Friday, June 08, 2007
I haven't been able to
I haven't been able to post for a day or so. We're headed home. Had a great day yesterday.
J Nelms
J Nelms
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Report from Cocoa Beach
This is my first report from the trip using my computer. The previous posts have been made from my cell phone. Unlike previous years, I am publishing a daily newsletter that includes our daily devotionals. Consequently, I am spending my "blogger" time on this information for the choir. I apologize for not keeping you better apprised of our travels.
We had a good trip to Norman Park and arrived in pouring rain. The folks were happy to see us but more excited to see the rain. We rejoiced with them for the blessing. The conference center was nice and much larger that we expected. We sang for some folks at the conference center dining hall before going to the church. The pastor and youth minister at First Baptist, Norman Park met us for rehearsal and prayer. It was a sweet time.
Sunday morning was a great worship experience. The church was brimming with young families, youth, and children. They were so excited about our presence. We sang five songs during the worship service and then they asked for more. We closed the service with two more. It was a great, old sanctuary in which to sing (104 years old).
We walked across the street to the dining hall and ate lunch before making the drive down to Apopka, Florida. It was a long afternoon on the road. We arrived at First Baptist, Apopka just ten minutes before the service began. When we walked into the sanctuary, the people who had already arrived broke into applause. It was great. Our kids went to the restroom, walked into the choir loft, and sang a fifty minute concert. They were great. So much energy.
Amanda Kinser's grandfather, Horace Watson, and several other members of her extended family came to the worship service. Mr. Watson lives only a few miles from First Baptist, Apopka. He has cancer and we were so happy he could attend. After the program, our youth joined the host youth for a pizza fellowship.
We drove over to Altamonte Springs and checked into a great hotel there. The kids were so tired and a cool dip in the pool felt so good.
On Monday morning we drove over to First Baptist, Winter Park for the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. I loved seeing so many friends and professors. It was such a blessing to introduce all of our youth to these great church musicians. These are the people to compiled, edited, and published our baptist hymnals. These are the men and women who teach in our seminaries and universities. So many of these folks have had a profound impact on evangelical music and worship around the world.
We attended the morning sessions and sang during the afternoon session. Our choir was the demonstration youth choir for the afternoon general session. Dr. Jeffery Redding did a great job as clinician. Our youth sang so well that he was able to work on some very detailed choral techniques. Chi Rho will always be a better choir for this experience.
We were inundated with comments and accolades following the session. Not only did the youth sing well, but they courageously did whatever Dr. Redding asked them to do. It was a great experience. We videotaped the session and I look forward to sharing it was our Sanctuary Choir.
After dinner at the conference we went back to the hotel for some R&R. After a little rest, we walked down to the nearby lake and had our evening vesper service. During this vesper services, we sang, had a devotional thought, shared prayer requests, and presented the Glory Stick and the Goober Stick.
This morning, Tuesday, we drove over to the Kennedy Space Center. Our tour included a view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis that is scheduled to launch on Friday night. We also toured the Saturn V exhibit. It was a moving visit.
After lunch we drove down to the Cocoa Beach Pier and let the kids swim in the ocean for an hour or so. They loved playing in the waves and looking for shells.
We check into the hotel and thirty minutes later left for dinner. Dwight had arranged for us to eat at the Florida Seafood Restaurant in Cocoa Beach. It was a lovely dinner for the choir. Following the meal we stopped by the Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Upon returning to the hotel, we gathered in the breakfast room for our evening vesper service. Tonight I talked to the kids about the assurance of salvation. We discussed 1 John 5:13 and Colin Alford shared a great testimony of his salvation experience. Bill Stone told them about the importance of baptism and led us in prayer.
As we reflected upon the day, Dwight shared a word with the group about the role of science in discovering God's creation. He said that it is easy for us to be awed by the science of NASA and the space program. However, he reminded us that God created everything and that we are only discovering little bits of what he has already made. It was a very appropriate message for the day.
Well, I've got to go. More tomorrow. Keep praying and thanks for your support.
Grace and peace,
Jonathan
We had a good trip to Norman Park and arrived in pouring rain. The folks were happy to see us but more excited to see the rain. We rejoiced with them for the blessing. The conference center was nice and much larger that we expected. We sang for some folks at the conference center dining hall before going to the church. The pastor and youth minister at First Baptist, Norman Park met us for rehearsal and prayer. It was a sweet time.
