6/3/07 update - had to share this (non-trip related) video

Greetings from Blog Central. A friend passes on this nice, two minute or so video, featuring a peaceful cello accompaniment, where 500 years of female art portraits are morphed in an interesting sequence. Enjoy.

--JEFF

Memorial Day Weekend 2007 blog update (5/25/07)

Hello from Agape Blog Central.

I wanted to hop on here and say hello to the folks that visit our blog to read more about the April 2007 Agape Singers "God's Love On Tour" performance trip through Ireland (read more below).

This morning we're at 2192 hits on the blog -that continue to come from all over the globe! In addition to the USA and Canada, we've had visitors from over 20 countries -- and they continue to come in. Just in the last few days, we had visitors from the Phillipines, Saudia Arabia, the Ukraine, Belgium, Germany, and China.

To our visitors -- welcome to University Presbyterian Church in Rochester Hills, Michigan USA (read more about our church at the link to the right of this page) -- we're glad to have you read more about this wonderful group of young people and their adult leaders on this trip.

And --- here's to a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend, with us all stopping to remember who we honor on this weekend.

Sincerely,

Your Blogmaster

Happy Mother's Day from Agape Blog Central!

Here at Agape Singers Blog Central, we wish all the mothers out there a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

The visitors to the blog keep growing and we're now at nearly 2150 - and we've had, in the last couple of weeks, visitors from Germany, Poland, and China - in addition to the many that we get from the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

From various Google and other searches, people are finding our blog and it's another way the good things accomplished on the April trip keep on giving to people, not only in our congregation and community, but around the world!

Check back for more updates and we're always accepting any pictures that folks want to pass on to us at agapesingers@gmail.com . We'll get them right up on the blog.

Friday 4/27/07 -- TGIF -- and we're at 2001 hits!

Wow - it could be a movie "2001: An Agape Irish Odyssey" -- or maybe not -- but hey, a little earlier today, we went over the 2000 hits mark on our blog!

As I mentioned farther down the page, we're getting them from not only the USA and Canada, but also countries such as Brazil, Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia, Portugal, Norway, and Spain. As I was analyzing where the visitors are coming from, I know that many of them are friends and family of yours - but also from Facebook postings of our blog address, from links that Christ Church - Dublin and the other concert venues put on their websites, and also from Google and Yahoo searches that people do. On Sitemeter, our hit counter at the bottom of the page - it tells me what link people came to our blog from -- and one the other day got me smiling. Someone had done a Google search of "singers on tour in 2007", obviously looking for various tours of rock groups, solo artists, etc -- and what popped up #3 in their Google page - but our little old blog! Google picked up on the "Agape Singers God's Love On Tour - Ireland 2007" in our title - and we had a new visitor to look at all of the events of our intrepid travelers.

Keep checking back, as I know you've been doing, for even more updated content. And as always, your humble Blogmaster is always reachable at agapesingers@gmail.com :)

Have a great weekend!

more video from the trip....this one at Glenariff Natural Park....

...part of the Glens of Antrim.

yes, we need more Glens of Antrim lambs video!

Compliments of Mrs. Book....the Agape Singers enjoy conversing with their two Irish wooly friends during their Glens of Antrim visit....

From Corrymeela - "The Not White Bread Quartet" the extended version

Here's another look at a rehearsal at Corrymeela early in the week of the men's quartet (Matt, Mike, Nick, and Chris). We have a shorter version posted earlier on the blog - due to the size of the file and emailing. Now - here's the "Special Edition - Director's Cut"

4/22/07 - an email from Belfast!

Hi all you singers!

Greetings from Cregagh in Belfast on this your first Sunday back in Rochester Hills. Last weekend we were particularly remembering you as you sang in Christ Church Cathedral and then in Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church and we will remember you today as you join with your church family back home again.

We hope that you enjoyed your time in Ireland and learnt something about our strange history and culture, but also something of the Christian faith that has kept so many of us going through very dark days. Politically the light is beginning to shine here. Please pray for us that the light of peace will grow brighter and gradually include everyone here in its rays. We in turn will pray for you, your church and community, and your nation as we have follwed the tragic events of the last week in Virginia.

I said at the end of the concert in Cregagh that your congregation should be so proud of the young people in the Agape Singers and I hope someone will pass that message on today. Everyone of our folk who was at the concert was most impressed by your singing but also by the people you were. We are all so glad you were able to include Cregagh in your itinerary.

