Final Thoughts on the 2024 Children's Music Mission

I was hoping to finish up the blog last night, but by the time I finished my Sunday afternoon and evening rehearsals, I ran out of time. With apologies for the late entry, here is the final post of the 2024 Children's Music Mission!

Shockingly, the kids stayed in bed a little longer on Sunday. It's as if they were busy all day on Saturday or something?

We began our day as we did the day before, with breakfast at Camp Lookout. We said thank you to "Mama Snacks," who is the chef up there. If you're wondering why they are standing on one foot, it's because right before I took the picture, I said, "Everyone stand on one foot." If someone isn't, it's because Simon didn't say.

We piled on the bus and headed for First Centenary UMC. Jan, their director of music, is 100% my hero. Here's a picture of us in their choir loft.

This was my view from up there...

One of the parents got a picture of us from the back.

One of the coolest parts was singing with their children's choir. Jan played the shaker in the front, and I joined with one of their adults playing drums in the back. Collaborating was so much fun!

With General Conference ongoing, singing in another United Methodist Church felt somehow important, and the pastor mentioned it in his sermon as well. I feel very strongly that we are the church. It's not the building, it's not the conference or the denomination. It's hearts and hands working together to be Christ in the world. That's where my focus is. But our connection is important because of the way it multiplies our effort. My favorite of these is UMCOR, which allows 100% or funds donated to disaster relief to be spent on disaster relief. But there are many other missions we support by our connection.

Jan asked what time we rehearse (6 on Wednesdays). She said, "We rehearse at 6 on Wednesdays too! So any time you are singing, we are singing together!" What a delightful way to remember we are not alone.

First Centenary streams their services! If you want to see us sing, you can head over to: https://firstcentenary.com/past-service-library#entire-service. The whole service is worth a watch, but if you want to see us sing, look at 16:50, 24:40, 30:20, 34:00, and 40:00. All the kids sing together at 40:00, so if you're only going to watch one, make it that one!

Jan and her crew provided lunch for us at the church (yummy!), and we enjoyed eating with a number of her kids and their families.

We got on the road after lunch. You can probably guess the question everyone wanted answered as soon as we stepped on the bus...are we going to stop at Buc-ees. As you know, it isn't my favorite place. Especially on a Sunday. I waited until we got out of town to make the call. Against my better judgment...

Just a crowd. What could possibly go wrong?

Not a party *I* want to go to, Bucee.

Hm. I wonder if any of the kids are going to use their money on deer corn. It's on sale! Honestly it wouldn't be the most random thing they had bought on this trip.

Our itinerary showed a 3:30p arrival. We rolled in at 3:20, which gave us just enough time to take all the gear off the bus and clean the bus up. The kids checked out with me, and at 3:40 or so I headed inside to start my youth bell rehearsal at 3:45. And youth choir at 4:30. They are preparing for their own music mission, heading to Little Rock, Dallas, and Shreveport in early June. I will of course chronicle our adventures right here Under the Oak Tree (on the music blog).

Writing during the middle of the day is different from writing at night, as I did the last two posts! Saturday night I took a picture while I was working.

I guess that's it. Before we left Camp Lookout, we talked about the music mission and its purpose. We sing and visit with others to lift their spirits, and that's important. But we also build relationships with each other. The experiences we share on this trip and in rehearsal and singing in worship become shared history. Shared history becomes glue that holds us together. We are closer for our time together. So this has been time well spent. And while I am of course dragging a bit today, I wouldn't trade this weekend. I believe in it.

Thank you to the Music Makers, their parents (especially the ones who came on the trip), and all those who have supported Music in Mission at our fundraisers this year!

If you would like to support this trip or others like it, feel free to use this QR code or link to head to our donations page.

https://oakgroveumc.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/1d7b398b-7297-4042-8011-1c0b97fec460

Children's Music Mission Day 2/Day of 2's: 2 Concert, 2 Aquariums, 2 Pieces of Pizza, 2 Scoops of Ice Cream

The day began a little early this morning. While my youth sometimes require a little, uhm, encouragement to get up, I have to tell these guys to stay in bed. I felt lucky to make it to 6:30 with them.

One of the reasons I love Camp Lookout for retreats (and lodging for this music mission) is that they have a lot of activities ready to play. Right outside of the dining hall, there's a covered four square court. Four square is a good game for kids because it's fast pace, and the line moves quickly for those who are out. Some of the kids are pretty cut-throat about the whole thing! It was fun, though.

