Firsts, Lasts, & Shoutouts

[Note: I drafted this blog post on May 4, 2012. I had noted at the top of the page to write about leading worship at CCF (the church I attended last semester), and something about lunch and seniors. Unfortunately, I never finished writing. Today, I do not remember what I intended to say. Even the title of the post does not seem to match the content. The fact that those words have been lost saddens me and inspires me to write intentionally and often. I will attempt to reassemble my thoughts and feelings, but their impact will certainly fall short of my original hopes. Nevertheless, please enjoy my thoughts and descriptions of Elliv and the OneVoice final concert written in May, and my thoughts about CCF and friends who have graduated and moved on to bigger and better things.]

ELLIV

Proudly named "Ville" spelled backwards, Elliv is an annual Cedarville tradition anticipated by most and scorned by few. Elliv, a mock awards show with over a $25,000 budget (my guess based on ticket sales), gives Cedarville students the opportunity to dress up in their old prom dresses from senior year or in a crazy costume that might just get them pulled on stage during the event. Students vote on superlatives like best artist or greatest athletic accmoplishment, and the winners receive a trophy in the form of a miniature version of "the rock" on campus that is spray painted with a new design every other day. The real draw for Elliv, however, is not the costumes or the awards, but the music. Check the pop charts back around October, and you'll probably be able to pick out a few that will be in Elliv the following April. The best musicians, singers, and dancers on campus collaborate to create stellar musical numbers, which this year, included Paradise (Coldplay), Without You (David Guetta), Turning Tables (Adele), and a We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions (Queen) medley that had the crowd wild with excitement. The Elliv committee spares no expense, bringing in a new stage set, lights, fog, and maybe even pyrotechnics. And thanks to today's technology, the entire show finds its way to YouTube, ensuring that the magic is never lost.

This year was my first time being involved in Elliv. I sang backup during the opening number (Dog Days by Florence and the Machine), and had a blast. There's nothing quite like the rush of the applause, standing on stage in darkness waiting for the the cue for song to begin. The best part (one that I didn't mention before) is that all the Elliv acts are kept secret from anyone not actually in the show. The rumor mill starts turning in the weeks before the show, but by in large, most students have no idea what to expect. The atmosphere backstage at Elliv is high energy and crazy. In between acts, performers are wandering aimlessly around the twenty-square-foot area waiting for their cue. Once the cue comes, madness ensues as mic packs are exchanged, equipment is bustled on and offstage, and people trip over one another trying to reach their spots. The experience is exhilerating. What made it more so was that many of the Elliv participants were seniors, taking part in one last killer performance before graduation. Elliv will be different next year, because so many will have graduated. Here's to the veteran Elliv performers that make the show great.

ONEVOICE FINAL CONCERT

Although not as showy or expensive as Elliv, the OneVoice final concert at AHOP twenty-four hours later packed just as much energy. The booming sound system kicked the atmopshere into high gear from the first note, and the worship only exploded from there. Sharing a stage with over one hundred other believers with hearts practically bursting with the love of God warms the soul and takes you to a place not quite any other. The Holy Spirit was present that evening, working in the hearts and minds of His children. Sunday was my last OneVoice event ever with Hope and Sarah, two ladies from the Australia team whom I love dearly.

[And this sentence, clearly not intended to close the paragraph, concludes what I wrote in May. My attempts to salvage meaning from distant thought begin here.]

CCF. Centerville Christian Fellowship, my church home during the spring months of 2012. If my memory serves me correctly, that weekend Josh and I played with several Cedarville students, some of them seniors. Or maybe we led with the band from CCF. Regardless, my memories of such Sunday mornings are fond ones. I love leading worship; it is an activity that I hope to continue as long as I can hold a pitch. But to the senior musicians, never stop leading congregations into the presence of God. Here's to you and your dedication to worship.

Seniors. Shoutouts. Now I remember. Kind of. I don't remember the lunch I referenced in my beginning notes, but I remember some of the people the people who deserve recognition. Recognition for what, you ask? First of all, they all received their diplomas. But I want to thank them for their friendship, advice, and leadership they showed to me and so many others over their three years at Cedarville. Yes, all three of them graduated after three years, for various reasons. But to the Ashley brothers and Josh D.... we'll miss you. We already do. Cedarville won't be the same without you, but you touched so many people here that will never be the same because of your influence. So thanks, and here's to you.

I guess that's all for now... but keep checking my blog for updates. They'll probably be pretty frequent. Now I'm a senior... time to go out with a bang.