Day five was another winner for our amazing groups from Mount Holly and Marion! We started off a little later this morning, going back to the work projects that we had all started with on Monday. Our group was weary once again, but not weary in well-doing. They threw themselves into their work, heart and soul! All four teams cut out a little early this morning to head over to the Men's Shelter and join group three. There, our full choir presented a full concert (plus a reprise of two selections) for about 70 men. These men, who were residents of the shelter, ate in two different shifts. They were an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Our choir sang with strength and energy. You will notice a remarkable difference in their singing when they return home in a few short days. Their singing is full of life...it's like they have finally found their home.
After this first concert, we took a break for lunch and were able to choose from several different options. Some of us were able to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy the beauty of the day. The weather here has actually been on the cool side, with many of the youth donning jackets when it becomes cloudy or the winds begin to pick up. Our second concert was at Judson Park, again a lovely audience to sing for. En-route to this concert we passed through a neighborhood where there were some film crews hard at work. We strained to see some celebrities and many pictures were taken as we drove by. Who knows, maybe when the movie comes out it will have a large charter bus driving by with camera flashes going off everywhere!!
After our second concert of the day, we headed to the Tower City Mall and enjoyed dinner before heading to the evening feature: The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. This is wonderful structure to behold just from an artistic and architectural standpoint. When you go inside, you discover five stories of American Music history, with everything from guitars of Muddy Waters and John Coltrane to cars that Elvis bought, from pianos that John Lennon owned to Michael Jackson's sequined gloves, it is all just astounding. We had two hours there and some people barely made it through the first floor!!
We boarded the bus for the return trip home and Morgan Ealey sang a brand new rendition of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" with a Russian accent in order to get her sunglasses returned (she did a wonderful job!) This was followed by a great devotion led by Lauren Rogers from the Mt Holly group. Our groups are having fun being together...it is obvious that they are forging new bonds and what was once two has now become one...in many ways, it's like a marriage where two people cease to be just individuals, and somehow become something more, something with a spark, something fresh and exciting and incredibly special.
It has been another day full of fun, fellowship and God-moments along the way. This evening, I witnessed two of our youth working hard to sort through some issues together so they could strengthen their friendship. Even later (or earlier, as it was after midnight), I walked down the hallway of our hotel and heard singing. Now, let me say this: It's not uncommon for me to hear singing...sometimes I am the one who I hear singing and don't even realize it! Sometimes, it's the voices in my head that are begging me to write down a new melody or re-harmonize an old one for a new composition. This time, it was actual singing by someone else that caught my ear. It wasn't just anyone singing...it was our youth in one of our rooms...singing "Esto Les Digo." My response was to just stop mid-step and listen. They were singing for the sheer joy of it. Not because we had a concert scheduled. Not because one of the directors asked them to, or because they were expected to. No. This was the kind of singing that comes from deep down and oozes out because it just can't be contained.
I'm reminded that the text of this piece comes from Jesus: "Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them..." God's Spirit was in their midst as they sang from their hearts tonight. God's Spirit was at work as strained relationships were mended and restored. God's Spirit is at work in Cleveland, not just in the lives of our group of 63, but in the hearts of all those around us. and in our communities who are praying for us at home. I'm closing the blog this evening with Prayer of St. Patrick, the song with which we close each concert. In light of all that we have witnessed together today, it seems an appropriate closing.
Christ be with me. Christ within me.
Christ behind me. Christ before me.
Christ beside me. Christ to win me.
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me. Christ above me.
Christ in quiet. Christ in danger.
Christ in hearts of all that love me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Amen and Goodnight!!!
Mr. G's Photo Corner
This is one talented group of youth! Please note that the last 17 photos were submitted by our youth from their cameras (i.e. smart phones). Some of the photographs are hilarious....many are strikingly beautiful. With words I can offer nothing compared to what has already been said by Brian....but with photos...I offer these!
CR Tour -Day 5
After this first concert, we took a break for lunch and were able to choose from several different options. Some of us were able to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy the beauty of the day. The weather here has actually been on the cool side, with many of the youth donning jackets when it becomes cloudy or the winds begin to pick up. Our second concert was at Judson Park, again a lovely audience to sing for. En-route to this concert we passed through a neighborhood where there were some film crews hard at work. We strained to see some celebrities and many pictures were taken as we drove by. Who knows, maybe when the movie comes out it will have a large charter bus driving by with camera flashes going off everywhere!!
After our second concert of the day, we headed to the Tower City Mall and enjoyed dinner before heading to the evening feature: The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. This is wonderful structure to behold just from an artistic and architectural standpoint. When you go inside, you discover five stories of American Music history, with everything from guitars of Muddy Waters and John Coltrane to cars that Elvis bought, from pianos that John Lennon owned to Michael Jackson's sequined gloves, it is all just astounding. We had two hours there and some people barely made it through the first floor!!
We boarded the bus for the return trip home and Morgan Ealey sang a brand new rendition of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" with a Russian accent in order to get her sunglasses returned (she did a wonderful job!) This was followed by a great devotion led by Lauren Rogers from the Mt Holly group. Our groups are having fun being together...it is obvious that they are forging new bonds and what was once two has now become one...in many ways, it's like a marriage where two people cease to be just individuals, and somehow become something more, something with a spark, something fresh and exciting and incredibly special.
It has been another day full of fun, fellowship and God-moments along the way. This evening, I witnessed two of our youth working hard to sort through some issues together so they could strengthen their friendship. Even later (or earlier, as it was after midnight), I walked down the hallway of our hotel and heard singing. Now, let me say this: It's not uncommon for me to hear singing...sometimes I am the one who I hear singing and don't even realize it! Sometimes, it's the voices in my head that are begging me to write down a new melody or re-harmonize an old one for a new composition. This time, it was actual singing by someone else that caught my ear. It wasn't just anyone singing...it was our youth in one of our rooms...singing "Esto Les Digo." My response was to just stop mid-step and listen. They were singing for the sheer joy of it. Not because we had a concert scheduled. Not because one of the directors asked them to, or because they were expected to. No. This was the kind of singing that comes from deep down and oozes out because it just can't be contained.
I'm reminded that the text of this piece comes from Jesus: "Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them..." God's Spirit was in their midst as they sang from their hearts tonight. God's Spirit was at work as strained relationships were mended and restored. God's Spirit is at work in Cleveland, not just in the lives of our group of 63, but in the hearts of all those around us. and in our communities who are praying for us at home. I'm closing the blog this evening with Prayer of St. Patrick, the song with which we close each concert. In light of all that we have witnessed together today, it seems an appropriate closing.
Christ be with me. Christ within me.
Christ behind me. Christ before me.
Christ beside me. Christ to win me.
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me. Christ above me.
Christ in quiet. Christ in danger.
Christ in hearts of all that love me.
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Amen and Goodnight!!!
Mr. G's Photo Corner
This is one talented group of youth! Please note that the last 17 photos were submitted by our youth from their cameras (i.e. smart phones). Some of the photographs are hilarious....many are strikingly beautiful. With words I can offer nothing compared to what has already been said by Brian....but with photos...I offer these!
CR Tour -Day 5