Not pictured: the line. Because I'm at the front of it.

Breakfast included sausage, biscuits, eggs, sausage gravy and chocolate gravy. Don (the camp director here) said you either love it or you hate it. I haven't been brave enough to try it, but many of the kids loved it.

After breakfast we played a couple of games and then hopped on the bus for the first of the twos: two concerts.

Both of our concert venues are repeats for us. In fact, we have now sung at these venues each of the last three years. Today when some of the residents asked me to return, it was kindof nice to be able to say, "Absolutely! We'll most likely be back about this time next year!" That actually one of the most common things people say to me.

Something of a first today as well. I've had family meet us at our concerts before, but they usually check it out ahead of time. Today I got a text as we were on our way to say that Zach's dad and brother were in town, and could they come to our concert. Sure thing! Naturally we got a picture.

And after we sang, they gave us treats. Our host said, "Yes, we like to sugar them up and send them home to their parents!" I said, "But you're not sending them home to their parents. You're sending them on a bus with me!" She laughed heartily and assured me of her confidence that I could handle it.

Nobody ever just takes one.

We went to lunch after the first concert. I don't have pictures from that because there really wasn't time. When it was time to leave, I asked the bus driver how he was going to get out of the parking lot, and he said, "You're going to go stop traffic so I can back across the road and then head right out." I don't know if you've ever stopped traffic like that, but it's thrilling. You step out confidently, stick your hands up...and people pay attention. For a moment there, the whole universe was mine to control! And it occurred to me: this is what it would be like if people actually watched the conductor.

Our second concert of the day was even better than the first.

At the end of our night we talked about the concerts, and many of the kids shared some of what the audience had shared with them. We sang to former choir directors and former singers. We sang to people who liked different songs (the doxology because it was familiar to them or halle halle hallelujah because they followed the words the best). With each concert, the kids get more comfortable interacting and listening. If they start in 3rd grade, they will have 10 years of doing this sort of thing over something like 60 concerts or more!

After the concert it was on to the next of the twos: two aquariums. Well, not really two aquariums. It's two building that make up the Tennessee Aquarium. Unpopular opinion: I like this aquarium more than the Georgia one.

The first building we entered was the salt water building. There are some very cool exhibits in there.

Then we headed to the fresh water building.

I need to give props to the aquarium staff, too. Right after the picture below, one of our students wound up with a wet shirt after, let's call it an unfortunate "accident." (He did not fall in!). His shirt was quite wet, though. The staff member asked if we'd like to give him another shirt, and when I said yes, he went to a cabinet, dug out a shirt in the correct side, and gave it to us without charge! Mind you, the shirt said, "TN Aquarium 2015" on it, but it was dry, and it was free! Great job finding a use for those dated shirts, guys!

I have way too many pictures of the kids at the aquarium. They were so into it! If you want to see them, catch me after church one day, and I'll show them all to you. I was amused by the one below, though. It's a picture of someone taking a picture.

Once we were finished in the aquarium, we headed over to the Incline Railway. We wound up having to wait a little extra because of some unfortunate instructions. The natives were getting restless...

I think the Incline Railway is really cool. It's not really a ride per se. We actually used it to go up the mountain so we could eat dinner. The views out of the cab are really impressive, though, and it's a cool experience.

A couple of chaperones took one for the team and went to pick up the pizza and meet us at the top. I had ordered from the place across the street from the Railway. They found a park near the top station, and we walked down there. The weather was absolutely fabulous. Sunny and warm with a nice cool breeze. I don't have good pictures of the meal itself. By the time I had eaten, they were done and running around. Since my primary goal at this point was to wear them all the way out, I just let them go and figured I'd get a picture another time.

Mad props to the good folks at Mr. T's pizza. I asked them how much pizza I should buy for the number we have. They said, "We think you need 6 large pizzas." That's what I bought. This is what was left: two pieces.

I took a picture of Mr. Harold, our bus driver. Listen. Having a good driver who is on time and ready when you need him is absolutely critical to an effective trip, and Harold has been very reliable for us. He let me take his picture.

He's always wearing the vest.
He did not lend it to me when I stopped traffic.

