Tuesday, June 30, 2009

P.S. 2009 DUMC Summer Youth Tour
Refreshed after a good night's sleep in our own beds, we gathered as a group for one last concert before calling this year's tour a wrap. It was a packed house, and the lack of air conditioning made things very cozy. As Walt remarked, it seemed much like the churches we visited these past 10 days in New England, where air conditioning is a rarity. The kids were excited to be performing before the home crowd and already nostalgic about this chapter coming to an end. The orchestra sounded magnificent and dazzled the audience, particularly friends and family who were hearing them for the first time. The choir was ready to sing with full gusto, no longer feeling the need to hold back to save their voices. At full throttle their performances were just incredible. We were treated to some new music, as Brian and Seth serenaded the offertory break with lovely clarinet/flute duets they had rehearsed but never performed during the tour. A special part of the evening was the addition of tour alumni for the encore pieces. It seemed a wonderful way to tie this year's experience together with the rich history of tradition from prior tours, and to segue forward to whatever may come next. The audience would have loved for the singing to continue on and on, but there was a party to get to, so Walt drew the concert to a conclusion. On behalf of the tour group, Dan Krotz presented Walt a token of our appreciation. In Dan's words . . . as thanks for all the support Walt has shown us, we wanted to give him a bit of support as well. In the form of suspenders - one pair with smiley faces, another with musical notes. Dan also thanked our tireless tour director, Cathy Dobrzanski, for all of her hard work and coordination, and Joe D. gave her beautiful flowers to show our appreciation for all she did to make this such a wonderful experience. We then moved the party down the road to the Damascus pool. A huge thank you to Wendy Hembrough and all of the parents who helped organize this and provided the delicious food. It was a lovely way to unwind and enjoy one another's company. For once, the weather actually cooperated! As the kids swam, the adults traded tour stories and chatted about plans for the rest of the summer. Sadly, the evening's festivities concluded around midnight. The kids shivered in the cool night's air, hugged one another and said goodnight, realizing the summer would now switch gears and they would begin to scatter for sports camps, summer jobs and family vacations. But the memory of their shared experiences will remain fresh for a long time to come, and the journey their faith has taken is now indelibly woven into their hearts and souls.

Jackie P.

As the official "blog poster and picture uploader" I would like to thank Jackie Perry for her thoughtful and inspiring words these past few days. She truly has a gift with words and I know we all appreciate her work! Please take a moment to thank her next time you see her!
Have a restful summer, dear DUMC friends.

Love,
Beth T


Monday, June 29, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 10


Due to the late hour of their arrival in Damascus (12:45AM) , the Day 10 blog will be posted later this morning - The bloggers are all asleep!

Thanks for staying up, Jackie!!!



