Music Update

WOW, What a crazy month June has been!

We kicked the month off with our Youth Choir Tour to California. On our first day, we explored Redondo Beach pier and had rehearsal at Rolling Hills UMC, where we performed Sunday morning. After singing for church Sunday morning, we stopped at Oakmont of Valencia, a retirement home in Santa Clarita, and shared ice cream with some of the residents (it was National Rocky Road Day!), so that was a fun treat. After singing for them and visiting with them, we ventured further north.

From Merced we traveled to Yosemite National Park. Talk about God’s masterful creation being on full display! Groups took hikes to Lower Yosemite Falls, the Swinging Bridge, Mirror Lake, and more! We also got the traditional “Choir Tour Pic” at Tunnel View, which was last experienced by our choirs in 2012.

On Tuesday, we served a non-profit known as Fertile GroundWorks and helped with several projects. Here’s a brief snippet from their weekly newsletter:

“Tuesday saw our regular volunteers and the Newnan First United Methodist Church Youth Choir, from Georgia, come out to the garden and they helped us get things DONE! Newnan split into about 4 groups and helped us to finish gleaning out bed N10, start the new expansion out back, plant 56 sweet potatoes and wash & pack the produce for delivery. Once the harvesting was done, and the group for washing/packing was established, everyone worked together to get 2 beds gleaned and 2 other beds prepped! About 12 of the Newnan choir volunteers worked with Ryan to get the new expansion sheet mulched! 6 of the choir volunteers helped Brenda plant the sweet potatoes and prep bed B13! Another group of 6 choir volunteers helped Lori to get bed N10 gleaned out and prep bed A06! Another 6 of the choir volunteers helped to wash and pack the harvested produce for delivery…over 600lbs of produce harvested on Tuesday!

It was truly a blessing to be a part of their ministry. The Youth were great that day. We were tired from Yosemite, and it was hot, but they got the work done! After working in the garden, we got to hang out at Asbury UMC, and then gave a concert for them that night. It was a great day of music and ministry.

Wednesday we got to explore some of San Francisco. That morning we went to Pier 39 and made friends with a ton of sea lions. It was amazing. They wanted to sing, too! We had lunch on the pier, did some shopping, and then headed to our ferry cruise to Alcatraz. This was an amazing experience. It was so cool to explore somewhere many of the students had read about in history classes and other places. We had a special treat that day in that Bill Baker, the last living inmate from when Alcatraz was still a penitentiary, was there signing his autobiography. This is the book Andrew showed off in worship when we got back. A great day!

Thursday we got to have lots of fun at Knott’s Berry Farm, a really nice amusement park in Buena Park, outside of LA. The youth had a great day riding rides, snacking, and having fellowship with each other. Friday we flew home, and then Sunday we got to perform for all of you in services.

The church staff is so proud of how the Youth represented our church in California. I could not have asked for a better first Youth Choir Tour experience. They really were amazing.

This month the choir will take a bit of a break, so we’ll get to enjoy some special music in services. We hope you’ll enjoy those!

On July 21st, please make sure to join us at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary for a Southern Gospel Concert. This will be a fun night of excellent music making. We will also perform our set for the residents at Wesley Woods that afternoon. If you have loved ones there, please encourage them to come. A love offering will be accepted at the evening concert to benefit the music department. I hope to see you there!

Soli Deo Gloria, Caitie