USA Tour 2011 Blog
Hi Everyone, well it's taken a day to get this going due to some technical issues, but you've finally found the blog for the 2011 SSS USA TOUR. We'll endeavor to post each day a little excerpt from the day and maybe even a photo/Video or two. We hope you enjoy hearing a little of the trip. Feel free to post comments, and check back each day for something new...
All good things have to come to and end...
Thurs 5th May, 2011.
God is with us...We are not Alone!!
Wed 4th May, 2011. Guest Blogger: Rhonda Smartt.
God is with us, it's such an uplifting blessing to share with other christians in another place of the world. we walk in and immediately feel a connection.To meet up with people at Pasadena and Jackson MS. who I have met and shared with before was simply a delight, but add to that the joy of meeting and making new friends... God is Good!!
Today We were privileged to share with the Cadets and training staff of the "School for Officer Training, leading their morning worship session as they celebrated the "national day of prayer." The Second year Cadets are about to take up their first appointments and the First Years are about to enter the next phase of training. The presence of God was very evident in the chapel as we all worshipped.
Georgia's on our Minds...
Tues 3rd May, 2011.
4
am and again we board the bus this time bound for Atlanta GA. Sure, it's early, but I can assure you the bus is a pretty quiet place for the first few hours of the trip. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel soon brought everyone back to life, and before you know it we were pulling into the gates of the School for officer training.
Only Briefly tho, because after dropping off our bags and a quick check of the room at the KROC centre we were back on another bus bound for the Martin Luther King Jr Centre. A place that if you ever get the chance to go, you simply MUST see. We were first treated to a special screening of a short film of Dr King's life, which was very special and informative. Then we had just a few minutes to browse the site.
One thing that will stay with you forever is a visit to the perfectly restored Ebenezer Baptist Church, the church pastored by Dr Kind, his Father, and his Father before him. Whether you took a walk around, sat and listened to DR King preach, or stopped to share a prayer like thousands before us, either way it was a moment that would not soon be forgotten.
A short bus ride away was the next destination, and for some members of the group this was the happiest place on earth. The world of coke is a multi-story, multi-sensory exhibit, where you can go on 4D adventures, see how it's made and bottled, taste coke products from all over the world, and at the end we were all given a "world of coke" labelled bottle, a wonderful gift but how we'll all get them home I have no idea.
Our brief tour of atlanta over, it was back to the training college for a bite to eat and change for the night concert. The KROC centre is an amazing complex, with an amazing story behind it. Visit their website to find out all about em. The evening concert was a great evening, there was as always plenty of singing, but also a great opportunity for Graeme and Neryl to catch up with some good friends too.
Well only a few days to go, thanks for sticking with us this far but don't go anywhere cos we're all feeing like the best is yet to come.
See Y'All tomorrow
Sydney Staff Songsters
Play Ball!!....
Monday 2nd May, 2011
What a great day!
It started for me with a bowl of fresh berries looking out over a serene lake. Mississippi is such a pretty place and the folk here have fallen over themselves to be friendly and hospitable. Our homestay hosts are legends – we have been embraced as family and have left this place with newfound friends.
Our first gig was at the Downtown Rotary Club meeting. Some 400 business people and civic leaders attend this club and it was an honour to be invited into their meeting. Some stood and worshipped as we sang songs about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. The standing ovation after the Hallelujah Chorus had a sense of overwhelming gratefulness to God for His goodness. A highlight here was singing the US National Anthem – it was a brilliant moment.
Mumma Hamils’ was the chosen venue for lunch. As much as you can eat of southern fried chicken, smoked pork, salads, veges and dessert – yum! There are a few who are considering whether the South may become their new home!
The stunning State Capitol building was the next place we visited. Singing in the beautiful marble central atrium, being invited into the Senate rooms, being received on behalf of the Lt Govenor and being presented with an embossed certificate which read……. made this hour a highlight for many.
But wait – there’s more! Off to Trustmark Park to see a baseball game between the Mississippi Braves and the Hunstville Stars. Once again we had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem – which brought huge cheers from around the stadium. We are now well versed in baseball rules and rowdy supporter antics. They probably wondered what was going with the Aussies! I do think the footage of Graeme Press throwing out the first pitch may go viral at any moment….could this be the start of a whole new career for Graeme??? Several Songsters also took part in the mid game competitions. We had a ball!
It was sad to say farewell to Marty and Vicki Parks who have loved us and looked after us so well. We also bid farewell to Ken Chapman, Area Coordinator for the Salvation Army – wow he has hosted us incredibly well. The generosity of these folk has been inspirational and such an encouragement to us Aussies.
Donna Evans
Sunday already?....Everyday has been Church!!
