April 3 – “A Mystery on the Team”

We did something different at church last night.  We had a singing and eating fellowship.  Well, I guess that would be more accurately described as an eating and singing fellowship.  We did take care of the eating part first.  The idea was to sing through the songs we will be singing at the Easter Sunrise Service on the beach.  That way some of the folks in the crowd will be familiar with the songs and can help the others carry the tune.  We can have four or five hundred people at the event, so we can use all the “planted” music help we can get.

The food portion of the evening was just as excellent as I expected.  We had everything from pizza sandwiches to actual pizza to brisket to little sausages in Oklahoma barbecue sauce.  Someone made breakfast bread (AKA monkey bread), and Brennan discovered a brand new favorite.  Janell served root beer floats to the crowd later in the evening as well. 

The rest of the evening amounted to the praise team and Chris doing most of the singing and the rest of the folks listening in and tuning up occasionally.  I know I heard more than a few voices on Victory in Jesus.  Oh, and speaking of the praise team.  There was an extra body up there.  Jim was there with his guitar and banjo (though not at the same time).  Dale was back with his guitar.  Austin was up there strumming on his brand new electric guitar.  And Corey was there as well, fiddling away on his violin.  So who was the extra body?  Well, let’s just say he played a ukulele and stayed as nondescript as he possibly could.  I – er – HE had a hard time keeping up with the big boys on several of the songs, and on several occasions he didn’t even know how to play the chord being called for.  And then there was the issue of not being able to see the song sheet.  I think he was having some fun, though.  I don’t think he will join the team for the sunrise service, however.  Too much going on to worry about music as well as teaching and baptizing and being the general emcee flunky for the event.  Easter is just two weeks away.  I have to get the programs printed this week along with making all the palm crosses.  Time to do some palm tree trimming.  Oh, and I suppose Chris will have some house painting in the mix as well.  Bring it all on.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Father, thanks for singing and eating and gathering with friends.  Use the Easter service to your glory.  Amen.