Day 10 – DUMC Summer Youth Tour


Well, the late night faded into early morning and we gathered our belongings one last time, no longer certain which side of our suitcase was clean clothes and which was dirty. No matter, we donned our black dresses, white shirts and ties and rallied in the lobby at 7 a.m. for a light breakfast and check-out. Most of us rallied, that is – all but one room that forgot to set an alarm and came racing onto the bus, dresses half on and hair rather wild. No worries, they had a 10 minute bus ride to pull it together, as the Tall Friends spoke earnestly about the awesome privilege we were about to experience. We had passed by Trinity Church several times since our arrival in Boston, but we were not prepared for the magnificence of this Episcopal church, which is so rich with history. The current church complex was built under the direction of its rector, Phillips Brooks, a well known charismatic preacher in the late 1800’s [famous for many uplifting quotations, such as "Christianity helps us face the music even when we don't like the tune."] Trinity is the only church listed in the “10 Most Significant Buildings in the U.S.” (American Institute of Architects). Lovely gardens, dozens of stunning stained glass windows, a suspended cross and an extraordinary organ contribute to the grandeur. According to Stephen Kalnoske, our DUMC organ was built by the same man, 4 years later! We should note that Stephen traveled to Boston yesterday (Saturday) to participate with us in this morning’s worship service. Stephen was mentored at this very church, where his improvisational skills on the organ flourished - thanks be to God. This church normally features a paid choir, so the music directors are accustomed to professionals and treated our youth as they would the pros. They had high expectations and a no-nonsense approach. After a quick review of what the choir was to sing, when to sing it, where to stand, sit, process and recess – it was showtime. And goosebump time. The music lifted to the vaulted ceilings and seemed to return as angelic voices from heaven. It was a very formal service, during which we performed Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer; One Faith, One Hope, One Lord; and When I Survey the Wonderous Cross. After a quick bagel break and overview for the second service (which was similar but different from the early service), the choir reconvened. Invigorated by the majesty of the first worship hour, they delivered an inspired performance. The adults worried that the youth would not "get it," that they would not see what an incredible opportunity this was . . . that they would not be able to take it all in and absorb the moment. We sometimes need to have more faith in the depth of these "children" of ours, for the comments we heard from them showed they truly did get it, maybe even more than we did. They were awe struck, many of them expressing that they could not believe they were actually doing this. We were incredibly proud and hope you will be as well when they tell you their unique experience of this profound time. Thanks to the sweet talking of Beth Taylor, a few of the chaperones were given permission to watch the second service from the loft. Oh, my. We were next to the organ pipes (beautiful visually as well as for their sound), and we literally felt the music of Stephen Kalnoske. Please, if you have the chance, talk to Stephen about this magnificent organ and the historical significance of Trinity Church. He is a wealth of information. We also had a great vantage point from which to see our choir. It was something none of us will ever forget and actually difficult to put into words. To see these young people, whom we all love so much, singing so beautifully in this incredible setting, it touched us to our very souls. Last night was the height of our entertainment on tour, but this morning was the pinnacle of our spiritual journey. It was a vivid reminder of why we do this. We love the fun. We love the fellowship. We love the "white trash" and the fork stories. But it is really about enriching our personal faithfulness and witnessing to the glory of God, whether it is on the streets of Mystic, Connecticut, at the Boston Common, in the wonderous Trinity Church or, yes, even on the high seas in Maine. Our souls are anchored in the Lord. So, after a long but enjoyable bus ride home, typifying the tour's "we're running a little behind schedule" modus operandi, we return these wonderful young people to their parents. Thank you for allowing them and us this opportunity to touch the lives of other and, in the process, be enriched ourselves. We will see you all at tomorrow's Homecoming Concert!

Jackie Perry



Click here for photos from Day 10

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 9




Day 9 DUMC 2009 Summer Mission Tour

Today was a day full of surprises. Surprise! In spite of what the front desk told us, there was no breakfast cafĂ© a couple of blocks from the hotel (so many of us had a long stroll in search of a “quick” breakfast). We rounded up and drove a short way to Boston Common, where another church group had just provided breakfast to the City’s homeless who gather there. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny morning, and the homeless and Churchies enjoyed our a cappella performance, as we enjoyed giving it. We then headed over to MIT for a tour of that campus. Impressive in a very different way than Yale, MIT is all about the numbers (even the trees on campus were numbered and barcoded). We returned to the hotel briefly then had the bus drop us at Faneuil Hall where we were in for another surprise. Peggy Edmonds, whom we last saw in Connecticut, had secretly plotted to meet us at Faneuil Hall to surprise Walt on their 39th anniversary. Surprised and uplifted, Walt enjoyed the rest of the day with his sweetheart. Faneuil Hall was lots of fun, with great food, trendy shops, kiosks for the tourists and entertaining street performers. We opted to return to the hotel a little early to give ourselves a little down time before our night on the town. All dolled up (except for a few guys stuck in their bathing suits without room keys . . . oops!), we went out for a lovely dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s. The food, service and ambience were just fantastic. After dinner we strolled a few short blocks to the Charles Playhouse where we were in for our final surprise of the night with the delightful play Shear Madness. Most of us had never seen it and were howling at the bawdy humor and hilarious improvisations. Unknown to us, Cathy Dobrzanski had provided the theater with some scoop about the characters in our group, and they tailored much of the humor to us, with several “Waltisms” and inside jokes. The actors were very engaging and it was laugh-out-loud funny for a full two hours. Of course by then, in spite of exhaustion and the late hour, the kids were re-energized and getting them into their rooms for midnight curfew has been like herding cats. And that comes as no surprise!

Jackie P.