Sunday morning was a great worship experience. The church was brimming with young families, youth, and children. They were so excited about our presence. We sang five songs during the worship service and then they asked for more. We closed the service with two more. It was a great, old sanctuary in which to sing (104 years old).
We walked across the street to the dining hall and ate lunch before making the drive down to Apopka, Florida. It was a long afternoon on the road. We arrived at First Baptist, Apopka just ten minutes before the service began. When we walked into the sanctuary, the people who had already arrived broke into applause. It was great. Our kids went to the restroom, walked into the choir loft, and sang a fifty minute concert. They were great. So much energy.
Amanda Kinser's grandfather, Horace Watson, and several other members of her extended family came to the worship service. Mr. Watson lives only a few miles from First Baptist, Apopka. He has cancer and we were so happy he could attend. After the program, our youth joined the host youth for a pizza fellowship.
We drove over to Altamonte Springs and checked into a great hotel there. The kids were so tired and a cool dip in the pool felt so good.
On Monday morning we drove over to First Baptist, Winter Park for the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. I loved seeing so many friends and professors. It was such a blessing to introduce all of our youth to these great church musicians. These are the people to compiled, edited, and published our baptist hymnals. These are the men and women who teach in our seminaries and universities. So many of these folks have had a profound impact on evangelical music and worship around the world.
We attended the morning sessions and sang during the afternoon session. Our choir was the demonstration youth choir for the afternoon general session. Dr. Jeffery Redding did a great job as clinician. Our youth sang so well that he was able to work on some very detailed choral techniques. Chi Rho will always be a better choir for this experience.
We were inundated with comments and accolades following the session. Not only did the youth sing well, but they courageously did whatever Dr. Redding asked them to do. It was a great experience. We videotaped the session and I look forward to sharing it was our Sanctuary Choir.
After dinner at the conference we went back to the hotel for some R&R. After a little rest, we walked down to the nearby lake and had our evening vesper service. During this vesper services, we sang, had a devotional thought, shared prayer requests, and presented the Glory Stick and the Goober Stick.
This morning, Tuesday, we drove over to the Kennedy Space Center. Our tour included a view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis that is scheduled to launch on Friday night. We also toured the Saturn V exhibit. It was a moving visit.
After lunch we drove down to the Cocoa Beach Pier and let the kids swim in the ocean for an hour or so. They loved playing in the waves and looking for shells.
We check into the hotel and thirty minutes later left for dinner. Dwight had arranged for us to eat at the Florida Seafood Restaurant in Cocoa Beach. It was a lovely dinner for the choir. Following the meal we stopped by the Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Upon returning to the hotel, we gathered in the breakfast room for our evening vesper service. Tonight I talked to the kids about the assurance of salvation. We discussed 1 John 5:13 and Colin Alford shared a great testimony of his salvation experience. Bill Stone told them about the importance of baptism and led us in prayer.
As we reflected upon the day, Dwight shared a word with the group about the role of science in discovering God's creation. He said that it is easy for us to be awed by the science of NASA and the space program. However, he reminded us that God created everything and that we are only discovering little bits of what he has already made. It was a very appropriate message for the day.
Well, I've got to go. More tomorrow. Keep praying and thanks for your support.
Grace and peace,
Jonathan
Monday, June 04, 2007
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Had a great morning at
Had a great morning at First Baptist Norman Park. Sanctuary was packed. Choir sounded great. We are on the road and on schedule.
J Nelms
J Nelms
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Friday, June 01, 2007
Summer Tour 07 Begins Tomorrow
Excitement is building for Summer Tour 07. Chi Rho leaves tomorrow and heads south to Florida. The following is a recent newsletter article that gives a nice overview of the trip.
The Chi Rho Youth Choir will be leaving this Saturday, June 2, for their annual summer tour. This year the choir will be traveling to Florida. Chi Rho has been invited to sing as a demonstration choir at the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. This annual conference will be held at First Baptist Church, Winter Park, Florida. Their performance at the SBCMC will be on Monday afternoon.
Prior to arriving at the Conference, the youth choir will be staying at the Norman Park Baptist Conference Center in southern Georgia. They will be singing at First Baptist, Norman Park on Sunday morning and at First, Apopka, Florida on Sunday evening.
