youth group

This evening we had our first very organized practice in awhile.  The semi new leader G was able to make it last minute and our guitar player and bass player were there.  And believe it or not, I kept beat on the drums.  Seriously.  We sang through three songs we all knew pretty well to prepare for tomorrow night.

Thursday is G’s big meeting with all the band including our lead guitarist who has been absent for awhile and a new lead guitarist who will backfill for him.  I’m excited but somehow I see myself getting MORE roped into this than LESS roped into it.

BUT it was actually a lot of fun singing tonight.  G played with some harmonies and since he sang so loudly, it let me sing louder and we actually sounded pretty good.  Now if we can just pull that off tomorrow.

Tonight was actually enjoyable at youth. That sounds horrible but I’ve been dreading it recently because of the whole band thing. This week we talked to a guy in our church G who is apparently very passionate (and good) at singing and music in general. He is PSYCHED about it which makes me PSYCHED that he’s PSYCHED. Now we just need students that can come regularly to practices. I say “we” but I’m not really sure I mean “we”. I think I may hang in there and go to practices and maybe sing backup to him with a few other youth but ultimately I’d like to be out of the loop. We’ll see. I really do like singing so I don’t mind singing with someone who can lead which I know he can do. Yay!

I do have to say my feelings were a wee bit hurt tonight…K gave all the kids chances for Q&A and he asked what needed changed and in a split second a few said The Band! I was like OUCH. Part of me wanted to cry, part of me wanted to quit on the spot, part of me wanted to say you wouldn’t have had ANY band if I hadn’t stepped in to help and snapped my fingers and part of me wanted to say AMEN, the band sucks. I really do wish we could have been more successful on our own but you can only do so much with what talent your given.

So here I am again Interneting my life away…so much to do, so little time.

I’m nearing my breaking point with this youth band thing.  I love my band members, but we were HORRIBLE tonight.  Our drummer, base guitarist and lead guitarist were all out tonight.  We had one guitarist and two vocalist.  You’d think that’d be ok but we haven’t practice in 3 weeks and we winged it.  Scott said we sounded like a bad American Idol audition.  And surely we did.  I even got so embarrassed during the thing I turned bright red.  Thank goodness we have colored lights on us on the stage.  I have a little hope a guy in our church might take over or at least help with the band but I am SO not cut out to be the lead singer of a band.  I can sing ok in a choir when I have rehearsed much but this.  I just can’t do it.  I mean I’ve been doing it for several months now but I’m to the point of not even looking forward to Wednesday nights anymore.   I really don’t want to see the end of the band and that’s the only reason I hang on.  But now two of the main guys got part-time jobs and it’s just not working without them.  The students aren’t into anymore.  The students were actually sitting down while we were singing it was so bad.  As much as I want it to work, we may just need to scrap the whole thing unless something or someone major happens.

So here’s the obligatory couples shot.  The night was a breeze really.  Just some set up at the beginning to arrange the few things on platters and that’s about it.  We reused our gym that was decorated for the seniors dinner from last weekend.  I didn’t really get a good picture of it (or most things) because we had the lights off and only Christmas lights and candles on through the night.  The numbers were way down compared to last year but that’s understandable since we haven’t had a youth pastor for 4 months now.

After we ate, we took a bunch of individual/couples/group pictures and had some fun with that.  Apparently youth really like their picture taken. 

We finished the night off with a quick Chinese exchange.  Apparently they do the exchange differently though.  For theirs, you go ahead and pick a gift and open it and then you can pick whether you want to keep it or exchange with someone else’s gift.  And after that, the person you exchange with is stuck with whatever was switched.  The game was not nearly as fun but it made it quick.  Last year when we had over 100 people, that was important.  This year, I think we should have done it the way I’ve always done it…steal someone’s gift or chance opening another one.  If you steal, you get to steal or pick.

Anyway, no major hiccups and I even got to head up to our extra choir practice when the games were done.  After all that drama with the dress though, I sort of wish I hadn’t spent so much time and money on it.  Most of the girls didn’t dress up as much as last year and with a small crowd it seemed sort of overdone.  But oh well, I’ll take any excuse I can find to buy new clothes and dress up!

So it’s official as of today.  Our new youth pastor was unanimously voted in.  I think there are some reservations with some youth.  But some are extremely excited which is great.  Honestly, I’m not 100% sold but I’m trying to offer the benefit of the doubt and keep an open mind.  I realize he’s not going to be S and different can be good.  It’s just I think I had expectations that so far haven’t been met.  But, I’m so happy that there is now a leader and that us on the youth council can breathe a little bit.  Yes, it will be a few weeks before he’s on board full time but just knowing relief is coming feels great.