Last minute singalong

[primsong]

Just had our music leader call me from Reno where she is completely socked in by a blizzard - "Sorry for the last minute notice, but needless to say I won't be there to lead the worship tomorrow morning..."

*facepalm* Oh no...not another round of my trying to lead the congregation acapella... Here's hoping I at least will have a guitarist.

I tell ya, there are times having a small church is great, and there are times I really envy those warehouses with a gajillion instrumentalists in them... momentarily...

I'm teaching about John Calvin tomorrow (a guy who really isn't as bad as his reputation makes him) and the Swiss Reformation - but first a little mindless wandering on LJ.

Comments

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

I have gone to my friend Farrah's megachurch a few times. They do have a great band. I hope you get a guitarist tomorow. :?)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those folks who is distracted by a band - it makes it feel like a performance for an audience instead of interactive, communal worship to me, I rarely feel I have been able to concentrate on God and give him my worship when I've been interrupted by drums and bouncing repetitious choruses. On the other hand, I know folks who consider it a very important part of their service and they wouldn't want to be without it, vive la difference!

[estellye.livejournal.com]

My sister goes to a church where they have thousands of members. She knows almost nobody. I'm with you. I would take a surprise acapella performance in front of caring people who all know me over that any day. I look forward to seeing everyone - fellowship is such a huge part of worship.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

This one went all right, it ended up being passed on to the youth pastor whose wife plays chords on the guitar and we just did a small number of choruses that we all knew well - as you said, it's a caring group who all know us and it's easier when it's all 'family.'

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

I hope all went well....I didn't realize that Reno had gotten the bad weather too. I am sure you did just fine ;)

I really admire your knowledge of church history....Bob is pretty good with that...we learned a lot from our great pastor at our mega-church in Phoenix...but I'm like you...I've done the mega-church thing and have had enough.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

I find there are more opportunities to grow in a small church - I doubt I would be teaching the adults or my daughter would be playing piano for the offeratories in a megachurch full of professionals. We're learning more this way, and there's no shortage of ways to serve others that's for sure.

[iorhael94.livejournal.com]

Yes the opportunities to serve are definitely more plentiful...and you don't have some of the prima donna attitudes that you sometimes have in a mega church....We had a drama team for awhile with our single's group outreach at our church in Phoenix...I tried out but no go...they were practically looking for professional actors >;o!

[tuilelindowen.livejournal.com]

Wow, I agree about the music service in a smaller church. A little over a year playing the harp when I began taking lessons after my stroke my church had me play and sing with my harp as 'soloist' for both their Christmas Eve and Easter services. A daunting public premiere -- especially the Easter services, when I looked up afterward and there were over 200 people there. Everyone comes out for the holiday services!

Also, noting the Pimpernel avatar you used for your original post for this thread, I've been meaning to ask you about this new set from Easton Press. Is this the entire Pimpernel set? Expensive, but I am curious what you can tell me from looking at this:

http://www.eastonpressbooks.com/leather/product.asp?code=1525

Pimpernel

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Hi Tuile! I've seen that set, or parts of it, from time to time while looking for my own copies. They are pretty but overpriced, and there are more titles than those to be had as well. There's lately been some of them being reprinted as paperbacks and ebay has been my friend to watch for older copies of the out-of-print ones. You can also read ALL them online at Blakeney Manor - a great resource when they are so hard to track down and a great site for those of us who enjoy Percy and co. The books are listed in chronological order for the tales.

blakeneymanor.com

Two of my faves are "The Elusive Pimpernel" and its sequel "El Dorado" - "Sir Percy Hits Back" has a fascinating look at Chauvelin's home life too. "Sir Percy Leads the Band" has a wonderful turn of events as well... oh, just go ahead and read all of them. ;-)