The Oak Ridge Community Orchestra, in which I play violin, had our Christmas concert Saturday, December 4th, and also a few members played at Kroger, a local grocery store, this past Saturday while customers shopped.
Yesterday afternoon I went to see my dad play trombone in the Oak Ridge Community Band's annual Christmas concert and sing-a-long. It was so fun to see the band decked out in red and green, some with reindeer antlers, some with jingle bells, (my dad with a red Rudolph nose). The church where they played, First Baptist of Oak Ridge, was also so pretty with lighted Christmas trees and poinsettas.
Sunday the 4th, we had our Children's Christmas program at church, which I led as a part of my interim Children's Music Director position. The kids did wonderfully, I was so proud of them. They sang five songs, with scripture and short lines for everyone in between. They were dressed as angels, shepherds and kings.
Last Saturday Nathan and I went to the Sound Company show, a local song-and-dance group for kids as young as 5 up through high school seniors. Tonight we're going to Show Stoppers, which is the Clinton High School glee club if you will, to see their Christmas show.
Yesterday morning in church I sang with the Praise Band. We did a couple traditional carols and a couple praise and worship songs as well. Next Sunday is the Lessons and Carols worship service, which is composed primarily of choral numbers accompanied by strings and scripture. One of my favorite services of the year.
Later that day, some of the church members are going caroling. I took the initiative to put this together. When I was growing up, we'd all pile in the church van and drive to church members' homes who were elderly and couldn't get out to come to church. There is something very nostalgic to me about standing out in the cold, bundled in scarves and gloves, holding candles and singing a cappella or with guitar to a smiling neighbor in their doorway. I am excited about going, I think it will be such a blessing.
