It’s 9 o’clock on Saturday morning. The sea creatures are running amok. The angels keep missing their cue and Jonah, well, he can’t remember if he’s supposed to go up or down on that one particular note. The sailors look like they might threaten mutiny at any moment and the whole business looks like one hot mess.
They are due to perform in less than 36 hours. They’ve been practicing for weeks but it sure looks like they could use about another couple months to get this all figured out.
I’m not too sure about all this and I’m wondering if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. This is such a busy time of year. The music program has to compete with soccer and band and baseball. The kids (and parents) have a million things to do what with school getting out for the summer in just a couple of weeks. Most of the kids have had to miss at least one practice because of a conflict. It’s just the way it goes with so many things on the families’ to-do list
John Neely and his helpers look cool as cucumbers. They patiently go over and over and over the lines and the music with the kids. They guide the littlest ones to their places time and time again with the gentle hands and tender words.
Still. After three hours of rehearsal, I’m still fretting. Wondering silently to myself if my little angle knows all her lines and when to say them. Wondering how in the world this is going to come together in time for the performance Sunday night.
It seems like we might need a miracle.
We got one.
At 6:30 Sunday night the curtain came up and the performers danced and sang their hearts out. The sea creatures were in an orderly line, the angles hit their mark every time and Jonah hit all his notes. The sailors whistled like their lives depended on it and the whale did an excellent job of feigning indigestion after swallowing Jonah.
It was standing room only as we all listened to words of wisdom about accepting responsibility and the consequences of running from God. Surely a lesson we could all benefit from being reminded of now and again.
Afterward the cast and crowd helped themselves to brownies and strawberry shortcake while we all celebrated another successful year of choir. We were reminded just how blessed we are to have such a wonderful group of dedicated people who shepherd our children each and every Sunday.
From all of us who enjoyed this performance and the other choirs all year long, we are so grateful to each of you who give your God given talent to pour yourselves into our kids.
I, for one, can’t wait to see what they do next year!
Sorry we had to miss it. Assume your angle was essentially an angel. If I knew, I forgot that John is the Rev. John. What an asset! Love the Jonah story. Our Tennessee Cokesbury curriculum covered it maybe a year ago. Yeah, God seems to pursue us, each of us, and that can mean all of us, ask us to do stuff we just plain do not want to do!! We bolt, we get upset, and God still uses us. And sometimes we rarely have a clue what is going on. Good luck on the West Coast!
Will there be some youtube excerpts in a bit?
Children’s musicals are, often, very demanding tests of faith. Twice a year, I begin the prayers — the monk-like mantra/chants that it will all work out. I also cling to the hope that church is a forgiving place, and these children will be graced no matter how many notes or cues they miss. So glad to read that this phenomenon is universal!! Kuddos on what I am sure was an amazing performance!!