Sunday 1st May, 2011
Sundays are always special with the Staff Songsters, but when you add the excitement of a tour, being back amongst friends in Jackson and throw in the wonderful Mr. Marty Parks... you get something amazing, and as one Jacksonite (i don't know if they're really called that) was heard to say " if That don't light your fire, your wood is wet!!"
We led worship at Wesley Chapel in the morning but before the morning service we got to combine our voices with the Wesley chapel choir to sing "Somebody Prayed for Me" a beautiful arrangement that Marty had done after hearing us sing it some 5 years ago, this was a beautiful time and a great set-up to worship. There's nothing that could be said to do the morning service justice. We met with God, good music was sung by choir and congregation alike, the word was brought to us and after the service concluded the entire church congregation reached out to the SSS and covered us in prayer, not just for the rest of this tour but for our ministry as a whole.
Lunch...well, you see our group was divided in two when it came to lunch.
There were those who had been to "Cock of the Walk"
and
Those who had heard about "Cock of the Walk" from those who had been to "Cock of the Walk"
Neither group was disappointed, cat fish, hush puppies, Fries, chicken, dill pickle and of course it wouldn't be the south if it wasn't all Fried!! Now, it was Sunday afternoon, and with a belly full of food, for some a nap was in order.
Our night time program saw us team up with the local Salvation Army here in Jackson for an evening of prayer and music, with songs from us, some presentations from Capt. Ken Chapman and a love offering taken up to go toward the salvation army's work in the areas affected by the recent tornadoes here in "The South"
Our evenings concluded in various ways, as we returned to our hosts houses for one final night together, not everyone has shared exactly what they got up to, but if I know southern hospitality by now it will have involved lot's of food and more than just a few laughs.
So, with Sunday done we prepare for Monday.... Time to get some sleep, but stay tuned for more, I'm sure our last day in Mississippi will be a ripper!!
Bless Y'all, and keep the prayers and comments coming
The Sydney Staff Songsters
Picnic....Mississippi style
Saturday 30th April, 2011. Guest Blogger: Susan Petterson.
Who catches a plane at 4:15am? Well there we were "bright & chirpy" (well maybe not) ready to go to the airport. Apart from a few friskings & XRays airport security eventually let us all through & on to the plane to Memphis where most promptly fell asleep.
The planes were getting smaller as the trip goes on, this one was so small that some of our bags didn't fit. Most spent the flight praying "Please don't let it be mine."We were quickly whisked away by our new friends to our various "Homestay" Homes to freshen up before dinner together at the home of Dees & Don Faucett. Southern hospitality is something that you never forget & the friendliness of the people is often overwhelming.
And on the Fifth day we rested...
Friday 29th April, 2011
Today's entry in our blog will be brief. For those of you following our itinerary you'll note that this day was set aside as a day off, the group headed out in various directions, for sightseeing, shopping and trips to Universal Studios. There's some lucky families back home I must say, cos I've seen some pretty nice gifts packed back into bags to come home... [ we'll talk about the excess baggage issue when we get to the airport :-) ]
There's lots to do in LA in a day, so best we leave it up to the individuals to fill you in. You can also check out our facebook page for individual posts sunhere.
Tomorrow Morning in the very wee hours of the morning we board the bus to the airport, from there it's off to Mississippi...
Will post more once we have arrived.
One Last thing, we are given to understand that there is a growing number of people reading this blog, that's really exciting for us to know that so many of you out there are taking an interest, but please keep the comments coming they are really great to hear, and be able to read to the group when we are all together, so... Comment Away.
Well must be off
Love to You All
The Sydney Staff Songsters
G'day this is your Captain speaking!!!
Thursday 28th April, 2011. Guest Blogger: Lindon Kinder
Well,
Where do I start regarding what we 'got up to' on Thursday? Prayer Meeting..at Musicalifornia, all had the opportunity to pause and set aside a time for prayer and refurbishment. Around 60 people met in the Ballroom and we spent about an hour in praise and worship along with journeying through prayer stations. These stations gave all opportunity to stop and focus on God. This did mean getting up early on a free morning but man was I glad I did.
Following on from there what else can one do in Hollywood, but shop! Oh, um, I'm not quite sure how I'm going to do this, but I now have to squeeze a Long Board into my luggage...opps! To finish this terrible task off, I along with fellow shoppers had a water massage and a visit at the oxygen bar just for fun! Yeah I know someone had to take a hit for the team!
From there we conducted our final Workshop at MisuCal then boarded the bus for Pasadena Tabernacle. After a sound check that left us feeling rather flat, we were treated to a sensational dinner, and trust me after 4 days of junk food, this was a wonderful treat (especially the chocolate moose and oreo biscuit base cake!)
