It has been an interesting tour thus far now that we are on our penultimate day. Sorry, that is a word I use when I could use a more common phrase and blend in, but it makes me think I’m smart, even though I’m talking to many who are way smarter than me. Regardless, if you’ve never heard it before, penultimate means next to final. Ok, I’m done being condescending now, I’d like to apologize on behalf of my brain.
In choral sets the penultimate song is called the setup. It’s job is to provide a reprieve for the audience for a moment before the energy of the closer knocks them out of their seat. It’s the eye of the storm that provides contrast so that all of the emotion of the set can come to a peak.
And so today sets as the perfect setup. We have had a lot of different types of churches this tour and, in general, the crowds have been pretty generous in size. Some have been really big and may even rival homecoming in attendance (though not in energy – not. even. close). All of that energy that we have been accustomed to so far died down a little on the penultimate day. There was nearly no crowd that New G itself didn’t draw.
I’ve gone on 11 tours with New G now, and I’ve been in a lot of powerful performances, but the most powerful was in front of a crowd of three people. It was at 16th St. Baptist Church in Birmingham back in 2017, poetically on the same tour as this one. It came out of nowhere, the kids just picked up on something ineffable (doh! I did it again) and it just couldn’t be contained.
This performance wasn’t like that. The difference is that there is a surgical precision to this sermon and this group of kids. They are just consistent, professional, and give the same amazing performance every single time regardless of the size of the audience. I am convinced they believe that it is worth it to give that quality of performance to even just an audience of one person, to just lavishly pour out God’s love. So if this is the calm before the storm…
I’m a little concerned.
Well, we’ve had our setup performance. Get ready for a barn burner. We all are. We love you all!
Signing off, Joseph
Click Image for Additional Pics
Click Image for Daily Recap
Remaining Schedule
Sing-Out – Wyatt Park Christian Church
NG Singer/Parent Tour Meeting 2026
Sing-Out #5 – Francis Street First United Methodist Church
Our return visit to Francis Street First United Methodist Church was a memorable and heartfelt experience. The beautiful, traditional church, with its old church pews and stunning stained glass windows, provided a picturesque setting for our performance. This special...
Sing-Out #4 – Oregon United Methodist Church
Last night's performance at Oregon United Methodist Church in Oregon, MO, was a great event, marking our return to this venue after what might be more than 30 years, according to some members. The anticipation and excitement were high as we prepared to sing in a...
Sing-Out #3 – Turning Point Church of the Nazarene
Our performance at Turning Point Church of the Nazarene was amazing, marking a return after eight years. Since our last visit in 2016, the church has gained a few of our singers as members, making this homecoming extra special. From the moment we stepped on stage, we...
Sing-Out #2 – First Baptist Church of Plattsburg
Our second stop of the day brought us to a beautifully remodeled and renovated church that we have had the pleasure of visiting for the past three years. The transformation of this church is truly remarkable, with state-of-the-art technology enhancing both the visual...
