3 more venues

Missions Organization Venue (Billy Graham Library) All day long it seemed like we would be in for rain and possibly thunderstorms at this venue.  All day long I received cancellations due to illness or scheduling conflicts, too. I tried to not stress about it, but to pray for clear skies and a good turnout from the kids signed up to sing. My prayers were answered.  As I drove out of SC into NC to meet my husband at his work so we could go to the BGL together as a family, the rain ceased. It did not start raining again until we crossed the border again into SC to go home.  Our group gathered behind the library to go over everything before singing. Every one was there by 6:10 --there wasn't as much as traffic because of the threat of rain--so we used the time to practice some of the less-sung carols. We had about 25 singers--they sounded great. I even left my comfort zone and 'fake' directed the kids in their warm up. I think that was more for my confidence than for theirs, because they warmed up their voices just by going through a few carols.  We gathered at the music tent at 7 and 8 to sing for 30 minutes. Even though there weren't a lot of visitors that evening to the BGL, I think everyone who heard the carolers were impressed and blessed by their music. Our contact, Elizabeth, remarked at how gifted the group was; she was impressed that everyone was homeschooled. She also mentioned their good manners and behavior.  As I listened to the group sing, I was reminded of my impressions when hearing them sing at a CYC concert; you could see how much fun they were having, how 'in-tune' they were with each other, the camaraderie and respect they show each other. About half way through the 2nd set, one of the front row guys got the hiccups. Every once in a while it was picked up on the mikes. He took out his water bottle (crackle, crackle on the mike) and took a few swallows, then continued to sing. The singing continued throughout--there were just a few glances around and some smiling facing as the kids heard the mike picking up the small sounds. At one point, I noticed one of the girls missing from the singing faces. I saw her brother turn and look down, then look up and continue singing. Eventually she stood again in the back row and sang. I wasn't too concerned because I felt that her brother would have helped her if she had fainted or been dizzy because he was right next to her.  I was right about him helping. She had a nosebleed, and sat down on the riser. One of the singers handed her a couple of tissues (a guy--these guys are just awesome!). Then her brother took out his pocket knife, pulled his t-shirt out from under his dress shirt, and cut off a square of fabric to hand to her! All this was going on while they sang carols! All I can say is: these kids are just awesome! I love hearing the full sound they have when they are a large group. I love the servant-leader traits they exhibit toward one another and toward those they come in contact. I love the desire they have to do their best and to bless others. Missions Organization Venue As a chaperone to both of these venues on the same day, I must confess that this was a low point day for me. I was very tired the day before, not feeling great, so starting the day early for the SIM venue (we had to be there by 8) was not my greatest desire. Then, upon arriving, finding out that we actually weren't on the SIM calendar did not reduce my weariness. But God knows what will bless and encourage, and He used our unscheduled presence to bless the employees of both SIM USA AND SIM International. He worked it all out for us and the kids came away thinking it was one of the better venues of the season! They were able to carol throughout the office building, surprising the employees after their morning prayer time, after a meeting, as they stopped to listen between phone calls, etc.  Our contact at SIM prayed with us before we caroled; she was excited about springing our 'surprise' caroling on her fellow employees. She called SIM International and arranged for us sing for them, too (a few miles away in SC). The people there served us hot tea and hot chocolate and cookies. They were so appreciative of our caroling.  I learned too, that I wasn't the only one tired; many of our singers had been to the midnight premiere of The Hobbit! I could hardly believe the level of commitment these teens have to Dickens: they were singing at an early morning venue after having only a few hours of sleep, and they were happy to serve and minister even with a glitch in the planning. I think that is what makes working with this group of young people so richly satisfying and edifying: their resiliency, their energy, the underlying love they have for what they are doing and why they are doing it.    Senior Living (Nursing Home) Venue Ok--this venue was hard--there's no way around it. We didn't really have enough singers; it was a mid-afternoon venue; my family who were involved were tired and a bit grouchy; and at the end of it, we saw on the news that young children were killed that morning in their school classroom. Usually when we're done a venue, we leave on a high note (pardon the pun), but not after seeing the TV as we passed the reception room. One of our sopranos (we only had 2) was late in coming so we had to start without her. We had only one male voice--a bass--who did an amazing job singing his part. We asked the listening residents to join in with the carols, and that seemed to help our singers get into the mood of singing. We actually had a fair amount of men listening to us (that is somewhat unusual for nursing home event) and they were singing with us, too. I thought that was a sweet providence since our male voice was all alone.  We were asked to sing for the alzheimer's unit down the hall. Some of those residents also sang along. There were smiles on their faces so we knew we were blessing them with our carols.  I know the Lord uses these experiences to remind us that singing for Dickens isn't about us and what we get out of it. Serving isn't really serving if it's done only when we want to do it, or when we give only what we want to give when we want to give it, without a thought for how the Lord would use us.