Hope the mugs made it home in one piece! - you can think of us as you drink your coffee.

Grace and peace.

Hastings McIntyre

Cregagh Presbyterian Church, Belfast

our blog truly is WORLDWIDE.......

I had to hop on here and update this posting that I did last weekend -- we're now at over 1800 hits with people logging onto this blog from all over the USA and Canada---and also Brazil, Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia, Portugal, and Sweden -- and we had two yesterday from Oslo, Norway and Valencia, Spain!

You can see where people are logging on from by going to the "Sitemeter" button at the bottom of the blog main page - click on it - then at the upper LEFT - click on "Recent Visitors" -- it shows you the city and country where the person is visiting our blog from.

Enjoy this lovely spring weather this weekend and continue to check back for some new postings.

More Pics from Mrs. Book

Hey Everyone...Chris here with a few more pics courtesy of Mrs. Book...


Christian was known for messing up peoples' pictures. I thought I'd get some sweet revenge.


Danielle, Jess, Erik, Jess, Liz, and Emily chillin' at Carrick-a-Rede.



The chaperones with Christian and Troy (the associate pastor at Cregagh Pres. Church).



Mrs. Portice, Dr. Portice, and Rev. Marianne at Corrymeela.



Dr. Portice with Cousin Norman at Derryloran Parish Church.

-----

Remember if anyone has some good pictures they'd like to put up here, just email them to
agapesingers@gmail.com!


Peace,

Chris Smith

4/19 - some more photos from the trip

Here's how our blog postings got to us while the group was in Ireland. Here is Kaitlyn composing her message as Andrew and Gwen look on.



At Monasterboice on Monday 4/9, on their stop between Dublin and Corrymeela. Danielle and Kaitlyn enjoy the Celtic Crosses with the group.



At Corrymeela, Erik, Harper, Jess, Emily, and Danielle chill....

4/18 - an email from Corrymeela's David Price....

Dear all!

I just got a great email from Chris Smith and a link to the blog. It is fantastic.

I hope that you are all safe and well. Relaxed from your plane journey. (recovered from your extreme leap frog!). Reflective and energised.

It’s great to read all your comments about Ireland and to see how wonderful a time you all had. After you left on Friday myself, Christian and Niki went for ice-cream to talk about you guys and what we thought of our experience with you.

We all had such a positive time with you and all of us were sad to see you go. Especially Christian. I think you were his favourite group so far. I hope to keep in contact with you and please do so with us.

You never know, one day you might return!!

Peace and warm thoughts

David


David Price

Programme Coordinator
Corrymeela Community
Email: programme-coordinator@corrymeela.org

===============

(and one more note from a Corrymeela staff member to the Agape Singers and leaders):

"Thanks also for your email, Chris.

I had an amazing time with you guys. I'm glad to hear that you made it home safely, but do come back sometime. I'm still keeping my eye out for those rugby players of yours :)

Peace,

Niki "

4/16 -- the Agape Singers have landed......

For those following the exploits of our intrepid travelers -- they returned home to Rochester Hills, Michigan USA tonight after their non-stop Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Chicago O'Hare - and then the final leg on American Airlines to Detroit Metro Airport.

They had quite a welcoming party there to greet them at the end of this wonderful journey.

Be sure and keep our blog bookmarked and check back in the coming days. We'll have even more pictures and information about the sights, sounds, music, people, experiences that everyone on the "God's Love On Tour - Ireland 2007" experienced.

We continue to welcome any and all comments on this post, or email your comments to agapesingers@gmail.com

As Carol Portice would say (and it's so applicable at the end of this trip): "Grace and Peace."

Monday 4/16/07 - GOOD MORNING, AGAPE SINGERS and Entourage!!

Good morning to the "God's Love On Tour 2007" group over there in Dublin. We'll be thinking of you as you prepare to return to us with lots of stories and pictures and memories of the last 8 days. We've enjoyed following along online - but can't wait to have you back with us.

We've had over 1500 hits (as of now) with people logging onto this blog from all over the USA and Canada -- and also Brazil, Ireland, Great Britain, Denmark, Italy, Taiwan, Malaysia, Portugal, and Sweden! You have alot of people thinking and praying for you and your mission and we can just say "You did us proud!"

Travel safely - and we'll see you tonight.