Saturday, June 27, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 8

Day 8 – 2009 DUMC Summer Youth Tour

It seems we’ve just made new friends and the time has come too soon to bid them farewell. Londonderry was so good to us. The great news was that after a night of thunderstorms, the morning brought blue skies and sunshine – perfect for a day at Canobie Lake, a charming amusement park in Salem, NH. We lathered with sunscreen and fanned out to ride the rides and enjoy the water park. The Tall Friends (chaperones) ventured to the carousel and bumper cars (woo hoo), while the kids piled onto the antique cars and rode The Corkscrew. One of the highlights was an antique 1939 wooden roller coaster called The Yankee Cannonball. We feasted on ice cream sundaes named “When the Fat Lady Sings”, “The Wicked Honkytonk” and “Fat Man on a Dirty Couch”, as well as the usual Dippin’ Dots, cheeseburgers and caramel apples. Our visit to the park culminated with a wild water ride on The Boston Tea Party and as Walt, Catherine and Nick got a surprising spectator splash, the kids burst into song: “We are riding in the light of God, we are riding in the light of God . . . We are soaking in the light of God, we are soaking in the light of God.” There are many ways to praise our Lord, and don’t you love the spontaneous joy they just can’t contain? As the clouds rolled in and the rain began to fall, we were back on the bus and on our way to Westborough, MA. This was our final formal concert, performed at Westborough UMC, where the Rev. John Wesley Taylor presides in the pulpit and Brother Al presides in the kitchen. We were treated to a marvelous Caribbean meal that kept them coming back for more. Though we love our spaghetti dinners, this was quite a treat! The days have been long, the voices are becoming strained, there are the occasional snippy moments (and that’s just the Tall People!). But when the black dresses, ties and game faces go on, our youth sing from their hearts and touch lives in ways they cannot imagine. A comment tonight reflects what we’ve heard in every venue. A woman told us how she and her husband debated about whether or not to come, as he is in poor health and she did not think he was up to it. He told her he somehow felt he really needed to come. By intermission they both felt their souls had been restored . . . she believed God had worked through our choir and orchestra to lift them up. They, and many others, left with smiles on their faces. These concerts are more than just young people making beautiful music. They are truly witnessing their faith and fulfilling the purpose of this MISSION tour. It is almost 11:00, we have just pulled into the Hyatt, and - go figure - the kids have gotten their second wind. We’re scheduled for lights out at 11:15. We’ll just hope for the best!


God Bless !
Jackie Perry


Friday, June 26, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 7

Day 7 2009 DUMC Summer Youth Tour
The day began with breakfast in our host homes, then the usual reassembly with suitcases at the church parking lot - this time Bath UMC. All were excited about our upcoming event of whale watching. Prepped with Dramamine, we boarded our boat at Fisherman’s Wharf, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine with great anticipation. It was a rather cloudy day, but we were optimistic the fog would lift any moment. As luck would have it, our view leaving the harbor was shades of gray as we tried to imagine the lovely scene our tour guide described of the coastline. Still, there was something adventurous about heading out to sea, and for the first hour we enjoyed the photo opportunities and the fresh ocean spray on our faces. Yes, that first hour was lovely. Then it began. With each passing moment we began to realize that Dramamine indeed has its limits. When all was said and done approximately 75% of us had succumbed to the mighty power of God’s great ocean. The tour guide cheerily described the birds and their antics on the water, and the various species of seal and porpoises gracing us with their presence as we tried mightily to rally ourselves. The highlight was the dolphin show, presented by Mother Nature without the need for animal trainers. We visited several of the favorite whale feeding grounds and squinted through the fog in hopes of catching a glimpse, but alas it was but a mass of gray and we could not distinguish water from sky. We turned and headed 13 miles back to shore - some lingering near the rest rooms, some slumped at the tables, some . . . Well sort of hanging over the rails of the boat. We arrived at Boothbay’s version of the Inner Harbor with our expectation of a grand adventure fully realized! As Harry Cole used to say, if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans! We were very grateful to be on solid ground and we strolled through the picturesque town of Boothbay Harbor, some having a bite of lunch and others sipping Ginger Ale. We re-boarded our busses and quickly gave in to the after-effects of the Dramamine, snoozing most of the way to Londonderry, NH. There the most wonderful thing occurred. We were greeted by blue skies and sunshine! The first time we’ve seen the sun since departing Damascus. Doug and Beth Taylor lived in Londonderry for many years, and their home church of Londonderry UMC prepared us a fabulous Mexican feast in their dining hall decorated for a fiesta! What a lovely and warm welcome. Our concert was held across the street at Londonderry Presbyterian, which was packed with an enthusiastic audience. In the host pastor’s remarks at intermission, he told the audience of our whale watching experience, saying the choir’s swaying during “Order My Steps” had taken on a whole new meaning! Despite the slight trials and tribulations, we remain spirited and excited for these final days of a tour we will never forget! We capped off the evening with a special celebration of Rachel Wilson’s 17th birthday with a cake reception following the concert.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 6

