Day 14:: Tour 2025

Cameras rolling...Audio rolling...Cut. These brief but precisely given directions break the silence inside the spacious, and dare I say, opulent main room of the Westwynd Gardens venue.

Ah yes, today is Video Shoot day and we have all gathered on this final day of our time together to shoot the raw footage that will accompany the 4 chosen songs which will become the music videos for Laudate 2025.

We gathered at 9:15 as Geryll our videographer gave us a quick debrief on the events of the day ahead. The few details given were summed up by our beloved director Lyle to “roughly” the effect of, “just look as nice as you possibly can for as long as you possibly can.” This proved to be valuable advice as we launched into our initial runs of the first two songs.

Tired faces and confused expressions were oft replaced with gentle smiles as we sang/lip synced along with the chosen recordings. Geryll and his two teenage sons competently and calmly guided us through the whole shoot all the while adroitly wielding cameras, gimbals, tripods, and other such-like high-tech and expensive looking gear.

After getting satisfactory footage for these first two songs, and taking group photos, we ceased our activities for a delicious lunch prepared by Cliff’s wife Trina...an absolutely fabulous cook. The menu included BLT’s, a bean dip, frozen fruit cups, pastries, and drinks, among other delectable options. Smiles recharged and blank looks gained new life as we relaxed amid the food, fellowship, and brief pause from the high focus work of what “we hoped” was fairly presentable video footage. Upon finishing lunch we then prepped and shot the footage for the next two songs.

We finished the day’s work shortly before 3:30.

At 4:00 we all gathered for a time of recap, blessing, and sharing on what the short two weeks of Laudate 2025 meant to us personally. This was one of the most special times for me as everyone shared stories, highlights, encouragements, or reflected on their own individual experience of Laudate and what it meant to them to participate together in this ministry of Leading God’s people in Worship. Two things really resonated with me. (1) The mutual blessing and bonding that is experienced when we participate and create music in community. (2) How our worship is truly enhanced when we lead God’s people in it with excellence and purpose to bless our listeners by attending the music.

By 6:00 supper was ready and we all gathered hungrily to enjoy the sumptuous spread of steak, grilled shrimp and mushrooms, seasoned potatoes, and tomato & mozarella salad. Chill time and fellowship around a campfire with friends definitely makes for an excellent way to wrap up our time together.

I think I can safely say for all of us that coming together to sing for these two weeks has been an incredibly rich, refreshing, and (in the oft used word by Lyle), “special” time that we all hope will come again someday! Blessings to all, and may everyone have a good eveling (inside joke)... 😉

Nate Weaver

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life – Berthold Auerbach