Back to Church Sunday

Today, we played two services at St. John's York Mills to celebrate Back to Church Sunday.

Many churches put on their game-face today, and we were no exception. The music in the morning made use of our talents, the choir, the worship band, organ, and handbell choirs. The sermon was ripping, and the congregation stayed after the service for BBQ and bocce ball. Each group in the church prepared a booth for a 'trade fair,' and Gerald and I even performed a little outdoor concert. So thankful for perfect weather!

At The Gathering, we had a full band, complete with saxophone, violin, and organ. Our pre-service song was our new arrangement of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and our solo was Gerald's new ballad, "Oh My God, I Love You." After a moving message inspired by the book of James, we gathered around the altar for an intimate communion.

One person said to me today, "This feels like Easter." Today was a lot of work for some of us, but it's so worth it with a comment like that. Of course, shouldn't our worship always feel like Easter? Shouldn't we always have that feeling of joy and freedom?

So the challenge: How do we make Easter every Sunday?

Book Review: 1,000 Days - The Ministry of Christ, by Jonathan Falwell

I chose to review this book because I love the starting point: Jesus came to Earth to give us salvation. He could have done that in a day, but instead, chose to walk with us in three years of full-time ministry. If salvation was the only goal, why bother with the three year ministry? What was that all about?

I was hoping this would be an in-depth look at those three years, picking apart the details of Jesus's words and actions. Instead, the book is organized in broad strokes. I think as a "Jesus 101" book, this is great. If you're new to the story of Jesus, this is a great way to get an overview. But for those of us who are looking for something deeper, this book won't provide it. There are some great nuggets of insight in the book, but they were too few and far between to keep my interest.

If you're new to the faith, or not a Christian but interested in the story, check this out. There are also questions for personal reflection or group discussion at the end of each chapter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Angels in the Dust - Our tribute to 9/11

Not long after the events of 9/11, Gerald met a first responder. 

He captured his story in the song "Angels in the Dust" 

and recorded it on his new CD Every Church is a Small Town.

This simple video shares the story of "Angels in the Dust."

Listen, remember, and share...

You can download the song at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store

East Coast Tour - Day 32 - HOME!!

32 days on the road:

5 provinces

16 performances

4 denominations

6500+ kilometres

2 ferries

2 new CDs

1 new song written

350 photos

32 blog posts

Countless moments of beauty....

It's been an amazing month. We've been so blessed to enjoy hour upon hour with our beautiful extended family, our generous hosts, and our fantastic audience members.

We're so grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey!

And tonight, we're also grateful for our own bed, 

our sweet puppies, 

and a family to welcome us home...

East Coast Tour - Day 31

We couldn't leave Quebec without visiting the lower part of the old city, so before heading west today, we drove downtown and squeezed in a few more hours of beauty.

The lower part of Old Quebec is definitely, without-a-doubt, our favourite part of the city! The buildings are all dated, and many date back to the 1600's. These streets felt even more twisty and intimate than the upper city. We spent hours drifting through antique stores and art galleries. We watched artisans blowing glass. We ate the most amazing breakfast-for-2 on the most beautiful courtyard patio.

A word too on the wonderful buskers here in Quebec. We've seen guitarists, keyboardists, flautists, and dancers. We even saw an opera singer who was playing her accompaniments on what only can be described as a large music box she had strapped to her waist. The musicians filled every block, but never close enough to be in competition.

So now, I'm writing from Montreal. We've had a little walk, a great meal, and now we're resting in the hotel room.

Second last day, last night of the tour.

We'll be home in less than 24 hours.

Amazing...

East Coast Tour - Day 30

Sunday in Old Quebec!

This morning, I took a bus that could only be equated with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride down to Old Quebec to attend worship at Holy Trinity Cathedral. The service was the well known Anglican communion (service from the Book of Alternative Services & hymns from Common Praise), but there were so many special touches!

The Cathedral sponsors missions to Burundi, so today's message came from the missionary herself, and special music was provided by musicians who had traveled from Burundi. They played guitar, piano, and rhythm instruments. Their voices infused the sanctuary with sounds of praise.

Three young children from the church had prepared a Burundian song to sing after the message. As they started, it was clear that they were shaking with nerves. The Burundian musicians in the pews began to sing along softy to encourage them. As the children smiled at the support, the musicians, one by one, left the pews and stood alongside the children. Their soft voices lifted the energy of the children, and we were all witnesses to the power of walking beside another... without a doubt, the most powerful moment of the day.