Way too much fun was had getting ready and dressed, (thanks Ben P for the trumpet solo) and we were ready for a great night. As we're starting realise, what we had in mind for the night, went straight out the door when God moved amongst us and the congregation. The concert ended before it had a chance to start and the night became one tremendous night of worship and fellowship in spirit.
Men from the ARC Program which is similar to our Recovery Program were in the audience, and their presence and spirit just added to the wonder of the night. When time came for the appeal, many stood for prayer, and the songsters moved amongst the people and prayed with them.
Lives were changed that night, lives were transformed that night both within SSS and those who came to listen.
There were many special God moments that night, far too many to note, but suffice to say that this Thursday spent in LA serving Him, will be one I'll never forget, and one which is continuing to set the scene for a God honouring tour.
God bless, and thanks for your prayers and love
Lindon Kinder
Praise and Worship, a match made in Heaven!!!
Wednesday 27th April, 2011.
I gotta say I like the pattern that I see emerging... Each day just seems to be getting better, wed has been quite extraordinary, I hope I can do it justice. OK here goes.
Once again the day started with a quick trip to Starbucks on the way to our 7:45am
rehearsal and as much as not too many of us are morning people it's been a really fresh way to start the day. This was the final rehearsal for the Evening's Event with Word Music, and with the final touches put on, we all headed off to the morning sessions.
The rest of the day was spent in various ways, some caught up on well needed sleep, some hit the shops, and or some sightseeing and others took the opportunity to soak in the teaching of some of christian music's biggest names at the workshops and reading sessions and before you know it 5:30 rolled around (guess we were having fun) and it was sound check time.
The evenings worship led by Marty Parkes, saw us assist him in presenting to the delegates the music from the latest in the "More Songs for Praise and worship Vol 5", and WOW what a night it turned out to be. Great music provided by an amazing worship that spanned 4 states and 2 countries, beautiful songs and great arrangements all made for a great night. The icing on the cake however was when the Spirit invaded the place and as you can imagine, hearts were touched (our's included) lives were changed and I can testify to the fact that it was a night that none of us will forget.
As we like to do when the situation allows for it, after the event we gathered for a time
of prayer and sharing. This is always special as each of us can share exactly what the night meant to us, and we can also share a prayer or two and re-dedicate the evening to God.
MusiCalifornia, it's a blast!!!
Tuesday 26th April, 2011. Guest Blogger: Lauren Howes
What a day! Our first full day here in Los Angeles has been full of exciting new experiences and amazing opportunities. We started this morning bright and early with a 7:45am rehearsal. Most of the group were introduced to Marty Parks for the first time, a music leader/composer. We spent this time with Marty practicing songs for our big worship experience tomorrow night. We will be showcasing new release songs from "word" music publishing in an evening at MusiCalifornia.
Next was the "Word" music reading session. As a group, we were able to read new songs being released by
some great Christian composers. This was an exciting opportunity that allowed us to not only find great music for the group to sing, but for individuals to take a newfound knowledge back to their own corps and worship experiences.
After a short lunch break, we were back for some more singing! As a group we had the privilege of leading a workshop entitled "Beyond the Song". Under the guidance of Graeme, we deconstructed our performance and time and showed how we expressed the heart of Jesus through our singing. It was an exciting time of ministry, sharing our experiences with worship leaders from other churches. We sought to encourage leaders of small groups to move beyond the music of a song and to create a truly honoring worship experience.
Rounding out the afternoon was a short performance in the main ballroom. The group gave a half an hour impromptu concert to the delegates of the concert. This was a fun time to share with other worship leaders, choir members and music writers.
We are learning a whole heap on this side of the world! Some of today's lessons were: 
- You should NOT iron clothes whilst they are on your person!
- According to Sheppard's theory of Motoring, even the trains in Los Angeles run on the wrong side of the road
- you can see the glory of God in the sunset anywhere in the world
- a rainbow is a symbol of God's covenant and protection over us
Thanks for your prayer and support. We are having a truly Godly experience. Wonder what lessons we'll learn tomorrow!
Let's do the Timewarp again...
Monday 25th April, 2011.
So, the old saying "There's only 24 Hours in a day" definitely did not apply to the group on this day, starting at 7AM with a rather lengthy check-in at Syd International Airport (including the repacking of a couple of rather heavy bags) a brief stroll through the terminal and before you know it We're in the air, destination.... Los Angeles.
13Hrs or so in the air, and we touched down in LAX, where after practically commandeering "Luggage Belt C" we were greeted by the familiar sight of the Army Uniform. So wonderful of the Songster Leader and few soldiers of the Pasadena Tabernacle to welcome us to the US with a drink, a snack and a smile... Thanks Guys!!