Day 6 Tour 2009

After having breakfast with some of the most gracious host families thus far, we loaded the busses once again. It was difficult to say farewell to this welcoming community, who were so appreciative of our talented youth and what they had to offer. Host families commented that beyond the talent of our young people, they were struck by their remarkable poise and manners, and their hope for the future was renewed. Now that is music to our ears, Amen? The group then headed North for lunch and shopping in Freeport Maine, a quaint little town famous for being home to the flagship store of L.L. Bean. We enjoyed all manner of chowder, Lobster rolls and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and scooped some bargains at North Face. The weather was a bit warmer, with a light, steady drizzle – an improvement over the steady downpour we’ve grown accustomed to! We then drove a short distance to our two host churches in Bath, Maine. We had another yummy Spaghetti dinner, served at Bath United Methodist Church, then shuttled over to Elim Community Church for a concert. We were warmly greeted by Smo Hicks and her husband, who are DUMC Charles Wesley Singer chaperone alumni. They and their children toured with DUMC on many amazing tours, including the UK and Germany, more than a decade ago. Throughout the concert the doors and windows of the church remained open, and the nearby neighbors sat on their porches to enjoy the performance. Though a certain amount of fatigue is beginning to set in, spirits remain incredibly high. Youth and adults alike are recharged by each performance, feeling the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Praise be to God!


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 5




Day 5 Tour 2009

After a restful night in our host homes, we braved the gathering storm (yet again) and assembled at Northside UMC to travel to Chatham, MA. Upon arrival, our fearless director praised the Lord for the let-up of the rain, only to have the heavens open upon us again! We enjoyed yet another soggy journey through quaint shops and saw the sights of this wonderful beach town. In lieu of miniature golf, we headed for the local (only) mall. There, some of us shopped, while others chose to snooze on the bus. We then came back to Northside UMC (a quite newly built) beautiful church, with a wonderfully warm and welcoming congregation. The area is so friendly that when Cathy D. and Sue C. went on a journey for ice and needed to pull over to re-program the GPS, a kind gentleman stopped in the pouring rain to ask if everything was OK. The hospitality has been overwhelming. We feasted on a wonderful pork barbeque dinner generously provided by Northside UMC, and some fantastic desserts. In spite of the weather, the kids remain optimistic and have really grown to look after and love one another. We are so proud of everyone!

Cathy D. et.al.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tour 2004 - Day 4

We gathered at Union Baptist church and traveled to Hyannis, MA with grand beach plans. Within the hour it became apparent that we could not outrun the Nor’easter which was parked directly on the Cape. We lunched and shopped in Hyannis, many bought sweatshirts, raincoats and souvenirs. Our alternate beach plans included a tour of the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory (we all got 2 free bags of chips), and a trip to “Cuffy’s”, a bargain t-shirt/sweatshirt store (which got a good bit of our business, especially those sweatshirts, since it was cold with gale force winds! We went to our seafood feast at Sesuit Harbor CafĂ© (our own private party). The menu included unlimited lobster, clams, shrimp, steak skewers, corn on the cob, potato salad (to die for), cole slaw, with brownies and ice cream for dessert. We didn’t let the weather dampen our spirits, and enjoyed a cozy party atmosphere as we celebrated Stephanie Goldberg’s 18th birthday. The group once again spontaneously broke into song as we fellowshipped with love and laughter. The day may have begun with bad weather, but it turned out to be the “Perfect Storm”.