Following the conference, Chi Rho will depart Winter Park on Tuesday and drive east to the Kennedy Space Center. After a tour of the NASA facility, the choir will visit Cocoa Beach.
On Wednesday, the choir will visit St. Augustine before arriving in Jacksonville for an evening concert. The concert will be held at Southside United Methodist Church which is where Fran Owen serves as minister of youth. Fran has organized a conclave of twelve churches for the evening. She has invited Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian youth groups to the evening concert and fellowship meal.
Activities for Thursday involve returning to Norman Park for the evening. Chi Rho will present a concert at an assisted living home in Moultrie, Georgia in the afternoon. Following dinner, the choir will sing a program for the other guests at the Norman Park Conference Center.
On Friday, June 8, the choir will drive home and should return in the evening. Choir director Jonathan Nelms observes, “Our summer tour is always a great time of ministry, outreach, and fellowship. Our youth grow closer to one another and to the Lord. We ask everyone to pray for the safety and effectiveness of our trip.”
A record fifty-one youth and adults are planning to participate in this year’s tour. The seven-day trip will include numerous performances at churches, Christian ministries, and public venues. The choir usually sings a few songs at restaurants, hotels, tourist areas, and anywhere people will listen. Their singing opens doors to witness and share the Gospel. They pray that God will open hearts and minds as the share their faith with others.
Details and daily reports from the choir tour can be found at http://xpyc.blogspot.com. Jonathan will be posting prayer requests, comments, and photos to the blog throughout each day of the tour. Prayerful support of the youth choir is essential to its continued success.
The youth choir season will conclude with a home concert and share service on Sunday evening, June 10, at 6:00 p.m. Encompassing the evening worship service, this meaningful annual event is followed by a fellowship where photos, anecdotes, and awards are presented. The service and fellowship is open to all church members and their families.
The Chi Rho Youth Choir will be leaving this Saturday, June 2, for their annual summer tour. This year the choir will be traveling to Florida. Chi Rho has been invited to sing as a demonstration choir at the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. This annual conference will be held at First Baptist Church, Winter Park, Florida. Their performance at the SBCMC will be on Monday afternoon.
Prior to arriving at the Conference, the youth choir will be staying at the Norman Park Baptist Conference Center in southern Georgia. They will be singing at First Baptist, Norman Park on Sunday morning and at First, Apopka, Florida on Sunday evening.
Following the conference, Chi Rho will depart Winter Park on Tuesday and drive east to the Kennedy Space Center. After a tour of the NASA facility, the choir will visit Cocoa Beach.
On Wednesday, the choir will visit St. Augustine before arriving in Jacksonville for an evening concert. The concert will be held at Southside United Methodist Church which is where Fran Owen serves as minister of youth. Fran has organized a conclave of twelve churches for the evening. She has invited Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian youth groups to the evening concert and fellowship meal.
Activities for Thursday involve returning to Norman Park for the evening. Chi Rho will present a concert at an assisted living home in Moultrie, Georgia in the afternoon. Following dinner, the choir will sing a program for the other guests at the Norman Park Conference Center.
On Friday, June 8, the choir will drive home and should return in the evening. Choir director Jonathan Nelms observes, “Our summer tour is always a great time of ministry, outreach, and fellowship. Our youth grow closer to one another and to the Lord. We ask everyone to pray for the safety and effectiveness of our trip.”
A record fifty-one youth and adults are planning to participate in this year’s tour. The seven-day trip will include numerous performances at churches, Christian ministries, and public venues. The choir usually sings a few songs at restaurants, hotels, tourist areas, and anywhere people will listen. Their singing opens doors to witness and share the Gospel. They pray that God will open hearts and minds as the share their faith with others.
Details and daily reports from the choir tour can be found at http://xpyc.blogspot.com. Jonathan will be posting prayer requests, comments, and photos to the blog throughout each day of the tour. Prayerful support of the youth choir is essential to its continued success.
The youth choir season will conclude with a home concert and share service on Sunday evening, June 10, at 6:00 p.m. Encompassing the evening worship service, this meaningful annual event is followed by a fellowship where photos, anecdotes, and awards are presented. The service and fellowship is open to all church members and their families.
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