Here are a couple of pictures I took on our ride back to Camp Lookout. The first one was out the side of the bus and off the mountain through one of the clearings. It really is beautiful up here on the mountain.

Inside the bus, though, there's..whatever this is. Something about sharks and various other animals competing to eat the rock candy. I don't really know what was going on here, but I felt like I should document it. Maybe I'll send it to the Discovery Channel for shark week...

And then, our final 2: 2 scoops of ice cream. Full disclosure, we started with one, but nearly everyone came back for a second. And since I'm a super nice choir director, I was happy to give them some more. You'll note the hot water for the scoops. That makes it easy. I'm a professional scooper...I worked at Baskin Robbins. Though we did have a discussion about proper scoop technique because one of the chaperones worked it...I believe it was Hagen Daaz. I'm not even sure how to spell that, actually, but I'm confident the BR technique is superior.

Props now to the Camp Lookout staff, who really went the extra mile when I asked for ice cream. I told them I wanted to have the stuff to make sundaes, and they delivered! Whipped cream, 3 flavors of syrup, two kinds of sprinkles, a jar of cherries...everything we needed for a full sundae bar! 

Except waffle bowls and sugar cones...which Lamar procured for us. Lamar is a man who knows how to get things. Tasty stuff.

In the morning [checks clock...it's 11:34, so if I get this posted soon that will still be accurate!] we are headed to First Centenary UMC to sing at their 10:45 Traditional Service. It's streamed, so if you want to see us, here's the link: https://firstcentenary.com/the-sanctuary-livestream It looks to me like after the service they'll probably archive that somewhere else. If I can find that link, I'll post it tomorrow. We'll be singing a number of our songs, including joining with the kids choir of First Centenary for one! And their Director of Music and Worship will be accompanying us, since Leanne headed back this afternoon to play for Oak Grove. Lunch after...and then we head home.

Whew! It was a long day, but it was a great day. I think we're all good and tired. And we are good-tired.

Children's Music Mission: Chattanooga Friday

Greetings from the Children's Music Mission, currently in Rising Fawn, Georgia.

There is a Methodist Camp here, Camp Lookout. Returning readers are no doubt familiar with it. I've been here before, including last year's Children's Music Mission and also each year for...longer than I care to admit...with youth choirs.

We arrived here around 9:40pm. That's not terribly behind schedule, actually. We always leave the church a little later so we don't get stuck in traffic.

Our adventure began at around 5:00 at the church, where we gathered and put our gear on the bus (a change from last year, and a good one!). We did a quick warm up, counted heads, and then headed to The Mansions, which is an independent living place in Decatur, just a few minutes from the church.

I'll admit here I wasn't good about taking pictures today. I had one of the chaperones take some while we were singing, but I didn't take a lot with the kids or during any of our other activities. You'll just have to settle for my vivid word pictures? But anyway, back to The Mansions.

We were set up in a large dining room. We arrived right on time for our 5:30 concert, and they were ready for us! It was a great audience. Very responsive and a delight to sing for. We even have a few members there, and it was great to see them. I'm looking at you, Ruth!

Our program this year is called "Sing to the Lord," which is based on one of our songs by Ken Medema. It's kindof a retro song, but I dig it, and I think the kids do too. There's not much of an underlying or subtle message...it's just a program about singing to God.

One thing that's fun this year is that Leanne is conducting a couple of the songs. I often wait until the very end to talk about Leanne and how wonderful it is to work with her. I'll just do that right out of the gate this time. We have the best accompanist, and nobody will convince me otherwise. Here she is in front of the group.

And after we sang, of course we visited a while.

I'm always surprised by which of the kids really get into this. It's never the ones you think it will be. There were a couple at this concert that I had barely said Go, and they were already gone. It's not always the talkative ones! 

When I announced to the audience that we would like to visit with them, the approval was audible. There were excited. We were excited. I wish you could have been here to experience it live.

Annnnnnddddd....that's the end of the pictures.

After we had visited, I pried the last few kids away and we got back on the bus. We returned to the church for dinner, which Ms. Elena had very graciously picked up for us. You may not know her yet; she's still fairly new to the staff. She's great. Really has a passion for kids that is evident if you watch her interact with them.

Then we got back on the bus to head to Chattanooga. Oops. One more picture.

