Slacking...

Hi Everyone,
I'm not sure if anyone's actually checking this anymore, but I realize it's been a few months since I've posted anything on here. Life's been a little crazy the past few weeks/months, but now that things are starting to get back to somewhat normal and into a routine, I'm going to try to post more frequently. 
So... what's new?
I'm now working full-time as the new Associate Minister of Music at New Hope Baptist Church, and things are going great! I'm starting to get into a routine with all the rehearsals and planning throughout the week. I'm working with the worship choir weekly on the Cantata that will be coming up in December. We have a really great group of singers that will be participating in this service so I'm really looking forward to it! They're working really hard every week and I know it will be wonderful!
I'm also working with the youth choir (which started last week). They haven't had a youth choir that has met on a regular basis for several years now, so the kids seem to be really excited about it. Last week we had 18 kids, and this week we had about 20 again! Next weekend I'll be taking them to a couple of the assisted living facilities in Raleigh to take part in our Operation Sharing Hope weekend where we have groups going throughout Raleigh to help on projects and SHARING New HOPE Baptist Church! 
The Handbell choir also started last week, so we'll be working on a lot of new songs for the Christmas season!
I'm working with the Celebration Team every week as well, getting music prepared and ready for services each week in the contemporary service. They are an amazingly talented group of musicians and they are SO passionate about being involved in worship leadership every week. We're getting ready to start working on the concert that they'll be doing during our Fall Fest event that goes on as an alternative to Halloween Trick or Treating. It's a carnival type even the church puts on every year on the Saturday closest to Halloween. "Trunk or Treating" and costumes, food, fun, and of course the awesome concert music that the different praise teams will be working on and presenting!
Other than that I'm also leading a few hymns from the piano every week before Wednesday Night Bible Study and it seems to be going really well. I'm starting to introduce a few new hymns and choruses that they haven't been familiar with and they're excited about the changes in the music! 
So... I'm obviously staying VERY busy keeping up with all those rehearsals and also trying to plan ahead and having On Call duties (hospital visitations, etc.) every week, and keeping up with budgeting, organizing the choir room, and the library, etc. etc. It's a big job, but I've been blessed to work with some wonderful congregation members and a wonderful and extremely supportive staff! I'm learning so much already, but still loving where God's put me! 
Murphy's doing better after having felt a little puny for a few weeks, and he's getting used to having the run of the apartment again. (He's got more room than he knows what to do with now! ha ha...) 
Well, that's all for tonight, but I'll try to update a little more frequently now that I'm getting more organized!

Coming to a close

Tomorrow is my last day in the offices at FBC Huntsville, and after tonight's choir practice I'm starting to realize how much I'm going to miss everyone here! I started thinking about it and realized that tonight was the last day I'd see my supervisor (who is going out of town for a conference tomorrow morning), and the last time I'd have to work with the choir at FBC. They've been such an amazing group of people to work with and I feel so blessed to have spent the summer learning from them and getting to know them.

I know that life is full of changes, but once again this is going to be a difficult one. Since last fall, during my internship at FBC Raleigh, I have made a point to open myself up more to the possibility of making friends even if I know I'm going to be leaving them soon. It seems that I've succeeded in this here in Huntsville, because I have made some wonderful friends that have helped to guide me and helped me to learn from their experiences. I can not say enough how grateful I am that these people were put into my life. Once in a while you stop long enough to realize just how much someone has positively impacted your life, and this is one of those moments. I know that my life and ministry has been improved by the people I have worked with this summer.

So, Sunday will be my last day at the church, and I'll be filling in for Billy, my supervisor, while he's away at a conference. I'll be leading the music and doing the prayer and welcome for Sanctuary Worship on Sunday morning, so prayers for a calm and clear mind will be greatly appreciated! It will also be an emotional day for me as well, so I know it will help to know you all are praying for me.

Overall, amazing summer! :) And what a wonderful experience to have as I go into full-time ministry in Raleigh in a few weeks. To live, is an awfully big adventure... :)

Mayo Clinic atrium piano, charming older couple...

A friend of mine from Divinity school had this video posted on her page, and I HAD to share it with you all! Just goes to show you that music is a gift that is timeless and lasts a lifetime!

Update on life in the HSV

This week is finally coming to an end. Overall it's been an incredibly successful week of teaching and sharing with the kids at music camp! They are doing such an amazing job on their parts and the singing and choreography! (Kudos to Amanda for all the HOURS of dancing she's done with the kids this past week! :)Zumba's got nothing on her!)

