Northern Lights Youth Choir offers ‘Blessings of Life’

Northern Lights Youth Choir

offers ‘Blessings of Life’

    PRESQUE ISLE – A sure sign of spring (for me) came a bit early this year, along with the unusually warm temperatures! I look forward to hearing the Northern Lights Youth Choir perform their final wrap-up concert in April every year, but this year, they performed locally before their annual spring tour. 

    According to Choir Director Bonnee McLaughlin, the invitation to perform at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church came from Pastor Ron Chaffee, who at the time was ministering at a church in Salem, Mass. Anticipating his move to Aroostook County, he asked McLaughlin if the choir would be willing to perform at Grant Memorial the following spring. As she welcomed those in attendance, McLaughlin said that in her tenure as choir director, the opportunity to perform at the Presque Isle church March 21 was a first.
    As my daughter and I entered the church, greeting two of the choir members, we were handed a program, which are always distributed as guests enter each concert location. For me, accepting the program this time was different. As I watched the young men and women exit the sanctuary to prepare for their “grand” entrance, I saw the smiling faces of new members, as well as the faces of the “veterans” that were returning to sing God’s praises for another season of concerts. But one face I didn’t see, that I always looked forward to seeing with great anticipation, was the face of a former fellow choir member, one of my former camp counselors (and later fellow staff member), a friend, and a pivotal part of the Northern Lights Youth Choir for over 20 years. Once I sat down and looked at the cover of the program, her absence really hit me. There, on the cover, was a picture of Holly Sue Dobson, doing what she loved and lived her life doing; singing her heart out for her Lord and Savior. Not seeing Holly on stage among the younger choir members, for me personally, was extremely hard. However, I was encouraged by seeing several of her nieces and nephews continuing their involvement with the choir, taking part to carry on their aunt’s legacy.
    McLaughlin wrote a wonderful tribute to Holly in her personal letter that was included in the program. “Our choir has recently experienced the loss of one who lived life to the fullest, whose smile and presence lit up a room, whose love for others oozed out in the form of encouragement and reassuring laughter, whose passion for the Lord was beautifully expressed through the gift of singing, whose investment of time and effort in the lives of our youth, particularly through the ministry of the Youth Choir, will be forever cherished and a legacy of tremendous affect.”
    When the lights went down, nearly 60 singers, musicians, lighting and sound technicians, and advisers, representing 11 local churches, opened their first formal concert of the 2010 season titled, “Blessings of Life.” The first half of the afternoon concert featured five songs, including creatively choreographed hand motions, and three comical skits, which attendees have come to expect and enjoy. During the intermission, the trio of Mitchell Davis, Amber Reed, and adviser Nicole McLaughlin, accompanied by Bonnee McLaughlin on the piano, entertained the audience while collection plates were passed to assist the choir with their expenses for their upcoming tour.
    After a quick wardrobe change, the group reentered the sanctuary to perform the second half of their concert. They acted out three more skits and sang six more songs, with the final song, “Praise the Father, Praise the Son” performed completely a cappella. It was a truly spiritually moving rendition, one of my favorite performances of the afternoon. Pastor George McLaughlin of the Dunntown Advent Christian Church (and husband of the choir director) closed the afternoon concert in prayer. Before his benediction, he asked that all remember the Youth Choir in prayer as they embark on their spring tour. The group will depart Friday, April 16 and for one week to perform in churches in southern Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
    McLaughlin also asked for contacts at churches in the New Jersey area. The choir has an open schedule one day during their tour and would love to make a connection with a church in that area. He joked that not only would they love to sing and glorify the Lord, but they are also looking for a “place to lay their heads!”
    Choir members include Erin Ackerson, Kristin Ackerson, Nathan Ackerson, Shae Adler, Mikayla Albert, Tyler Ayotte, Krysten Blackstone, Lindsey Blackstone, Brandon Bonville, Hannah Bonville, Danielle Tardie-Bubar, Katelynn Tardie-Bubar, Cassandra Buck, Samantha Buck, Rebecca Campbell, Liana Cao, Claire Cheney, Mitchell Davis, Tia Dee, Nick Dobson, Rachel Dow, Zack Dow, Kala Farley, Mackenzie Hartford, Kyle Hews, Alyssa Huston, Megan Kaiser, Cindy Ketch, Carsyn Koch, Dakota Koch, Andrew Kofstad, Elizabeth Kofstad, Alana Luong and Cody Lyford.
    Also, Chelsea Martin, Devin Martin, Jacqueline McCarthy, Katie McKenna, Andrew McLaughlin, Jordan McLaughlin, Madison Michaud, Dara Raymond, Amber Reed, Mariesa Sarmiento, Nick Silver, Sarah Sjoberg, Shaina Tasker, Taylor Thompson and Aaron Whitaker. Adult advisers are Pastor Greg Moody, Pastor Nate Hasty, Jennifer Whitaker, Nicole McLaughlin, Andrew and Jess Blackstone, Pastor George and Bonnee McLaughlin and Gabe Cheney.
    If you missed this concert, be sure to mark your calendars for Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. The choir will be returning from their tour and will perform their final concert of the season at the State Road Advent Christian Church in Mapleton. I guarantee you will receive a blessing! And if you don’t mind a little piece of advice, plan to get there early; this final performance (as all others before) promises to be standing-room only! For more information about the Northern Lights Youth Choir, log on to their Web site at www.northerlightsyouthchoir.com

 

    THE NORTHERN LIGHTS YOUTH CHOIR recently performed one of their concerts at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church in Presque Isle before departing on their annual spring tour. Nearly 60 teens and adult advisers will be spending April 16-24 performing in churches up and down the east coast and as far away as Augusta, Ga. They will present a final concert at the State Road Advent Christian Church Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m.