From there it was a short bus ride from the airport to "The Hilton, Universal City" the location of the MusiCalifornia conference, and our home for the next few days. As it was only about 8AM local time we were unable to check into the hotel, so off to the Universal Citywalk, for Food, shopping, sightseeing and just generally killing time. Come 1PM we were able to check into our rooms, for some to grab a little well earned rest.
The Opening Evening Worship at MusiCal may have commenced some 30Hrs after our monday had begun, but it was truly an evening not to be missed. An night of inspiring choir-led worship, featuring Steve Amerson and the Choir & Orchestra from the Emmanuel Faith Community Church. Our hearts were stirred by beautiful music, our souls were lifted by genuine worship and this alone would have made for an unforgettable night, but boy did God have something else in store for all present...
MusiCal presented Tim Mayfield (The minister of music from Emmanuel Faith church) with a "Ministry Impact" award. The award was received on his behalf by his daughter and son in-law, as Tim is currently in the fight of his life with brain cancer.
At the outset of our tour to hear the senior pastor and others from EFCC speak of Tim and his 22 years of service to the church with such love and adoration, well.... lets just say it wasn't just the Alto's who's cheeks were a little wet by the end of the night as Steve Amerson sang with the orchestra and Choir a prayer for Tim "Kyrie Elaison" (Lord Have Mercy)
All in all, while Monday might have lasted for nearly 36 Hours it was definitely a day not to be missed and an amazing start to the tour that most of us have been waiting for all year, and I know a lot of you reading this Have Been and Are praying for.
Well the hour is late as I type this, so I'll leave it there. But I can't go before saying a really big thank you to all of you that are praying us through this tour, rest assured that your prayers are absolutely being felt here, Keep it up!!
Live From L.A
The Sydney Staff Songsters
New events will be added soon.
Comments
Praying for you all from a little north of you in Grants Pass, Oregon. Take care of my wonderful little sisters, Lauren and Hayley. Much love to all of you!
Keeping you all in our prayers.....have fun xx
The Melbourne Staff Songsters spent Easter at Perth Fortress. We had blessings in abundance.
We will be praying for you as you tour the USof A. Regards to all. Have fun praising the lord.
Praying for you all. Believing that God will use you mightily - and also bless you each.
Listening to your new CD and reading your blog and facebook comments allows me to feel part of your journey. Praying for you all as God uses you and blesses you on this journey.
Am excited to be sharing in this amazing journey! Our love and prayers are surrounding you all!
Thanks for this blog site....what a joy to be going ahead of you each day in prayer....then following you thru these entries! I know that God is using you in a great way....and that each of you will be blessed beyond measure as you serve Him in this way! Love to you all...xo
I thought I might have been able to "fluke" an attendance in "the south" but it is not to be. Continue to enjoy and bless and be blessed. You continue in my prayers and my thanksgiving!
Your biggest fan is wishing you well! You are all coverd in prayer. God has prepared you all FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! Yew!
Hi guys, thanks so much for the blog and the FB updates. God is so travelling with you all. The blessing are flowing all ways. Keeping you in my prayers.
The trip sounds marvellous, you are certainly being a blessing as well as being blessed. Love and prayers.
The trouble with words, and especially the English language, is that so many phrases have been trivialized and watered down by over-use. Take "awesome" (or arsome) for instance. We say that a meal was "awesome" or that the baseball game was "awesome". I even stated that you guys were and are "awesome." We sometimes forget that the word really means to inspire awe, or wonder, or amazement, or speechlessness. In that sense, I think we'd all agree ... God alone is awesome. And I hope you find great encouragement in the indisputable fact that to hundreds of people this past week, many of whom needed a good reminder of that, you've represented Him beautifully. We are indeed grateful.
loved hearing about your encounters and praying the storms were no where near you
Really enjoying your thoughts, experiences and all the wonderful details! God's Blessings and protection.
Our prayers are still continuing for you all.Would love to be there!Maurice & Margaret Press
Great times of worship. Sydney Staff Songsters have been made very welcome wherever they travel.
We have been blessed!
Great times of worship. Sydney Staff Songsters have been made very welcome wherever they travel.
We have been blessed!
Hey y'all, God has been so good to you! Enjoy the food & the southern hospitality in these final days. Hang in there even though you're probably starting to fade (or burst!) I'm praying that He will uphold you and continue to rain down His blessings on you and in the lives you minister to.
we prayed for you guys - Level 7 prayers THQ
thankyou for the sydney songsters for givung us country people a great weekend [n bega