At the Close of Summer

Well here we are - Labor Day Weekend. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back on the menu at Starbucks. Fall is upon us, and the summer is drawing to an end. 

I have decided that this was a good summer, both personally and professionally. First, professionally: 

We had a transition in the worship and music ministry at Calvary Memorial Church. Under the leadership of our interim worship pastor, Dan Svendsen, we have continued the passionate, enthusiastic, congregation-driven, God-oriented corporate worship that has become our hallmark at Calvary. Sanctuary Choir rehearsals begin this coming Wednesday, and the Chamber Orchestra will begin an active fall schedule soon after. 

At the Wheaton College Artist Series, we had a series of successful community outreach and promotional events throughout the summer months, from visits to retirement communities, presence at events in downtown Wheaton, to the Fourth of July Parade. We also worked hard on pre-production for our nine - nine! - concert events in the coming year. I hope all my readers in the area will take advantage of our diverse offerings. 

The summer was also a very refreshing time for my personally. I attended four different performances at the Grant Park Music Festival (though I wish it had been more!). I spent a lot of time with my small group and the broader young adult community at church - porch parties, music in the city, a Cubs game, and helping one friend move a piano. I attended the weddings of two good friends from college - one here in Chicago and the other in Kansas City, giving me the opportunity to visit the city for the first time (please read my detailed recap of that trip). Just a few weekends ago, another good friend from college who I had not seen in over two years was in town for a convention and took a night off to enjoy Chicago with me. 

All in all, a satisfying summer. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  

And now I turn to all I have this fall - many, many things I am eagerly anticipating. As I said, we are about to begin our fall schedule at church, and the school year has begun at Wheaton College as well - this first week was an exhausting one, but a lot of good happened, including a great address on hope in times of doubt and discouragement by President Ryken at convocation on Wednesday. I hope to keep you updated here on all that develops in the months ahead!