I've definitely been stretched beyond what I thought I was going to be doing this week. Due to a very random and unexpected flu bug that went around the house of one of the breakout session leaders, I was put in charge of leading the Orff Instrumentation (in this case rhythm instruments) for one of the songs. I had to fly by the seat of my pants, but I feel like the kids had at least a little bit of fun in the midst of the business of learning the part for the performance we'll have on Sunday. They sound great and I think it's really going to allow some of the kids to have a special part in the production that they can be proud of! I know I'm proud of them!

Tomorrow will be mostly dress rehearsals, last minute prop and set designs that still need to be finished, and letting the kids get comfortable with their places on the stage. I've definitely learned what to watch out for, and things that work really well when working with a large group of kids. It's been tiring, but I know that on Sunday night it's going to be a wonderful experience for the kids, their parents/grandparents, and the leaders. And I know that along the way, some of the kids that just need to be shown love on a consistent basis will have seen that there are people that love them, and hopefully they will understand that God loves them as well.

The nitty-gritty craziness that is the week before Music Camp

This week is officially recognized as "The week before music camp" at FBC Huntsville. I wasn't quite sure what this meant, and really don't think I had fully prepared myself for the number of meetings, meetings before meetings, and emails requesting meetings before a meeting. Ahhhh... now... I know. (Knowing is half the battle? No..not in this girl's opinion. Not even close to half the battle.)
Monday the church was closed for the holiday weekend, so all of these meetings have been crammed into the past three days. They haven't been quite as bad as I've made them seem, but they are excessive, and I truly feel I'm getting the hang of the "Baptist Committee Meetings" that I will be facing in only a few short weeks.
I'm definitely learning some very valuable information about how to run and set up a music camp, which I'm thinking of trying next year in Raleigh, if they go for the idea that is. Basically, for those that I haven't already explained it to (mom/dad), music camp is basically the musical equivalent of Vacation Bible School. FBC Huntsville actually has three different camps all happening at the same time, so it makes it a little more chaotic than it would sound. (Imagine three different VBS programs going on all at once in ONE facility! Fun?! I know!) There is a KinderCamp for the young children, there's a "Younger Camp" for the 1st and 2nd graders, and an "Older Camp" for 3rd grade and up. The youth help as staff workers throughout the entire week. They help get the kids where they need to be and chaperons the different break-out groups the kids attend. All volunteer, and they LOVE it! Both the "Younger" and "Older" children's camp work all week to pull together a musical that they perform for Sunday evening service. There are speaking parts, solos, props and sets, costumes, and of course musical numbers scattered throughout. They have a great time (from what I hear).
So this past week has consisted of meeting to make sure every thing's in line and ready to go for next week, and today we started construction on the "school bus" prop that the kids will be "riding" around the sanctuary in. (Still has another full day or so to go until it's finished.)
I'm really learning a lot from this experience though, and I'm hoping that it will help give me ideas about ways to use the same concept in Raleigh at some point.
So... off to bed to get rest before full day of painting and prop prep.

Bazinga!

Hi Everyone,
Today was the day of the church vote at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. I sang a solo in both the traditional and contemporary services, and for the traditional service I also led the choir in an anthem and led the congregational hymns. I started out a little nervous, but thankfully those nerves went away once the service started.

At the end of each service the congregation voted on whether or not to call me as the new Associate Minister of Music. The vote came out in an overwhelmingly vote for YES! It was a wonderful affirmation and blessing to have such support! So...
I have officially been called as the Associate Minister of Music at New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC! It was a wonderful weekend, and now I'm going to hit the ground running when I get back to Huntsville to prepare for services this week, as well as start looking at planning for the fall at New Hope!

Thank you so much for all your prayers, encouragement and support! I have been blessed with amazing friends and family! I love you all!!

On the way

Hey!
Just thought I'd post a quick update for everyone. The second week of my internship has gone wonderfully! I'm really starting to get the hang of everything and know my way around finally. I was able to work with the FBC Worship Choir on Wednesday night and it was a wonderful experience! They have a great choir and they were so receptive to someone new coming in to conduct a couple pieces.

I'm in the airport right now waiting to board the plane to Atlanta, and then to Raleigh for my interview weekend at New Hope Baptist Church. I'll be meeting the staff, celebration band, choir, and other members of the church tomorrow. Sunday I'll be helping with worship leadership through a solo in the first service, and by conducting the choir, leading the hymns, and singing a solo in the traditional service. Looking forward to this new chapter and meeting so many great people this weekend! I'll be sure to keep updates posted on how it's going.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Friday! Have a great weekend!