This is a remake of a picture from last year (with a photo bomb added in the lower corner). Can you see the energy in those eyes (both sets)? I promise you it's there. We're touring 15 kids this year, but I swear for a while the bus sounded like there were 173.

It's now 11. The kids (well, at least the boys across the cabin from me) are sleeping. As far as I know everyone else is sleeping as well? In the quiet, I'm thinking about how many of these kinds of trips I've done. How many singers, how many stops, how many songs. I've lost count. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it doesn't feel to me like another one. It feels like the same one. Like a family that has been growing for almost 20 years now and grew again today. A family of kids and youth and adults knitted together by music.

Or maybe I'm just tired. I don't know. But I'm looking forward to tomorrow, which is a full day in Chattanooga. I'll try to do better with pictures so you can see more of what I see.

Be proud of these kids. I know I am.

Music Mission Season!

It's time for Music in Mission once again! I try to make these things happen all year long, but because of the rhythm of the school year, it can be a challenge to have enough music prepared to make that happen. We did offer a Christmas Music Mission this year, which was wildly successful. Back in December, over 60 singers headed to 4 local facilities to bring Christmas Cheer.

That's one thing I'm trying to do more of as well. As much as I enjoy the trips around the country, I also want to cultivate relationships with our neighbors. I'll be expanding Music Mission to include bells next season, and local opportunities abound!

First up: the Kids Choir (grades 3-5) is headed to Chattanooga this weekend. We'll begin with a concert in Decatur, then we'll grab a bite to eat and head for Camp Lookout, where we'll be staying. Two concerts on Saturday (and of course some fun activities along the way), a church service on Sunday morning (which you can stream if you'd like!), and then we'll be home on Sunday. I'll of course keep you posted right here on the music blog about what we're up to. Here's our logo.

Next up will be the Afternoon Choir. We'll be singing 2 concerts (well, a short concert with a singalong and then visiting) on May 9. We've done a concert the last couple of years, but only one. This year expanding to 2 locations! I don't have a logo for them, and I'm not getting them tshirts. But I should really do that. I'll put it on the list for next year!

Then, in just about 6 weeks, the youth choir will head to Dallas, TX, by way of Little Rock, AR and Shreveport, LA. This trip will be a lot of fun for me as I visit some of my old stomping grounds, but I'm also very excited about some of the places we will be singing. This trip is one of my favorite weeks of the year!

Naturally, we are pretty busy getting all the final details and arrangements in place for these trips and concerts. The preparation rivals our preparation for Christmas and Easter! Somehow, though, I find Music in Mission more personally rewarding than even those major Sundays. Maybe I'll explore that as we embark this year...  Buckle up, friends. The time is nigh.

Friday: Finishing Strong

We had to change our plans fairly significantly for Friday, but in typical form, the choir handled it very well. This is a better look at the pancake conveyor. I'm a fan.

Will's grandmother came to see him at our hotel!

Ian serving as he frequently did packing our bags on the bus.

Aunt/Cousins also came to see us at our hotel.

Naturally, with so many visitors, we decided to sing a little concert right there in the hotel lobby.

Appreciative audience!

Rest stop on the way home.

Meeting to talk about writing our post cards.

They found a geocache and left one of our postcards inside.

A room and their chaperone. If you wonder who's mostly behind Sir Trots-a-Lot, this is a clue!

Final circle. Just to wrap things up.

We got on the bus and headed home.

For the second year in a row, the tour didn't end the way I planned or expected. But it was a fantastic journey we took together, beginning to end.

I'm so grateful to everyone who supported us along the way, especially our chaperones and mentors. We truly could not have done this without you. And of course Wes, our driver.

And Leanne. I rely on Leanne for so much, some of which is playing the piano with us, but her detail-oriented brain has saved me so many times. She's just the very best, and I'm delighted to get to work with her each week.

Of course, as the pictures of our thank you note writing implied, many people made financial donations to help as well. The youth pay for most of the cost, but not all of it, and the support of so many at our various fundraisers is critical to continuing trips like this one. In fact, if you'd like to make a contribution, you can do that using this link:

https://oakgroveumc.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/1d7b398b-7297-4042-8011-1c0b97fec460

This is the last post for the blog for the 2023 Youth Music Mission. I'll leave you with one more picture, from this morning. It was my first morning in town. This is what I had for breakfast:

Farewell, friends. Next week: Vacation Bible School!