3 Venues

Senior Assisted Living Venue

This venue was a little smaller group of singers, but everyone was looked dressed up and ready to sing. The singers last year were really dragging (I remember because I chaperoned last year); this year it was the opposite. They got through their repertoire of carols in 20 minutes! So they repeated a few songs, singing them slower so the group of residents could join them. The nursing home venues are good opportunities to interact with the audience, and asking the residents to sing some of the carols with the teens is a great way to do that.

The kids introduced themselves and visited with the residents afterwards. Many of the people who came to listen remembered some from our group from last year. This surprised some of the singers, but also pleased them. Our singers love to see that Dickens Carolers is posted on the calendar for the location. It reminds them that people are expecting them, looking forward to their singing.

At this point in the caroling season, some of our singers are getting tired of venues. Knowing that their caroling is a highlight to someone's evening makes the time and commitment to a venue seem well worth it.


Business Venue

I asked one of the singers to comment on the venue. She said it was fun. She actually learned from experience singing at this venue because she was the only soprano for a while.

She had to overcome nerves and uncertainty and gain confidence in her ability to blend her voice with the others. This venue did not have many singers; that is really hard on the singers, because they want to sound good all the time, and it adds pressure individually to each of them to perform.

They always learn something and feel a sense of accomplishment after singing in a small group.

The marketing director of this CFA is very supportive and appreciative of our efforts. The singers definitely get lots of exposure; this is a busy business so many people hear them.

I'm glad that we can still sing distinctly Christian Christmas carols in a place of business without censure.

Hospital Venue


We had an issue that affected the whole group, was noticed by our hospital contact, and distorted our witness to this venue.

I know that everyone involved has learned from this experience; the situation was handled discreetly and as far as I know, has not become a source of gossip or ill-will.

Each interaction that hasn't gone as expected between two parties during this Dickens season has taught me something about what to do differently in the future. We are all sinners in need of God's grace, and need to know how to be gracious to others who may not be as gracious, kind-hearted, or loving at a particular moment when we interact with them.

Love covers a multitude of sins; they'll know we are Christians by our love.

