Tour Day 9 – Orlando FL St Lukes UMC to New Covenant UMC

I kind of wonder if it just came to Carol’s realization that we are in a major entertainment center and we really needed to put a little pizzazz on the show – well she did that.  With just a touch of added choreography that sets off the reaction.  Like putting pop rocks in coke. I’m not going to try to describe it.  I’ll just have to be the one who knows and you the one who don’t.  Until homecoming…

I’m a little concerned.

It’s such a beautiful, historic theater, and these guys just might be the old girl’s undoing.

We are still in Orlando, I suppose it goes without saying.  The church that we sang in this morning was an amazing architectural beauty.  I’d say late 70s or early 80’s tabernacle style if you get the reference.  I’ve heard it said that every past era’s style that eventually becomes cliché, when done well with an artist’s touch, can have its own timeless beauty.  Each style is trying to say something, and it can be expressed in such a way that it communicates that message without words, and I think this church building does that.

I won’t go on about the building too much because the performance was pretty special.  A standing ovation from this crowd is really saying something since they have – get this – their own theater where they put on Broadway style musicals. There were between 700-800 folks in attendance which hopefully got the homecoming jitters out a little by performing in front of such a large crowd.

After the service we participated in a service project where the singers divided up over 3,000 food items going to a local food pantry.  Then I smoked Zamuel Brushwood and Ethan Howell in ping pong – and then was bested by Maddie Burright.

Upon returning to the hotel, we had time enough to gather with all the people who might be interested in being future New G leaders. We do this every year to give everyone who is considering running for a leadership position what those responsibilities entail.  From what I can tell we are going to have another awesome year on the exec committee!

We wrapped the night with another performance in The Villages, FL where Chloe Debee literally blew out a speaker.  I don’t know what Sam is going to do about that actually… He didn’t look too worried though.

On a slightly sadder note, my baby cakes, Emily Howell is leaving us for the rest of tour (boo) to get back for her new job as an Assistant Principal at Chapel Hill Elementary in North Kansas City School District (yay!). Emily, besides being my tour bestie, actually does so much behind the scenes for New G. Really, you don’t know it – I don’t even think most folks in New G know it – but I get the privilege of seeing her do what she does.  To say that we are going to miss her for the rest of tour just isn’t right.

I’m a little concerned.

Well folks, I’m going to get some shut eye.  There are 80 some odd wild and crazy folks down here in Florida who love you and miss you.  Just 6 more days and we party.

Signing out - Joseph