Pastor Ron's Deep Thoughts and Shallow Entries: Christmas Concert with Fred Lacroix and Jeremy Mulder

My final blog entry for 2014.

Another event that has become more of a tradition here at Calvin.

The annual Christmas Concert with Fred Lacroix (Piano) and Jeremy Mulder (Saxophone).

Fred started helping us with this concert fundraiser event several years ago to help our Peru Teams raise funds for their trips.

Jeremy joined in a couple of years ago.

We are very thankful for both of them giving their gifts in this way.

This year, since we are not going to Peru in 2015, we raised funds for the Christian Education Fund for Gamaliel Church's Christian school, as well as the youth who participated in this, some of who are looking forward to got to Peru in 2016.

It all starts by clearing off the stage of the sanctuary and taking the couches from the basement and placing them onto the stage.

Some of the couches are heavier than others, as Alexa and Carraugh figured out. : )

Miranda and Jared doing a great job.

Michael and Simon getting their excercise.

We also needed to set up the fellowship hall.

Slowly the stage takes shape.

The leather couches are the heaviest.

The smaller chairs are easier to handle, and set up quite well on the floor.

Time to set up the piano.

We had it tuned just for this occasion.

Alexa avoiding the camera, as usual.

Not Danial though.

He LOVES the camera.

Such a nice pose.

Things in the fellowship hall are taking shape.

We served coffee and desserts of many different kinds.

The coffee's (with explanations below) were:

French Vanilla

The taste is decadent but the effect is quite

virtuous, with the subtle sophistication of

all-natural vanilla. The full bodied, dark roast taste is perfect with, or instead of dessert.

Winter Carnival

Brimming with flavours of caramelized sugar, vanilla and custard, Timothy’s Winter Carnival is like

crème brûlée in a cup.

French Roast - Bold

Travel from Paris to Provence with every sip of

Timothy’s® French Roast. Enjoy the intensity of this strong, sharp and tangy blend and experience the

café culture of France.

Best served with a rich pastry and a day dream…

Sugar Bush Maple

Experience the joy of visiting a Sugar Bush and get warm blooded while your taste buds bloom with these true tastes sensation.

Cinnamon Pastry

This coffee combines two excellent flavours - coffee and cinnamon. While brewing the coffee, you will smell the enticing aroma of a cinnamon pastry just out of the oven mingled with Timothy's freshly roasted coffee. Savour the smell. Indulge your taste buds!

German Chocolate

Relax with the comforting aroma and flavour of bakery fresh chocolate cake featuring the unique sweetness of the creamy German frosting that blends caramel and vanilla with toasted coconut.

Beans of Hope - Decaf

A fair-trade coffee that our church purchases

and three different types of tea.

Gingerbread Spice Tea

Bengal Spice Tea

Lemon Tea

We also prepared the beloved donation envelopes for our guests to use. : )

Alexa and Carraugh were our front line hosts.

Both having great smiles and caring dispositions. : )

The end result.

Lots of good vantage points to watch Fred and Jeremy.

Cozy kiosk with coffee table to boot. : )

We arrived at 5 pm and were pretty much done by 6 pm.

Better done early than rushing to be done.

The fellowship hall ready and waiting for patrons.

Fred arrived around 6 pm to warm up the piano.

One of the yearly benefits of doing this fundraiser is that the couches are removed from the youth room and we get to vacuum under them.

A nice, clean youth room once again.

Jeremy showed up soon afterwards and both began to practice together.

Jeannine with her table of desserts ready to go.

Daniel and Lila ready to go as well.

Katrina too.

Once our guests arrived, they are encouraged to try the different flavours of coffee (some just prefer decaf) and take some goodies and mingle from 7 - 7:30 pm.

And there they come............

Some set up some tables so people could sit if they needed to.

People still coming in.

And more.....

and more!

I like it. : )

People took the time to peruse the coffees and enjoyed many of them.

Christine and Maddi ready to receive guests.

Lots of different kinds of desserts to choose from.

Most homemade, but not all. : )

M and M's can be a great substitute.

Everyone relaxing.

Just before 7:30 pm

Hey Judy.

A full view of the fellowship hall teaming with discussion.

7:30 finally arrived and people took their seats in the couches...

and in the pews.

There's something nice about being able to listen and watch Fred and Jeremy play up close and personal.

After my words of welcome, and Fred's kind words of thanks for setting all this up, he introduced his first piece.

The group gathering and drinking it all in.

A balcony view.

A little closer view.

An angled view.

Fred and Jeremy team up now.

Got to find the right music first though. : )

And off they go.

They are an amazing team.

Jeremy also performed some pieces on his own.

Here is a clip of a very unique piece Jeremy did.
I really liked it.
Sorry about the clinking glasses in the background.
Those are NOT part of Jeremy's piece. : )

Intermission time.

Need to let Fred's fingers cool off after he played an amazing piece. WOW is all I can say.

A chance to get another cup of flavoured coffee and sweet treat.

And then we were back again.

Here's a short clip from Fred playing.

We ended the evening off with some Christmas songs done the Fred and Jeremy way (I think we should sing them this way in church actually, but you didn't hear that from me. : ) )