 42. I've been on a short concert tour with the TN Baptist Men's Chorale. Last night we sang at FBC, Millington. I didn't get away from Millington until about 9:30, so I had planned on driving to Jackson to spend the night.

I hate driving at night and I hate driving in the rain, so last night was not a good night to drive on I-40. In fact, it was raining so hard that I decided to stay the night in Millington. Well, ends up, I saw one hotel there near the church and I thought, "hmmmmm, I'm not sure I would really stay at that hotel if I had other options", so I headed down the road to find a Holiday Inn Express or something similar.

"Oh, there's my road to cut across to the Collierville, Arlington, Millington exit on I-40." The rain had let up, I hadn't passed any other hotel - much less a nicer one - so I got on the connecting highway. OH MY! I've never drivin through harder rain than I did on that road! For miles and miles it stormed and flooded and I'm so thankful the hwy department had those little reflector deals on the center line!

The rain did let up, but did I mention that I hate driving at night and I hate driving in the rain?

Long story short. There are ZERO hotels between Millington and whatever little town is at exit 42. So I'm poking along at 60 or maybe 65 mph on I-40 with the big trucks and the rain and it's dark and after 10:00 and there! woohooo. A sign for hotels at exit 42. (Collierville exit is at mile 24 or so.) I pulled into the first hotel. Eeewwww, suddenly the hotel that I wouldn't stay at in Millington looks really nice! So I cross over the Interstate to the other hotel. It has a name I recognize and free wireless internet. It's a tough choice - more driving in the rain at night with the big trucks or a hotel that Cheryl would offer to sleep in the car rather than stay there...

Well, the room is clean and the bed wasn't lumpy and there are more than ten channels to choose from and it wasn't hard killing the spider in the tub...

My original thought was to post about the chorale and why I sing with them. I have pictures, but the wrong wire to connect to my computer. Check back later.