Sunday, June 21, 2009

Tour 2009 - Day 3

Day 3 Tour 2009



Once again The Edmond’s church family provided us with breakfast before their Sunday Service (where we performed several pieces, to the delight of the congregation) After a Hamden, CT pizza specialty (brick oven thin crust) , we loaded up and headed to Mystic Seaport Village, CT. This village is an historical recreation of a turn of the century fishing village. We had the opportunity to explore the village, ride boats, and learn about the whaling industry (and eat much homemade fudge!). The tour participants gathered around a huge antique anchor and sang “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord” It was quite moving and drew a crowd of curious onlookers. (see photos) On the edge of town overlooking the village was our host church, Union Baptist Church. Coincidentally, Walt and Peggy Edmonds were married here. The quaint church was built in 1836, and remains full of charm. On a lighter note, 3 of 4 dress bags (in which we transport the girls’ dresses), had major “Febreze” leaks, allowing all of the liquid to be absorbed by the dresses. We had to air them out on a very breezy front porch.






As many dresses were blown off, it resembled a portion of the “The Flying Nun” (for those of you old enough to remember that show). Need less to say we were the best smelling choir in town! (despite the smelly boys!) All was dry by the evening concert, which was again beautifully moving.



A highlight of the concert was when Cameron Grimes, who conducts the men's piece "I Love You Lord", to all the fathers on Father's Day. The evening concluded with another night spent with wonderful host families. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of our fathers and husbands!!



Tour 2009 - Day 2

Day 2 Tour 2009

After a fabulous breakfast in West Chester, we drove to New Haven, CT, where we went on a tour of Yale (compliments of Chip Edmonds) where Walt received his Master of Divinity degree. To our surprise there was an Art’s Festival on the ‘green’ at Yale where we were entertained with Scottish Bagpipes, Rock Bands, Gospel music and other forms of entertainment. We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park. Following our campus tour, we loaded the busses and drove to Spring Glen United Church of Christ in Hamden, CT. Chip and Erin’s church family provided us with a delicious potluck dinner. The concert was as spectacular as the previous night and the audience was very appreciative. We enjoyed a good night’s sleep in our respective host homes.







Tour 2009 - Day 1

Day 1 Tour 2009

Our group gathered in the sanctuary at DUMC to start our tour with song and prayer. Then we headed to Philadelphia, where we were able to have a brief visit to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and our picnic lunch. We also toured the Johnson House (one of the first underground railroad houses to free the slaves) and the Concord School House (one room). The youth got a dose of reality driving through the city and seeing firsthand where many people gained their freedom.

The West Chester United Methodist church is a magnificent mix of old and new. The sanctuary has gorgeous stained glass windows and amazing wooden arches framing a fantastic acoustical ceiling. The grace and hospitality demonstrated by the WCUMC youth and church members was outstanding! We had a fantastic spaghetti dinner at the “new” portion of the church. The concert was great (what an amazing acoustical sanctuary!). Both the orchestra and choir certainly rose to the occasion. The WCUMC youth choir joined the Tour group for a few songs to cap off the evening.

Continuing their generosity, WCUMC provided us with a fantastic breakfast, as we gathered Saturday morning to help “send-off “their Summer Youth Tour (they are going to N.Y. C. for 4 days). The two youth groups got along quite well, and I know phone numbers were exchanged!

Cathy D.


Saturday, June 20, 2009

Another Opening Another Show - Youth Mission Tour 2009

Have you seen Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate? One of the more notable songs from the show is the title of this blog entry. It goes....

Another op'nin, another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another op'nin of another show.

The Charles Wesley Singers are headed to Philly and Boston for sure. They will be meeting people and sharing God's gift of music with people over the next 10 days. The preparation which went into putting this year's tour together starts paying off today (Friday 6/19/2009). The ability to follow the group through the blog last year was something I looked forward to every day so..... Here is the 2009 youth tour blog. I'm going to put this first post up just to make sure all the settings are right and then turn the blogging over to the folks on tour. Hope to have a link on the DUMC site to get to this blog soon. I'll also send the url to Cathy to send around to the youthgroup on facebook.

Check back frequently for posts and pictures from the tour. I drove up to the concert in West Chester PA last night. Beautiful church, fantastic audience, and simply awesome music. Had to be one of the best opening night concerts ever. We shot some video and will get that posted as well. Keep the folks on tour in your prayers. ~ Doug Taylor