Anona Kids Choirs Update!
We’ve updated our schedule for the next several weeks in preparation for our Christmas Concert and awesome FX Christmas Eve Services, so be sure to get your copy of the new schedule!
Anona Orchestra Begins Tuesday!
Wow, I’ve just realized it’s been way too long between blog posts!
Our Anona Orchestra will kick-off their first rehearsal of the season on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25th at 7:00 PM. If you are already a member, please be sure to come on out, and if you are interested, we’re looking for new members so come and check us out!
Renovation Progress
It’s time for another update on our Traditional Sanctuary renovation progress:
This past week we’ve seen a lot of changes in the project – The carpeting for the front chancel and rear narthex has been installed (in the required Methodist red color), and the wood flooring under the choir seating has been put in.
The kneelers have been sand-blasted, and are being refinished in a slightly lighter tone to match the pews and other wood decor.
The AV screens and projectors are in and functioning, including a rear screen for the choir loft. While they are not a normal part of our traditional worship, they will be very useful for groups that use DVD tracks like the Praise Choir and Children’s choirs, and allow the Sanctuary to house some of the more dramatic choir and orchestra presentations (allowing for lyrics or drama lines to be projected in the rear).
The new LED lighting is mostly up, with just a few more lighting units to be installed and tested this next week.
These new lights will last far longer than the traditional lights that needed frequent replacement (and with a 30 foot ceiling, it made changing bulbs pretty challenging!)
They will also allow the use of colors, allowing us to match the seasonal colors used on the communion table and banners in worship.
And the Tech booth is beginning to take shape with the new digital soundboard, lighting board, and computers to control the sound, lights, and video in the room.
Stay tuned for more news on our renovation project!
Praise Choir Serves Up A Memorable Night!
Normally on Thursday nights you can stop by the music room at Anona and hear a group of adults singing uplifting praise and worship songs, and sharing their lives together. But this past Thursday the music room was quiet. Instead of practicing their music this week, they were practicing their service in the community at Safe Harbor.
After signing in, the group went in to the kitchen and met a small team of volunteers and inmates from Pinellas Harbor and the nearby correctional institute, and went to work preparing meals for the homeless. In a very short order, the group whipped up over 300 plates of food that was taken out and served to a large gathering of men and women who needed a hot meal, and a place to stay for the night. It was a beautiful evening of fellowship and sharing with the new people they met, and even a little bit of singing as the group closed the evening by singing their signature song, A Blessing.
Way to go!
To learn more about Safe Harbor, you can visit their website:
Return of the Renovation!
OK, you Star Wars fans might get the blog title to this one - I have to come up with some interesting titles for a weekly renovation update you know!
Progress is happening in the traditional sanctuary with both our construction team and AV teams working together in getting the job done right and on time.
Our new Tech booth has begun to take shape with the drywall exterior, and the countertop base complete. The AV team has also been busy running the new cabling back to the booth to prepare for the new sound and light boards.
The electricians have been busy running the electrical and conduit channels for the new speakers, projector, screen, and lighting for the chancel.
They are also beginning to close up the new chancel floor as most of the new wiring underneath has been laid in and ready to hook up.
What I am most impressed with is that they were able to drive that huge lift down the center aisle, and up on to the new chancel to reach the lighting area above!
That’s it for this edition, so stay tuned for more exciting construction news!
Men on the Move!
I wanted to repost this from our Gospel Chordsmen Director, Doug Moland, who wants to spread the word about our Men’s Barbershop group, the Anona Gospel Chordsmen:
WE MOVED!
A new rehearsal time and place for the men’s Barbershop Chorus, The AnonaGospel Chordsmen, Tuesdays at 1:30PM in the Choir Room starts now. Barbershop harmony is a uniquely American musical art form. It is known for beautiful four-part harmony, Bass at the bottom, Baritone in the middle, Lead singing the melody and Tenor on top. There is no sweeter sound to be heard on earth than men ringing chords in four part harmony. Join us in the “Man Cave” Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. Men only, no women allowed, it’s a “Man Cave”, remember?
For details, contact Doug Moland:
I’m excited for the guys new rehearsal date and time, but will confess that I’ve never thought of the music room as a “Man Cave”?
Thanks, Doug!
Renovation Week 3: Behind the Scenes
We’re moving along in the middle of week three of our Traditional Sanctuary renovation project, and have begun to lay the groundwork for the new chancel, AV booth, and of course, the updated bathrooms!
The bathroom is not much to look at now, but just wait until it’s all done!
One of the more creative solutions in channeling the electrical and AV cables is the design of a cabling trough system that is suspended from above. This saves the need to tear up major sections of the sanctuary flooring and cutting long concrete troughs in the floor, which would require extensive (and expensive) floor modifications. The design is also very similar to the recessed lighting troughs that line the ceiling walls right above it.
You can also see the new electrical and AV lines coming together inside the new AV booth.
The framework for the shelves are also near completion.
And, finally the new steps up into the choir loft are underway. While it’s not complete, it is being built with sturdy steps and rails so that our choir can safely traverse the upper reaches of the choir loft, and feel like they are on solid ground.
That’s all for this week, stay tuned for more progress!
Creating Magic: Leadership the Disney Way
Back several months ago on a family trip to Disney, I came across a very interesting book in the gift shop (so I immediately downloaded it to my Kindle app at half the price). It was a leadership book by Lee Cockerell, Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World called Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney.
I have always been fascinated with the Disney parks. As a child from the sheer entertainment value, as a young adult for the performance aspects, and now as a worship minister in understanding effective leadership and management of such an operation (plus it is still quite entertaining place!) While the strategies outlined in the book were nothing earth-shattering, I did find a few very interesting points that the author brought up in reflecting upon leadership that relates to worship.
“…The changes you initiate might seem forward-thinking today, but they will be tradition tomorrow.”
I must admit, I laughed at first at this quote, but later it really struck me, especially as we proceed through our current renovations of our Traditional Sanctuary, and embark upon two new worship services this Fall. Over the years I’ve learned that tradition is not tied to one style of worship, it is what occurs to all worship over time, no matter the style or genre. I’ve tried to hold this quote in mind in reviewing the construction details in the renovations, knowing that once it is completed, traditions will follow from how and what is done. I’m also mindful of this as we plan the details for the new Venue and FX services, looking at each with the thought of what traditions we are seeking to create for the next generations in meaningful and relevant worship for them.
“People will not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.”
I believe this applies to music (and preaching as well). While we so often get caught up in the devil of the details in preparing an anthem or band special, that is only half the journey. While it is important to prepare the music to the best of our ability, the final step for us is the invitation of the Holy Spirit into the process. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that can take a simple song or chorus that can shape and mold it into something that can touch the hearts of worshippers. Some of my favorite e-mails are from church attenders who can’t remember the title, or sometimes even the words to a song from Sunday, but they can recall how God used it to touch their hearts at a time that made all the difference.
What are your thoughts?
Renovation Underway!
We’ve kicked off the renovation project for our Traditional Sanctuary, and I thought I’d keep everyone up to date on the progress being made.
Chancel renovation
Initial construction of the AV booth
