District Fine Arts Festival

This past Saturday was the SNED Fine Arts Festival. 7 LAOG students had been invited to and participated in the District level this year: James DeFilippo, Lauren Jackson, Teddi Lappas, Joe Lustig, Matt Maguy, Mack Rogers and Phil Thibodeau. James and Joe did keyboard solos, Phil did a percussion solo, Lauren did a visual art piece and Teddi, Joe, Matt, Mack and Phil did a human video. I was so proud of all of them!!!

The instrumental solos that Joe, James and Phil did were all impressive. It was so interesting to watch them play and to see their passion for their instrument. I didn't get to see Lauren's visual art, but I heard it was really good. I hope to be able to see it sometime soon. The human video was really, really good. They used the song "Here I Go Again" by Casting Crowns to portray a man that is trying to tell his friend the truth about Christ but is held back by fear and distraction. Mack Rogers wrote it and the team helped him change a few things around - it was a very powerful drama. It was so good to see the students step up and put themselves out there in an effort to better their ministry for the glory of God.

Fine Arts has always been a big part of my life and this Saturday brought back a lot of memories. Districts has been held at the same church for awhile now and as I watched the performances I remembered performing in those exact same spots. I remembered walking through those halls and sitting in that sanctuary. I remembered when the fireplace room and the lighthouse chapel were difficult to find. But mostly I remembered the people that I shared those days with. People that have helped make me who I am today. Though the memories are bittersweet in many ways, they are all treasured and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

P.S. James, Phil and Lauren were invited to Nationals. Congrats guys!!