As I write this article, there are so many things running through my head… things such as:
- Did I remember to make the bus driver’s reservations?
- Do we know how to get there?
- Will so-and-so remember to get there on time on Tuesday morning?
- Will the kids remember the words to their songs?
- Will I forget to bring the handbell music like I did a few years ago?
- etc., etc…..
It must be the end of the school year, which means it’s time for summer Youth Choir tour!
When I first came to FCUMC, I considered myself having a main task of directing the adult Chancel Choir, as well as directing all of these other groups of children and youth. I quickly learned that I was mistaken! My main job was to direct the Chancel Choir, and my other main job was to direct the Youth Choir, and my other main job was to do all of the other main jobs that I fell in love with!
Getting the chance to work with the youth of this church was a surprising blessing to me. I didn’t realize that I was going to enjoy it so much. Youth certainly have a different energy and set of expectations than adults, and sometimes those qualities can be both exhilarating and frustrating. The youth that I inherited my first year were amazing disciples of Christ that taught me much in my first year as a full-time church worker. Their hard work and excellent rehearsal attitudes were an added bonus!
This year, however, I came home from the first youth choir rehearsal exhausted. Why were things so different? Was it because of the young ages in the choir? Was it because I had lost so many juniors and seniors? Was it because their rehearsal discipline was weak and untrained? For the first time, I became frustrated with this choir, and even went so far as to say that summer choir tour may have to be cancelled.
Fast-forward to today, and let me tell you something – God has been working in the lives of these youth. They changed their attitude in rehearsal and learned every song, even the songs they didn’t like! I have seen them become leaders in worship when we have sung in traditional services and in the Journey. They have also reminded me that God doesn’t always intend for us to get comfortable in what we are doing. We must be adaptable and effective in our work! I had to change my ways and directing style to become the leader that this choir needed.
I tell you today at the beginning of this summer choir tour, that this is a group of youth that I am proud to be associated with. They are young and excited, energetic and caring, and they sing about the love of God because they want to tell others.
I tell them often, “if you touch just one person’s life during choir tour, it is worth all the effort.” What I don’t tell them is that these kids have already changed my life.
- Andrew Duncan
