Dear friends,

Tomorrow we will begin our first May together. As beautiful a month as May tends to be, it can sometimes be a choir leader's nightmare! Wednesday evenings begin to be crowded with so many extra end-of-the-season activities, spring fever vacations, school projects to complete, gardening adventures, and gorgeous nights that tempt us to sit on the front porch swing...and sometimes we choir leaders wonder, "Where have all the singers gone...?"

I have never known a more devoted, committed choir than this beautiful group I've come to know this year at First-Plymouth. We have made such progress this year because we have consistently spent quality time together. As the May temptations surface, remember the motto: "I can't. I have rehearsal." Even though we've passed Easter and our Brahms, we still have some beautiful music to learn and some amazing worship to sing. Even though we approach 'ordinary time' in the church year, there are still extraordinary opportunities for us to experience. Even though the season is changing, God still deserves our unending song of prayers and praises.

Let's enjoy every single moment we have left in this first season together. Let's continue to learn and grow. Let's continue to support one another in offering our first fruits to the God who makes everything possible. Let's start by gathering at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday to prepare "Hark I hear the harps eternal" and "Christ, Mighty Savior" for worship, followed closely by our assembling at 6:30 p.m. to sing humbly among the congregation as part of the peaceful, prayerful Taize worship.

The First-Plymouth Choir is an incredible ministry-- to those of us who sing and to those who hear. May we continue to be grateful for the opportunities we have to give and to serve, even as we receive.

Grace and peace,
TT