Day 2 of Alleluia Conference

Day 2 continued where Day 1 ended. I started with a fantastic session on "power". Not only talking about the power intrinsic in music, but interpersonal power, which is not always a bad thing. The example was shared that by following traffic laws, we give power to those laws and those who enforce the laws. Or, when the alarm goes off, we give it power by getting out of bed! This caused me to really spend time thinking and praying about me and how I share that power and responsibility I have been entrusted with at King of Kings. Do I? What does that look like? What should that look like?

 A Christmas music reading session, which was alright, then it was time for worship. It was a fascinating service, premised on the idea that, while the Israelites were captives in Babylon, yet worshipped God, we Christians today are doing things that are very countercultural, and are sometimes against what is common wisdom of the world. We had an opportunity to speak different Psalms and other laments all at the same time. It was this amazing sound!

 Then it was time for lunch. I was blessed to have the opportunity to have lunch with composers. Joseph Martin, Ruth Elaine Schram, Joel Raney and Rollo Dillworth, along with about 20 other conference participants. A fantastic opportunity for interaction. And some excellent insights were shared. After lunch was time for another music reading session, and I got to sit with my good friends David and Kim Angerman, along with Joshua Chai, the director of choral activities at Concordia, Austin. A row of Lutherans in the midst of Baptists! It was wonderful! David directed his composition, which I will be purchasing for my Chancel Choir to sing for Reformation.

 I had another opportunity to be encouraged and challenged with another seminar on the fact that, as a worship leader/musician, everything I do, verbally and non-verbally matters. I'm not usually "in front", but in directing and other interactions with people, what I say, and just as importantly, maybe even more, what I don't say does make a difference.

 Finally, I went to a session on composing and arranging by Joel Raney, editor of Hope Publishing. I received some great insights, and even more encouragement to continue to compose and arrange music. I am feeling very much pulled toward this direction, and the decision that I was led to very recently to not teach a part-time junior high choir or instrumental group or whatever it would be definitely plays a major role in that, which I felt very affirmed in!

 All in all, another wonderful, challenging, and thought-provoking day. I know that tomorrow will bring much, much more. And of course, the challenge is not only how to process and synthesize it to share with others, but to incorporate it and implement it in my life and ministry.