--The Blogmaster

4/15/07 -- 545pm --this just in from the Agape Singers to all of you

"This is Chris (Smith) and Andrea from a kiosk in Dublin!

Thanks!!!!!!


Love, from the Agape Singers"

some new pictures from the 4/12 Cregagh Presbyterian Church performance and the Glenariff area of County Antrim

Good morning. If you haven't already, be sure and check out the post from earlier all about the worship service at Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church in Dublin, on this, their last full day in Ireland.

They're in Dublin and this afternoon (April 15) are visiting Trinity College and the historic collection of the Book Of Kells (see one of the beautiful illustrations at the bottom of the blog). Here's more from the Trinity College website and also even more detail from Wikipedia.

One of the comments left on one of the blog posts a couple of days ago was from Christian Guadron, one of the staff members at the Corrymeela Center, where they were based for the first part of the week. He has a blog, as well, with some pictures of our group, which I've linked here (his blog is in Spanish - as he's from El Salvador, but the faces and message of our singers come through in any language!)

The pictures are from their performance at the Cregagh Road Presbyterian Church in Belfast the other day. There's also one taken at the beautiful Glenariff Natural Park in County Antrim.



Chris, Mike, Tom, Andrea, and Christian at the Glenariff Natural Park in County Antrim

From the 4/12 Cregagh Road Presbyterian Church performance in Belfast

From Dublin -- Sunday morning worship with Dr. Portice and the Agape Singers this morning.....

As I'm typing this (they're 5 hours ahead of us), University Presbyterian Church's Reverend Dr. George Portice, Carol Portice, and the Agape Singers are conducting the Sunday morning April 15th worship service at Dublin's Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church.

Here's the order of worship for this morning, from the church's website:


"This morning we welcome everyone to Church and are delighted that the University Presbyterian Youth Choir from Michigan & Rev. George Portice are taking our service.


ORDER OF SERVICE:


We enter into God’s presence

Prelude If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee

Welcome & Announcements -- Kevin Thiessen

Opening Praise - Surely the Presence of the Lord

Prayer of Adoration, Confession & Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: Good Christian Men Rejoice and Sing

Children’s Address
(after which Children leave for Sunday Special & K2)

Anthem: This is the Day the Lord has made

We hear God speak

Anthem: God be in my Head

Bible Reading

Anthem: Christ is Risen Tanzanian Hymn

Sermon. Rev. George Portice

We respond with thanksgiving

Offering & Prayers for others

We go out to love and serve the Lord

Concluding Praise Love Divine all love excelling

Benediction


============

Crèche – for babies up to age 3 in the care of 2 leaders, in the Bluebell Room.

Please accept our invitation to sign the Visitors’ book in the Foyer.

There will be NO Coffee served after the Service this morning."

playing catch-up on some 4/12 Belfast pictures...

Good morning - I realized that I still had a few nice pictures that I'd meant to post the other day after the group visited the Clonard Monastery in Belfast. You can read more on their website here. (be sure and check out their LIVE WEBCAM link to the left - actual live motion video from their sanctuary).

Here's another look at Chris Smith's commentary on the visit - along with some pictures of the church and people.

"Yesterday in Belfast, on the tour, we stopped at Clonard Monastery (see the pictures below), a very famous Catholic monastery with a priest, Gerry Reynolds, who was instrumental in peace-keeping during The Troubles.

The monastery itself was magnificent, but I remember as I was walking into the monastery with group (which was following Father Reynolds), Dr. Portice whispered in my ear, "Now this man could tell you some stories." Rev. Portice saying that showed me how incredible this man must be. Father Reynolds led us in the "Prayer of Unity" while we were there.

Also, when we sang "Surely the Presence" for him in front of the monastery, he told us how the first time he heard that song was while he was on a mission at a prison for terrorists during The Troubles. The prisoners were singing it."






Father Gerry Reynolds (left) along with UPC's Reverend Dr. George Portice







Thanks, once again, to the Zukauckas family for these wonderful pictures. They've supplied alot of the pictures that we've enjoyed during the trip.

4/14 -- "How do you get to Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin? Practice, practice, practice!"

The success of the "God's Love On Tour - Ireland 2007" continued today with their performance at the gorgeous Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin (Church of Ireland). Thanks once again to the Zukauckas family for the beautiful pictures below of the Agape Singers in this historic church.

