Daytona Beach mini-recap

Back from the Feast. For 10 days I didn't go near a computer and I didn't die. I got deathly ill, but didn't die. I think I'm on the road to internet recovery.

The Feast was exceptional. On the way down I scored major brownie points by taking the M.R.S. to Paula Deen's joint.

Our trip down was fairly smooth, and once we got checked in we found our temporary dwelling to be quite nice. I didn't get to hear very many complete sermons (thanks, Noah), but the portions I did hear were exceptional. It's always encouraging to me to hear about the kingdom and the wonderful meaning of the Last Great Day. It's always nice touching base with old friends, and we made some new ones as well. It's also funny how relationships develop amongst parents due to seeing each other in the lobby after taking the young ones out of services. I got to know a couple of people from Minnesota that way, as well as MD and TN residents. Of course Nick made quite a few new friends, and did a better job of dividing his time between the old and the new than I did.


The M.R.S. and I (as well as a few other Anderson members) got the opportunity to be a part of the Festival Chorale this year, which was an exilerating experience... Mr. Thomas directed us and his excitement and zeal were contagious. We sang the hymns "God is our Refuge" and "Be not Afraid" a capella (Summer, you were absolutely correct about that song), and on the Last Great Day we sang "With the Sound of Trumpets" with piano, sax, and trumpet accompaniment. The music as a whole was excellent. The kids sang "Won't it be Great in the World Tomorrow" with piano, electric bass, and flute accompaniment; the hymns during services were accompanied by M. Thomas on cello and Mary D. (13 years old!) on flute. Mrs. Winnail sang a POWERFUL, inspiring version of "The Holy City", accompanied by a Mr. McCarty on piano, and he also played a classical piece for offertory music on the LGD. Mrs. Thomas sang a soprano solo as well from Handel's Messiah... Which one was it now... Oh yeah - "How Beautiful are the Feet of Them"...

I think 13 babies were blessed this year on Family Day. The Anderson congregation helped out with the Scavenger Hunt for everyone and the Treasure Hunt for the kids. We were all pretty nervous about how things were going to turn out, but all I heard afterwards was positive feedback. The winning teams were rewarded, although one young member of the Village People would've appreciated a more material reward. You had to be there to understand. :-D

The most memorable sermons for me were Mr. Whitaker's sermon (ah, what was the title???) and Mr. Frank's Last Great Day sermon. Wonderful sermonettes were given by Mr. Ponder (GA/SC/AL), Mr. Poole (Anderson, SC), Mr. Beyersdorfer (Joplin, MO), Mr. Kobernat, Mr. Ames, and Mr. Brown (Tallahassee). I know I'm leaving some people out, but I'm at work and my notes are at home. I think you guys get the picture though - it was a rewarding Feast. I'm also looking forward to checking out Feast sermons from our library. Maybe then I'll get to finish watching the "Behind the Work" video (thanks again, Noah).

Oh yeah - Noah's deathly afraid of the ocean. And he was quite probably the most well-known young man at the Feast. Let's just say that he wasn't afraid of being heard during services. Or shy about singing. Or songleading, for that matter.




PS: Annette, I think your parents think I'm strange.