Andrea says...

Well I seem to have missed a ball!

Sorry for not getting in touch sooner, but life is life and to be honest I
thought it was tomorrow!

Sadly I wouldn't have been able to make either weekend, a little thing
called the Irish Sea, but I have been thinking about those youth chorus
days.

It was the best of times and worst of times, people I loved and people who
could have driven me to drink! But God taught me so much through those many
years, I must be a contender for longest serving member. Being from a small
corps, the chorus was a great support as I would never have had the
opportunity to go 'specialling' and visit other corps, the Isle of Man was
especially powerful, an over-crowded mercy seat and God telling me to go
'fishing for souls' what a privilege. I still don't understand the whole
robbing stuff from the hosts, but hey I can get over that one.

Youth chorus was special for many different reasons, I met my bestest friend
in the whole world Su, I travelled and learned that God speaks to Andi
through words penned by others. There have been many occassions when God
spoke so clearly at practices that tears flowed, I'm sure my many neighbours
over the years thought I was truly barmy! I still think of Banners & Bonnets
- 'Could you love the unloved, never reckoning the cost?' Can I? Or in times
of complete pantsness - He will part the water and till the day I die, I
will be singing my song of love.

Plase pass on my love to Margaret and express my apologies. Youth chorus was
a life line at an important time of my life especially at University and it
was a real privilege as I watched the young people grow, develop, mature and
become really beautiful people.

The photo looks great, but there are a few I don't recogonise, I don't think
I've changed a bit, except more freckles!

Thank you to those who organised the event and I pray that you all had a
blast and how lovely to see the DYOs especially Melvyn.

Well sorry again for not replying, but as they say its the thought that
counts - actually I don't agree with that at all.

Thanks for the memories and as I move forward with a different youth chorus
- officially the Chaplain, so I can get in, I remember with love those
practices, the timbrel routines, the drama items, the laughs, the tears,
God's challenges, the time our tyres all got let down - thanks Peter for
changing the tyre and above all the singing - we were good and thank God for
the different pianists, and musicians, especially Margaret.

Thank you Margaret for looking after me during the Chester years, I may not
be in the Army now, if you and the other beautiful Lacey's hadn't loved me
through that time.

Thanks and sorry this is a pitiful excuse of an apology but roll on the next
20 year reunion, I may be back in the UK by then.

Luv n' prayers

Andrea

Gemma says...

Click here to have a look at Gemma's blog.

You can to see what she thought of Saturday.

Anyone else got any highlights?

Would you like to do it again?

Singalong

Bigger picture II

Don't know how to do it here, but If you go to the podbean the picture is there and it seems to work.

If not let me know and we'll see if we can email the picture.

Hope you've all uploaded the songs and are singing along in the car.

I have to remember to sing quietly when I stop at traffic lights.

Getting the bigger picture

If you "right click" on the picture and do "save as" then you can save your PC and open again with more detail.

You will then be able to look for Will Pearson's ears. (click on "comments" for the previous post below).

There should be more pictures to follow.

Keep the messages coming.

H

What a joy! What a thrill!

(Sorry - that was a joke for Margaret - you'll have to ask her.)

Heather says...

I had a fantastic day - what about you?

Thanks Ste for the picture.

At the moment I don't sing regularly with the songsters or any other vocal group so it was hard work singing but great fun. At the end I wanted to do it all again - this time without being nervous.

It was lovely to see you all - and now I'm thinking I didn't get enough time to chat to more of you. Next time eh?

Thankfully, most of the songs Margaret chose were ones I knew really well so it was not to tough remembering them. Guess some of you had a harder time singing stuff that you didn't know so well. As I'm writing this I'm listening to the us from Podbean (thanks Al for the recording). It's amazing we sound so good after such a short practice - especially as quite a few of us are not regular singers at the moment.

Towards the end of the evening I was thinking that I didn't really care if the audience were enjoying our in-jokes - I was having a great time. But everyone I spoke to really enjoyed the evening - even those who had no contact with the youth chorus.

Here a few of my high-lights and some of the things I'll be thinking about over the next few weeks.

Seeing Margaret doing her thing... and doing it so well.

All the DYO's (DYS's) taking the time to come and join us and saying just the right thing during the festival.

Singing some of my very favourite songs of all time. Songs that remind me of some great times in my life.

Knowing that some of you traveled a long way to be there on the day.

Knowing that some of you were happy to be there - even though you don't always go to the Army these days.

Becky coming to sing after jumping out of an aeroplane!!

And some of the things people said that made me think...

Kevin talking about how easy it is to lose contact with friends and how good it is when we make contact again.

Margaret being so honest about how things have been for her.

And the verses Mark used for his benediction - from Roms 8. The words that struck me were

"Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity...?"

I don't remember hearing these verses from this translation before (New Living Translation). And I wondered how many of you felt that God no longer loved you - either because of what he'd allowed to happen to you or because of what you'd done.

