NCC Convocation

Leaving the adventure of speaking for Elementary and Junior High Chapel (a lovely little piece about Jonathon and friendship), I took off with my parents for the long prepared-for adventure of Convocation. Before we could leave for Sacramento, even, there was so much to do--more certificates, signs, tickets, and loading music stands.

As soon as we arrived at the Sacramento Convention Center, there was more work to do--unloading the music stands, walking the space, and unloading the plants for the main set. When we dropped off the synthesizer in the youth room, I was deeply impressed by their setup, particularly the lighting. Downstairs the main hallway was even more impressive, with a huge, white curtain put up behind the main platform. Thousands of empty chairs stood before it, waiting to be filled the next day.

After a trip to the airport to pick up my grandparents, we arrived at the Carmichael Church for the Christian Edition pre-concert. There, I was given the task of handing out the programs. It seemed as though the entire department of education was there, as well as many Pathfinder leaders I had a hard time recognizing out of uniform. CE sang very well, and we were kept there late from a generous offering that my mother was helping to count.

We left as soon as possible, and ran a few more errands, including another run to the convention center, before going to the hotel. Morning came all too soon, and with it, insanity. When we got to the convention center to set up, the fire alarm was blaring; the smoke machine in the youth room had actually set it off. The fire department came, and soon we were allowed back into the building, the only regret being a lack of photos of the firemen.

Almost as soon as we opened the desk, the massive choir started coming. And coming. It was a veritable zoo until rehearsal started and the Sacramento Philharmonic Symphony arrived. Oh, the shivers down my spine! I hated to duck out and practice my scripture reading, but I had to do so. Then, there was the matter of renumbering the choir's bleachers with brightly-colored, extra-sticky Post-It Notes. The sea of neon green, orange, and pink notes was spectacular.

Then, Elder Pedersen gathered all the people who were to be on the platform for church and prayed with us. I hadn't realized I would be sitting on the platform, and that surprised me a bit. Sitting between Elder Pedersen and the treasurer of the conference (who, it turns out, is a great conversationalist) was a very surreal experience. I could just barely see my grandparents sitting in the front section. The hardest part of it, really, was the time-honored tradition of torturing people on the platform with hymns to which they do not know the words and not providing them with words. Lip-syncing was alive and well.

When I got back to rehearsal, it was almost over, and it was time to get the box lunches (provided by the SAA music department) for CE. Presented in beautiful black boxes, they looked quite lovely in the truck, and it was after Mom and I had started enjoying ours in the company of her side of the family that Dad came and took me up with him to the VIP lunch to get certificates signed--this was also very surreal. There I sat, at a table with Paul Stilwell (Carmichael's producer) and a group of people from the recording industry who, when I mentioned having seen Sir Elton John in concert, were able to tell me what it takes to hire him. These fascinating stories were accompanied by delicious food, and though I had to eat in a hurry (Dad left early), I made a point of thanking Mrs. Pedersen for it.

A good deal of the concert prep is a blur--lots of painful running around in platform heels and finally sitting down as a member of the choir.

The concert was incredible. After one or two songs, Carmichael stopped, turned to the microphone, and said in a cracked voice, "I promised my friends I would not speak too much tonight, but I don't think I could."

Oh, the beauty of it! Oh, the glory of it! Such a thing has not been seen or heard ever in the history of this conference, I believe. to hear the thundering choir--actually, roaring, as a mass choir should--and the tremendous sound of the orchestra was one kind of wonder. To listen to the words and to know that these were songs of worship, done for the glory of God, was another kind of wonder entirely. Towards the end, Elder Pedersen gave a beautiful call before the final number.

Well, afterwards, we took care of the cleanup as quickly as possible. There were to many people to see, but the ones I enjoyed seeing the most were at Bucca di Beppo's, the wonderful, crazy restaurant where we unwound with our family afterwards. There, the walls are covered with photos, everything is served family-style, and there's even a table in the kitchen, through which everyone must walk to get to the dining room. My favorite part of the restaurant was the Pope's Table, that actually had a papal chair, and a bust of the pope resting in the center of the table--very amusing. The food was first-rate, the company excellent, and it was a wonderful way to de-stress and recharge. In honor of my eighteenth birthday, they brought out a lighted silver candelabra around which they sang. It was all rounded off with a spectacular gelato, very good.

The journey back the next day was uneventful, and we were quite drained when we got home. The rest of the week so far was spent preparing me for college, where I am now. My room mate, Shaddai, and I are very comfortable here in Graf Hall at PUC--getting settled in has been easier than anticipated. Unfortunately, this morning I received the sad news that our car has been stolen. This is very distressing, and please pray for the car's undamaged return as soon as possible.