AM~Erica Holiday Madness

So anyway...

I realize it's been way too long since I've posted, but if I've had any "down time", I've been down on the couch...asleep. (Just ask my hubby.) So here's an update if anyone is still out there...

Traveled back to KC to see the fam for Thanksgiving. We saw a LOT of them, but it was nice anyway. Plus I got to put up 3 trees this year! YEA!!! I've been dying to do this for so long. I have been so inspired by Merillac's Enchanted Forest at Union Station (originally Longview Festival of Trees). My mom & I have gone every year except one. This year was no different. I will try to post pics of my trees next go around.

The Hanging of the Greens is happening this weekend at church. Since our Contemporary worship has decided to have a Hanging of the Green, too, and they wanted to have my dancers - with a whole new song - I have been trying to figure out how to not stress out my dancers with a new dance, but still use them...so...I am doing most of the dancing in Contemporary, and they will do the "traditional" dance in all 4 of the traditional services. Oh, this includes the Saturday night service. This means I can only use about 4 of my 10 dancers, and it's right after dress rehearsal, too. Oh, and this only takes place right after breakfast with Santa in the AM. OK - back to the dance...my dancers will only bring in a couple of things during the dance...especially since they come into practice late, have to leave early, and, oh yeah...they haven't even stuck around long enough to hear the song for Contemporary. This will be great fun!!

"Once Upon A Mattress" is getting there. It has to since dress rehearsals are Monday & Tuesday, final dress rehearsal/preview show on Wednesday afternoon, and shows on Thursday & Friday night. WHEW!!

I am counting the days until Saturday, December 8. Why?? I will be through with the madness!!

But the job is going well.

Stay tuned...please...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica 'n Worship

So anyway,

I love the worship service I've been attending the last six weeks, or so. It's an upbeat, high energy, praise & worship service - perfect for me! The band is fabulous, and the preaching is extraordinary. OK - I'm a bit biased on the preaching since it's my husband doing it, but a lot of the congregants agree, I swear!

We started coming to this church about six weeks ago (hence the amount of time attending) when my husband was appointed here by the Missouri United Methodist Conference this year. We came from a quaint "country church in the city" in the Kansas City area, with about 60 in attendance at the one service each week, to a church in the St. Louis area with 3,500 members, and about 1,400+ in attendance each week between 5 services. Whew! What a change!

My husband was put in charge of the primary preaching at the contemporary service. Remember what I said our previous church was? (reference above paragraph) Well, we were told this service was averaging around 210 each week. Big jump for us! Since we've been there, the attendance has been anywhere from 275 to 315 each week. So exciting! This is held in a room, we were told, could hold up to 280, if we squeezed people in. Then today happened...

The band was rockin' today, as usual; I was introduced into this church's drama ministry with my first skit for this congregation today, with two excellent people (thanks Bill & Lori); we had an awsome special guest today being Mark Cruz playing classical guitar (ab fab...check him out: http://www.markanthonycruz.com/); and exceptional sermon - of course...all of this in front of an offical count of (drum roll, please)................



388!



Can you believe it? I think it's the biggest crowd I've done a skit in front of, for sure! It went over well, and it was PACKED! Standing Room Only!

It was a very exciting morning! I had to share what God had in store today.

You can hear a sermon of my husband's at www.manchesterumc.org/contemporary.


Oh yeah...and Chris Rice is coming to do a concert at our church on September 22nd! Can't wait for that one!!


Stay tuned for more!


God Bless, AM~Erica