The prayers were also incredible in this worship service. This congregation is English, but a few prayers were said in French, and the blessing was given in German. When it came time for the Lord's Prayer, the Dean said, "Please say the Lord's Prayer in your own language." So we prayed in English, French, German, Burundian, and possibly more. I was reminded of the day of Pentecost when the apostles spoke in every language.

The rest of the day was dedicated to enjoying this glorious city. We strolled through alleys of artisans, enjoying the paintings, sketches, woodwork, weaving, and jewellery.

As we took a break on one of the hundreds of patios in Old Quebec, an accordion player filled with air with French and Italian classics, including my favourite, "La Vie En Rose."

We ended the day with an amazing meal, fruity gelato, and a late night walk along the top of the wall that encircles the city.

This weekend has been such a time of beauty. It's been a long month, but we're definitely going home refreshed and feeling relaxed...

New Photos from Old Quebec!

We're having a great day in Old Quebec! 

Taking a little rest now to gear up for tonight, so I thought I'd post a few photos. 

You can see them on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

By the beautiful Chateau Frontenac...

East Coast Tour - Day 29

I woke up this morning to the sounds of Gerald playing songs in the kitchen area of our hotel room. Can't think of a better way to start the day...

It's fantastic to have a few days to just have fun here in Quebec City. We took the bus to Old Quebec, which is one of the most fantastic places in the country. The old city is surrounded by a stone wall, and the buildings within were built anytime between the 17th and 19th centuries. Roads are cobblestone, and lined with restaurants, cafes, artisans, churches, and shops.

We enjoyed hours of exploring, including a wonderful cafe respite of sipping cappuccino and nibbling on fresh-baked treasures.

I've posted a few photos of our day on our SITE and FACEBOOK page. 

It's hard to capture this kind of day in photos - we highly recommend a visit!

Mmmmmm..... macaroons! 

East Coast Tour - Day 28

Hello from Quebec City!

Those who know me well will know that I'm definitely a "night person", so you'll be shocked to hear that we were up at sunrise today! Yes, actual sunrise.

Last night, our hosts informed us that they have a sauna on their property if we wanted to indulge this morning. So we were up bright and early, just in time to see the sunrise over the low tide of the Bay of Fundy. The sauna was a decadent treat, and by the time breakfast was ready, the tide was already refilling the Bay. (I've posted before and after shots on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.) We lingered as long as we could, driving through town and loving every turn on the road. What a gorgeous area!

After a long drive, we've finally arrived in Quebec City! This will be a little vacation on the end of the tour. We'll be enjoying art, music, and whatever adventures we can find in this great city! Stay tuned for more updates, and lots more PHOTOS!!

This morning ...

East Coast Tour - Day 27

Hello from beautiful St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick!

We left Moncton this morning and started the drive south to St. Andrew's, and what a drive it was! The closer we got to the Bay of Fundy, the more beautiful things became.

We stopped for lunch at an unassuming little place called the Bay Breeze. As we walked through the tiny restaurant, we noticed a patio and grabbed a table.

What - a - spot!! The sky was clear and bright blue, and our 180 degree view was the stunning Bay of Fundy. The water was lush and expansive. Sea gulls drifting by and provided a gentle soundtrack. The sun beat down, but the heat was relieved by the gentle breeze.

We couldn't resist indulging in more seafood as we drank in the beauty of our surroundings. By the time our food arrived, we were the only people on the patio, and the silence was golden. It's hard to put the whole scene into words, but it was truly a perfect moment.

The beauty continued as we arrived at our host family's home just outside St. Andrew's. Right on the water, the backyard has a fantastic view of the famous Bay of Fundy tides.

We drove into town tonight for our final tour concert at All Saints Church. We approached the concert with feelings of gratitude for all that we've experienced over the past month. During the intermission, one lady said, "This is exactly what I needed tonight." Moments like that make it all worthwhile.

After the show, we stayed up late, visiting and helping our hosts celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary! We've been blessed to stay with amazing people on this trip.

I imagine we'll do a lot of debriefing over the next few weeks, but for now, all I want is a good night's sleep!

New Photos

We've got new photos up on our SITE and FACEBOOK page!

Click the links above to check them out.

My new Irish penny whistles, from O'Brien's Music Store.

East Coast Tour - Day 26

Hello from Moncton, New Brunswick!

Our ferry crossing was fantastic, and we got on the road bright and early. The weather was just perfect for driving, and with the exception of some construction, we had a great drive.

