3 Months Remaining!!
And as I say every time, can you believe there are only 3 months left!! It truly does feel like just the other day I first walked into the Perrysburg campus for my first arts meeting.
We successfully made it through Preach Off, or as I like to call it, Production Olympics! This was my first time ever producing Preach Off, and it was quite insane! The producer is responsible for making sure the service happens as efficiently as possible, while keeping it as distraction-free as possible during the service. I was responsible for making sure every member of the band and production team was where they needed to be, when they needed to be there, and serving them as best as possible so they could serve with excellence. If you attended Preach Off, you may have noticed the smoke machines that shoot straight up into the air, more formally known as geysers. This year, I wanted to use the geysers in the halftime show, so I was tasked with fixing all of the broken ones so that each campus would have two geysers on their stage. It was definitely a challenge trying to find some of the problems and fix them in time to get them distributed to campuses. Speaking of distributing geysers, I was also in charge of assigning people to install the geysers at each campus and making sure they worked properly. I got to take a trip down to Findlay and install the geysers there, which was also my first time ever being at the Findlay campus (I got very lost)!!
Every Tuesday, we do a central run-through of that weekend's service. Meaning that on the Tuesday before Preach Off weekend, all of the central music and production team, as well as campus arts directors, execute the service as if it were the real weekend service. I got the opportunity to run computer at Perrysburg for the run-through, and because it is the broadcast campus, there was a lot more than the satellite campuses had. I have heard the term "drinking from a fire hose" multiple times while working at CedarCreek, and this is the first time I truly felt like I was drinking from a fire hose!!! There was so much going on, with multiple people talking at once, most of them relaying important information to me! The computer tech at Perrysburg practically runs the entire Preach Off service, something I did not realize until run-through started. At one point there were four conversations happening at once, and all of them pertained to what I was doing. You should try turning on four different songs at once and singing along to all of them at the same time — that’s what I felt like was happening!! As chaotic as it was, it was so much fun, and I was hyped on energy!
This month we had our CedarCreek staff Christmas party. And yes, I know what you are thinking, "It's February, Christmas was in December??" And you would be correct! Every ministry is so busy during the Christmas season that we don't have the time to all hang out as a staff and have fun, so we do it after Christmas when the craziness has subsided. This year, there was a pickleball tournament that anyone on staff could join and play in. Now keep in mind, I have never played a sport in my life. The most athletic thing I have done is marching band! Did I join the beginner bracket even though I had never touched a pickleball paddle in my life? YES I DID!!! Did I win? Absolutely not! Did I have so much fun? 1000%. It was a blast getting to play pickleball with my fellow staff members, even though I had no idea what was happening at first. By the end of the night, I had finally caught on to what was happening. But what I loved the most was just getting to have fun with everyone outside of work and not worrying about everything we had to work on. Thankfully, we had a masterclass with Marsha, who is a pickleball pro! Unfortunately, this masterclass was after the staff tournament, but that’s okay because I finally got to hear the rules clearly!
This month was filled with TONSSSSS of worship! I kicked off the beginning of the month, helping my good friend and colleague Alexa Lockwood plan the worship sets for BG Christian Academy’s Spiritual Emphasis Day. Alexa was asked to act as the worship director and asked for my assistance with planning the songs we played for the students. I also got to be the drummer for this awesome event. I will say, it was quite nerve-racking walking into this place not knowing what to expect. We encountered multiple issues during the first set since we did not have any chance to do a soundcheck (Ask Jared, I dare you....). Nevertheless, it was an awesome experience getting to worship along with the students and amazing band members. We had a break in the day and spent it at a coffee shop, where we played games and enjoyed each other’s company. Let’s just say there were multiple times where we were all laughing so hard we were crying! Especially Jared — poor guy couldn’t win that day, literally and figuratively (he lost each game we played). My picture is of the band for the day! It was the best crew to work with! We had even more worship with CedarCreek’s Worship Night this month. I was blessed with the opportunity to serve on lights at the Perrysburg campus for this event. We ran into multiple tech issues, but we still had an amazing service!
VERSE 1
Who thought I’d find You in the lowest place - How did God show Himself at the lowest place in your life?
Who thought You’d feel me in the crowd
Who knew You’d make good of my mistakes - What good has God made through your mistakes?
You’re nothing like I thought You were, You’re better - What was your perception of God when you first started in your walk with faith? How is it different from what you know now?
CHORUS
What a God, what a God
What a God, what a God
VERSE 2
I thought You’d show up for perfection - What is something in your life that you are a bit of a perfectionist about and struggle with trusting in God's hands?
What kind of God looks for the lost - What did your life look like when you were lost and far from God? What does your life look like now that you have a deeper relationship with God?
They say it’s over for a sinner
You said, no it’s not, no it’s not - What is something negative that you thought could never get better, but God turned it around?
You say, no it’s not, no it’s not
BRIDGE
If the highest place I’ve reached is at Your feet, then I’ve done it all - Does it bring you comfort knowing that no matter what, as long as we have lived a life loving and believing Jesus is king, then you've "done it all?"
If the best thing that I’ve seen is Your glory, then I’ve seen it all
Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied - How has God's love changed your life over the past 5 years?
God, You are my everything - What is something that you sometimes idolize more than Jesus that you need to give up?
BRIDGE 2
If one word is the only thing You speak, then I’ve heard it all
If I feel Your heart and never see Your hand, I still have it all
No treasure of this life could ever satisfy - What is something that you see as a "treasure" that is pulling you away from spending time with God?
God, You are my everything