Well just in case you missed the message on the day and even if you didn't, I'm going to say it anyway - God has never left you and He's never stopped loving you.

That's enough preaching for now :-)

So I've set the ball rolling - let's have your highlights of the day and messages for everyone.

I want to finish by saying thanks again to Margaret - not just for yesterday but for years of inspiration and fun.

James says...

Hi Everyone
Dont know if you remember me i was the one that sung one of the deep parts at near Wes. But then had to sadly leave to come and live and work in the Channel islands. James Bnetley is my name and i have to say what an amasing time i had with all you guys singing.

Its one of these things were i wish we could turn back time.Im so so gutted that i cant get back for the 21st but i have to work. I come down to guersney 3 years ago working on the station Island FM, since i have been down here things have gone really well. Im engaged to Becci and at some point we will get married (when we stop splashing out on silly holidays) and work i have been promoted and i am now in charge of all the output of the radio station. Me incharge of something and people as well, but aparently im a good boss.

But once again i am so sorry i cant get up there and take part but would love to get back intuch with some of you that might remember me. My e-mail adress is red_rum90@hotmail.com if you are interested.

But have a great night next week and i will be thiking about you all.James Bentley

Are you excited yet?

Hi Everyone

Just an update on arrangements for next Saturday...

Times:
1.00pm Arrival, coffee, meeting up
1.30pm - 3.00pm Rehearsal
3.00pm - 3.45pm More coffee and chance to talk
3.45pm - 5.00pm Rehearsal and photo
5.00pm - 6.00pm Buffet tea
6.00pm - 6.45pm Margaret's personal panic time and time for others to apply makeup and aftershave (according to preference)
7.00pm Festival ...to include interval for even more chat

Dress Code
We are hoping to have 'souvenir' T-shirts for everyone, so we ask if you can just wear jeans or casual trousers for the evening concert (but please wear your own top during the day!)

Songs - the songs we are hoping to practice and sing on saturday night are:
Saints of God
Lord of All
Sing for Joy
My Help Comes from the Lord
This Little Light of Mine
Wake Up O Sleeper
I Dare to be Different
Celebration Morning
Midnight Cry
Footprints in the Sand
You can Depend on Me
Most of these are on our podbean... http://youthchorus.podbean.com if you get chance, please have a listen as practice time will be limited!!

If there is anyone who you know is attending, who may not have let us know, get them to email us as soon as they can - so they don't miss out on a lovely t-shirt! youthchorus@hotmail.co.uk

Also pass on these details to everyone you know who is coming.

Remember to encourage everyone, especially those you know who can't make the weekend, to reminise and leave messages here. Finally, bring as many supporters along in the evening to listen to our polished performance (?!) or if not, the sounds of Staff Bandsmen Derick Kane and Kevin Ashman!

See you all soon!

Liz says...

Hiya all!

You'll all know me as Liz Elliott, but now I'm Liz DIxon as I got married 4 years ago.

I was in the Youth Chorus from 1996 to 1999 approx. and remember loads of really fun times! The ones that spring to mind in particular involve the smells coming from the Tenors during practice. Not that I'm accusing anyone but ... well... Kev Elliott is the name that pops into my head!!!

I'm a teacher and have been since I left Uni. I'm not at the Army anymore but am very very excited about catching up with everyone! Especially since I've been stuck on this rock (aka the Isle of Man) for so long!!

I now have a son born on 23rd May last year. I just wanted to introduce him as he is truly a cheeky chappy and is just about walking too. He is a keen conductor so watch out Margaret! Speak to you all very soon!

Liz xxx

PS...Very girlie comment to follow, please forgive me!....

What's the dress code for the festival?

Will says...

This place is warming up - lots of good new blog entries.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again!

I wonder what everyone's fave songs would be?I used to like March On, Celebration morning, maybe hush now, and definitely In Christ alone.

Claire said...

Is anyone travelling from New Zealand? I could do with a lift! ;o)

I will write a blog entry soon.

Claire Parkin

Who IS this?

Heather says...

If any of you are having transport problems just drop us a line at youthchorus@hotmail.co.uk - we'll see if there is anyone traveling from your part of the world who can give you a lift. Or if you could get a train to Liverpool Lime street we will get you a lift from there.

Hope you're enjoying the blog - we'd love some more comments and picture from you.

Looking forward to see you all soon.

Love
Heather

Margaret says...

Hi,Subject to some possible changes here are our plans for the day

1.00pm Arrival, coffee, meeting up
1.30pm - 3.00pm Rehearsal
3.00pm - 3.45pm More coffee and chance to talk
3.45pm - 5.00pm Rehearsal and photo
5.00pm - 6.00pm Buffet tea
6.00pm - 6.45pm Margaret's personal panic time
and time for others to apply makeup and aftershave (according to preference)
7.00pm Festival ...to include interval for even more chat

Ooh I am getting so excited!!!

Margaret xxx