We stopped at a little seafood stand for lunch and, yet again, I had mussels. I realized that I've had mussels four times on this trip, twice in the past 24 hours! Nothing wrong with that...

We have one more concert left on the tour. I can't believe we're this close to the end of things!

Tomorrow, we sing in St. Andrew's, NB. We were supposed to sing there last year, but we were shut out by infamous Hurricane Irene. Barring all tropical storms and natural disasters, we're really looking forward to tomorrow night!

For tonight, we're settled into a cozy little hotel in Moncton, NB. We're a little tired, so pizza is on the way, and nothing but relaxing is on the schedule for the night....

East Coast Tour - Day 25

For the first time in over three weeks, we're heading west.

We spent our final morning in St. John's visiting family, strolling around downtown, eating mussels, and wishing we had a few more days in the city. Our time has flown by. I always wish Newfoundland was easier to visit, or I wish we were millionaires and could fly in anytime on our private jet. Sometimes you've gotta dream for the impossible...

Tonight, we're on the ferry! I say it every time, but I love being on a boat!!

This will be about a 14 hour trip, so we booked early and got a cabin. When we arrived, we found out our cabin has a window! Score!

So tonight, I'm writing to you from our cozy little cabin on the Atlantic Vision ferry, crossing from Argentia, Newfoundland, to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

We're relaxed, comfortable, and ready for an easy night on the ocean...

East Coast Tour - Day 24

Today was our last performance in Newfoundland for this tour.

We visited the Agnes Pratt Nursing Home and performed an hour of hymns and popular inspirational songs for the residents. It was a great way to finish this leg of our trip.

This concluded our 6 Concerts in 6 Days. We're a little tired today, but our voices are still in great shape. Last year, we started doing a daily vocal warm-up we found online, and I think it's been instrumental in keeping us vocally healthy on this tour.

We returned the Bose system we had rented, but we won't be without one for long. Gerald is completely hooked, and I'm pretty much sold too. It just has everything we need, and it's so easy to sing with.

The rest of the day was just spent enjoying the city. We had an early supper of fish cakes and cod tongues - we're trying to eat as much Newfoundland food as we can! We stocked up on locally made Purity crackers and cookies. And we enjoyed an evening of listening to locally recorded music with our friends.

I can't believe we leave the island tomorrow! 

It's all gone by far too quickly. 

One more concert left!

I've also posted some photos from the past week. 

You can find them on our SITE or FACEBOOK page.

East Coast Tour - Day 23

It was great to have a day when we didn't have to drive anywhere!

We spent the afternoon lounging on the back deck, eating healthy food and enjoying the company of good friends.

This evening, we took the (thankfully) short drive to Mount Pearl to sing at The Parish of the Good Shepherd. We sang there last year, so we knew we were in for a good night.

The crowd was a good mix of friends, return audience members, and new faces. They laughed and sang along, and the whole night had a wonderful feeling.

After the show, we were talking with a longtime family friend and wishing we had time to grab a meal while we're in town. We made a rain cheque for our next visit, and parted ways.

On the way home, Gerald had a late-night craving for bad food, so we turned into the golden arches. Well, while we were in the line-up, who walked in but our family friend? Looks like we would have our meal together after all!

We chatted and laughed and had a great time. It's been a long few days, but we're still feeling strong, both vocally and spiritually.

One more Newfoundland show tomorrow afternoon!

East Coast Tour - Day 22

Hello from my hometown - St. John's, NL!!!!

We arrived early in the afternoon so we could rent a Bose sound system. Even though ours worked perfectly last night, we've been debating buying a new system for a while. We're just at the point we're we'd like something a little larger that can accommodate more instruments and possibly bigger venues. We've had our eye on the Bose towers, but thought it wise to rent before buying, so here we go.

Our venue for tonight was St. Thomas's Church, which was my home church for most of my childhood. Dad was the rector (head pastor) here for many years, and the sanctuary is full of memories.

There's nothing more powerful than looking out at an audience that is full of family, and folks who have known you your whole life.

Tonight felt like a strong night of ministry, and I believe Gerald has completely fallen in love with the Bose (I have picture to prove it - give me a day or 2 to post it.)

Tonight is performance #13 on our tour. Only 3 more to go!

East Coast Tour - Day 21

Hello from Hodge’s Cove!

