September 26, 2004--Trying to grow the choir

Our church choir has been shrinking, despite our efforts to grow larger. Today we did this thing where they had all the choir members go into the congregation and grab people and bring them up into the choir loft with them. I didn't like the idea and didn't want to do it. I even considered not singing in choir today so I wouldn't have to. They told us, however, that if we didn't want to go down we didn't have to, so I decided I wasn't going to.

Then our choir chaplain, who just happened to be standing next to me, asked me if I was going to go down. I told him no, but he pointed out a couple who used to be in choir and suggested that I go ask them, because they would come. I agreed to do that, and when the time came I went in their direction, but someone beat me to them! I had to ask someone else. Luckily, they came. I was actually surprised at how many came up! We had three times as many people as usual in the loft and had to form another row. I was in the front squashed between two very large men (I'm a tenor) and I felt very small and very claustrobic. One of them is a very <ahem> "active" worshipper, and even though I tried to discreetly move over a bit and give him more room, he just kept taking more room. I don't know how many times I about got hit with him swinging his arms all over the place.

I must say, the choir sounded very nice being that full. It would be nice if some of them stick around.