New Creations Reunion

There's nothing like seeing old friends, and music has a great power to bring back memories.   The New Creations was the college choir at University Baptist Church - my church home in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  After being a fan in the congregation for years, I got to be in the choir from 1979-1984, forming many lifelong friendships.  My sisters were also in New Creations, but none of us were in it the same years.

This November we had a 40 year reunion for everyone who had ever been in New Creations.  It was glorious!  And we didn't just get together and visit, we actually rehearsed and performed together. 

I got to rehearse right next to my best friend, Brenda.  It was just like old times.  Well, the notes were a little harder to hit.  Thankfully we were second sopranos instead of first sopranos.

My sisters were altos, so they got to sit together, but I scooted in for a photo.  Here's a photo of two pairs of three sisters that were all members of New Creations.

Here I am with my two closest friends in high school and college, Brenda and Teresa:

Our old youth and college leader was there, Robert Cupp:

And the Nathan I named my Nathan after:

Phil Goff (who made me happy by recognizing me right away):

And his brother, Matt:

And my buddy, Jeff, who worked with me at Arkansas Eastman, Texas Eastman, and Tennessee Eastman:

Jeff and Beth Presley with Tanner Riley (our director)

And a reminder that we weren't always so old.  Here's a photo of a skit the guys did on tour.  That's Jeff on the left:

So after rehearsing one evening and morning, we had an afternoon concert for some of our old fans.  We sang ten songs, but this was a favorite as it was written by a New Creations member:

                                    

Our name< New Creations, was based on the verse that says that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." - 2 Cor. 5:17.  We all realize that we may never be together again in this life, so our theme for the weekend was based on the following verse of "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling:"

Finish, then, Thy new creation;

  Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see Thy great salvation

  Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory

  Till with Thee we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

  Lost in wonder, love and praise.