This morning started as all mornings should: sitting around the kitchen table, playing songs and sharing creativity with our Eastport hosts, Paul and Helena. After leaving their home, we visited retired Bishop Eddie and his wife, Emmie, for a visit that included tea, poetry, homemade muffins, music, theology, and a wicked thunderstorm.

Unfortunately, the thunderstorm followed us for most of the day. But as we say in Newfoundland, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes,” and by the time we hit Clarenville, things had settled down.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to Hodge’s Cove or this area. The drive was twisty and grey, but when you crest the hill into Hodge’s Cove, you know it was worth the drive.

We were set to sing in St. Mary’s Church, one of 5 in a multi-point parish. After a great sound check, and an extra prayer over the sound system, we welcomed a full church for a fun evening’s entertainment. The crowd was with us from the start - singing, clapping along, and just smiling back at us. After, many people stopped for a chat and a word of encouragement, which we always appreciate.

One of the things we’re loving most about this tour is meeting so many interesting people. After the concert, we chatted with our hosts, Rev. Jessie and her husband Danny, about the ever-shifting and challenging dynamics of introducing contemporary church music to more traditional congregations. We also threw in a bit of chat about our favourite tv shows, just to keep it all balanced.

Tomorrow, we head into my hometown, St. John’s! Can’t wait!

East Coast Tour - Day 20

Hello from Eastport, and our craziest tech night ever!!

We said good-bye to our family in Botwood today over Gerald's favourite Newfoundland dessert: the Dockside's partridgeberry kuchen. Native to the island, partridgeberries are bright red, a little tart, and completely excellent on any kind of dessert. We were able to finagle a few jars of preserves from the kitchen, so I started the drive east with a happy husband in the car.

The church in Eastport is just gorgeous! It's a large, cross-shaped sanctuary with amazing hand-cut wood beams. There isn't a piece of stained glass in the whole church. Instead, the colour comes from the beautiful homemade banners that line the walls. We actually included the Easter banner in our "In The Garden" video.

One thing we love about this church is its beautiful acoustic. As we started the show, everything felt great. The sound was tight, and the audience was responsive.

At the intermission, I went back to the CD table while Gerald switched out the cables so we could play a few tracks. And that's when I heard it: thunder-like crashes coming out of our sound system.

We started the second half, praying everything would fall into place, but every few bars we'd hear something very non-musical coming through the speaker. We unplugged the tracks and decided to just go back to guitar. No such luck. The thunder/crashing/horror-sounds continued. We made the age-old joke about the devil being in the sound system and tried to laugh it off, while simultaneously trying not to freak out.

After a few minutes of trying to fix it, we just unplugged everything, and moved right down to the front of the audience. Suddenly, it felt like we were in a house concert. Everything was intimate, and somehow very special. After we finished, people said it was their favourite part of the show. Funny how things happen...

I don't know what we're going to do tomorrow night, but if you're in the mood for a weird prayer tonight, please pray for our sound system!

East Coast Tour - Day 19

And so it begins: 6 concerts in 6 days.

Tonight we returned to the Salvation Army Church in Peterview. When we lost Indian Bay on Sunday, we feared tonight would be (to use the theatre term) a 'dark' night. We were so happy when the people at the Salvation Army said "yes" to the idea of a concert tonight!

We arrived at the church mid-afternoon to set up and have a rehearsal. The first people started to arrive over an hour before showtime! We've never had people come that early! By 7:00 pm, the sanctuary had filled up, and the crowd was ready for a good time.

We switched things up a little tonight and added 2 new songs to the program: "My Heart is the Manger" from Every Church is a Small Town, and our funky new arrangement of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Love that new groove Gerald has created for this classic song!

Every show tends to be a little different, and tonight's was fun and relaxed. The audience was filled with joyful singers, and we truly felt welcomed and loved.

Tomorrow, we head a little further east to Eastport, and my Dad's hometown of Salvage!

East Coast Tour - Day 18

Today is our last day "off" until our final tour concert next week. Tomorrow, we start a run of 6 concerts in 6 days. After that, we have 3 full travel days (including a 14 hour ferry ride!), and then a concert in New Brunswick.

It's going to be a tight, busy schedule, so part of today had to be about resting and prepping:

We took my aunt and uncle out for a birthday celebration lunch at the beautiful Dockside Restaurant.

We reorganized the car, revisited the concert set list, and had a great rehearsal.

And tonight, we enjoyed a leisurely time on the back deck with the family.

Nobody can deny that being on tour is a lot of work, but it's definitely a lot of fun too!