Greg Races, I Sing

Wednesday, April 19…

I have found my calling – I am a choir crasher! And I love it. Back in March, when we were in Ocean Springs, I dropped in for rehearsal at First Baptist Church and sang w/ the choir on Sunday. Last week, In Macon, I desperately wanted to sing with the Methodist choir on Easter, but several days of a cold had left my voice scratchy so I reluctantly chose to stay in the congregation. Yesterday I checked out a couple churches in Montgomery and decided I’d drop in on a Presbyterian rehearsal tonight. 
Wow! Trinity Presbyterian is massive. I arrived just a couple minutes before 7, parked on the street and searched for an open door. Once inside, I was directed to the choir room (vaulted!) upstairs.

I approached from the north (R end of
this pic - it's a huge hall, which had 
apparently hosted a dinner earlier that 
night) and parked along the street
 east of the sanctuary. I was quite 
intimidated at first and very grateful to
find the wedge in a door west of the sanctuary.

Sanctuary, facing south
 (more bldgs to the left)

I quickly introduced myself to the director and settled in with the altos. We sang through 8 numbers in a little over an hour. Quite a range of styles (17th century to American spiritual). I wasn’t “excited” about every piece, but I appreciated each one and enjoyed sight-reading them. Two I did especially like (and thought they’d be appropriate in a sacrament meeting), so I took down the publishing info for future reference. Just like the Baptists, these folks welcomed me with open arms. They love to sing, I’m there b/c I love to sing –  how can this not be good?

one of my faves

BlogThoughts... Dropping in on these rehearsals isn't just fun. I also learn lots b/c I always check out the church's website to get the history of the building and details regarding whichever branch of the denomination the congregation represents and what the distinguishing tenets of that branch are. I won't remember all of it, but I will remember some. It's fascinating. And the folks I meet are always wonderful (and often jealous of our Year of No Responsibility 😃)