Review of Dickens

Hospital Festival Venue

Our family was added the last day to this venue because there weren't enough singers. I was worried before the venue for several reasons. First, it was scheduled right after our 2 hour Dickens Rehearsal that I was leading--I was nervous about leading that rehearsal and wasn't looking forward to chaperoning a venue the same day. Second, I'd had a cold all week and was a little worried that I wouldn't have the energy to be out all afternoon and evening. Third, going to a 'festival' of trees made me nervous; I am not a Christmas Tree aficionado and didn't know what to expect. Lastly, when our group of singers first practiced at the rehearsal, it was evident that they needed a lot more time to practice. Most of the singers for this venue were new to Dickens this year and some were new to choir also. Our group of singers practiced and practiced at the rehearsal, then again at the hospital before we were scheduled to sing. They started to work together as a team, and they prayed for their efforts to be glorifying to God and to those who would be listening. When they finally caroled, they did an amazing job because they had gained confidence and worked with the voices they had so they would harmonize well together. It was really amazing watching the team work in action. And after the venue when we gathered in the little conference room again before leaving, no one wanted to leave. They all sat down at the table and talked and laughed about how it went and what people said. I was blessed to be a part of that group as a chaperone. I knew how hard they had worked to do their best and I knew how much they enjoyed doing it. This venue is caroling in the background; it was so busy in the lobby of the hospital that it was hard to hear anything. But the kids sang from the second floor looking down, and people downstairs were sitting under them, listening. One family commented to one of our chaperones that it is a highlight of their Christmas season to hear our Dickens Carolers. Hospital Venue My kids told me that they sang to some individual patients, one of whom was dying. Her daughter asked the group to sing. They sang Angels We Have Heard on High. The patient couldn't move or respond visibly to them, but they felt she heard them and was listening.  These are the moments when you know that no matter how busy the Christmas season is, you have to heed the call to serve the Lord with your voice and heart. Because the Lord may use that day to gather His children around someone who can hear the Good News one last time before departing this world. rs!

My impressions of Dickens

Public Business Venue:

This venue was hard to fill. Not at first, but it was down to the wire in the end.

We had too many carolers signed up at first--that was when I made a mistake that I will not repeat. I dropped some singers--I should have waited to do that until the day or hours before the venue. It won't happen twice.

After setting up who will sing (we only needed 8 singers--but actually we could have had more at this venue), I heard from 4 of them ---that's half--that they couldn't come!

I worked hard on not getting too stressed about it--one thing I've learned with teenagers--they make you sweat but then they come through at the last minute!

We were able to pull together a group of 6--no tenors. So instead of two groups of 4, we remained one group.

The group resisted the idea of singing in unison for the first verse. One of the carolers later told me that it is hard to sing the melody when you've learned the carol in another part. When the group is small it does give volume to them when they sing in unison. You could hear it when the would sing Jingle Bells, which begins in unison.

The two basses actually switched off singing tenor during the caroling. I thought that was pretty neat, that they could listen to each other and adapt to their own singing so well. I think we could have had 8 singers or more; there really wasn't a space concern and then they could have been heard a little better. But the customers applauded each song and the carolers gained confidence as they sang.

It helped this smaller group to have the pitch given on an ipod (the app we used is called virtuoso piano--it's just a piano pitch). No one in the audience even knows the carolers are using it, but it gives them the right pitch so they can begin the carol strongly.

The caroling experience is a learning one; at the small venues the carolers have to overcome their nerves or shyness and sing confidently. I know that these singers will go into their next caroling venue with more assurance and assertiveness because of this experience.

Even the chaperones are learning as we go. We have to be patient with our group of teens; we have to let them lead themselves during the singing. We have to remember to encourage them and praise them when they worry about how they sound. We have to let them learn and experience what they need to at each venue, just as we would in a classroom or home school setting.

Nursing Home Venue: When you go to a nursing home facility with teenagers, you see the contrast of young and old quite clearly. There were some laughs as the kids warmed up, that reminded me that young people have a unique perspective on how they see old people. These teens are comfortable with talking and interacting with the old folks, even people they don't know, because they know what it means to them.  The group sang in an entry way with senior alzheimer's patients (some with visiting family) on either side. It was a little difficult for the group to make eye contact because of where they were positioned. But they had a good sound and the audience sang along with them on many of the carols.  At the end of the singing, they were asked to sing Silent Night once more, but accompanied by a resident. This lady was singing along with them throughout their caroling. She came up and stood with them, hanging onto the arm of a caregiver, and blessed us with her singing as she sang soprano, then alto, then soprano. She had a beautiful rich voice. I couldn't help but get teary-eyed watching our group of teenagers sharing their love of music with her and the other residents.