Here's the item posted on the cathedral's excellent website about our folks:

"The Agape Singers, the high school choir of University Presbyterian Church, Rochester Hills in Michigan, will give a lunchtime concert on Saturday 14 April 2007. Entitled Songs of Hope and Peace, it is one of two concerts they will participate in while in the Republic of Ireland, the second being a contribution to worship at Adelaide Road Presbyterian church. Follow their visit on their blog: Agape Singers: God's Love On Tour - Ireland 2007."

I highly recommend the Christ Church Cathedral website - lots of information and a fascinating history. Be sure and click here to explore it further.

A reminder - to ENLARGE the pictures, you can click on them -- then hit your BACK <-- arrow at the upper left of your browser to get back here....

More 4/14 updates......Dunluce Castle!

As you read the next couple of posts - remember that you can refer to the interactive map to the right - in our LINKS section that will give you a nice map and more info on the various sites in the Antrim area of Northern Ireland....

On 4/13 - a wonderful visit to the historic ruins of Dunluce Castle (built more than 400 years ago)....
(here's more about it: click here)

A reminder - to ENLARGE the pictures, you can click on them -- then hit your BACK <-- arrow at the upper left of your browser to get back here....

Chris elaborates that the ancient mortar was mixed with cow's blood while building the castle...






A view of Dunluce Castle in black and white....





Jordan, Ryan, Elaine, Danielle, Ann, and Mike standing on the spot where the castle's kitchen stood -- before it fell into the sea in 1639 - along with 7 cooks.

Saturday 4/14 photo update -

Some beautiful pictures from their visit to the Glens of Antrim in Northern Ireland....
Here's more on the Glens: click here






It's time for another video on the site - so here's a clip they shot while visiting the Glens of Antrim of some spring lambs frolicking -- you can be sure our Agape Singers were also doing their own frolicking....

4/13 update from Chris, Danielle, and Emily.....

(Chris typing....)

"Hey Dad!

I am updating from a delightful couple's home in Cookstown, NI. I just showed Gordon the site, and he was thrilled! The concert tonight went extremely well, although many of our voices have had it. We will nurse them back to existence with some tea (which is abundent over here).

Yesterday in Belfast, on the tour, we stopped at Clonard Monastery (see the picture below), a very famous Catholic monastery with a priest, Gerry Reynolds, who was instrumental in peace-keeping during The Troubles. The monastery itself was magnificent, but I remember as I was walking into the monastery with group (which was following Father Reynolds), Dr. Portice whispered in my ear, "Now this man could tell you some stories." Rev. Portice saying that showed me how incredible this man must be.

Also, when we sang "Surely the Presence" for him in front of the monastery, he told us how the first time he heard that song was while he was on a mission at a prison for terrorists during The Troubles. The prisoners were singing it.

Danielle and Emily have an update I'll type up:

"Well, we woke up to our wonderful sunny view that overlooks the marvelous blue sea. Danielle went in to Kaitlyn's room while Alicia was in the shower and were lying in bed when it hit us. It was Alicia's birthday! So we toilet-papered their room and made a sign for her. It was lovely! After waking up, we got on the bus and drove 1 1/2 hours to Belfast, which doesn't seem quite as long when you're looking at beautiful scenery. We took a tour of the city. After the tour, we got to go off in groups to eat and shop in Belfast. Our group split up and when it was almost time to meet at the bus, we decided that we were lost! Oh, but we found the bus! When we got on the bus Mike showed us the sweet new clothes he bought! We were all mightily jealous! :)

We then went to the church where we were going to sing that night. Before the concert, the group played Ultimate Frisbee while Emily and I swung on the swings. Then, we sprinted to the nearest supplyer of wonderful freeze-pops so we could stuff our faces and get brain-freezes!

Then began our concert. It was an even better concert than the night before! Yes, yes, it was a grand old time! After the concert, we mingled and started our bus ride back to Corrymeela. On the bus, some people slept, but NO we did not! We listened to iPods and danced like crazy, crazy fools. It was a good time.

When we got back to Corrymeela, we had a huge bonfire and enjoyed the wonderful smoke getting blown in our faces while singing at the top of our lungs. Let us tell you, it was a time! Then ---> BED!" -

Danielle and Emily


(back to Chris typing....)

"So yes, it was an awesome day in Belfast. Since, I am not sure of the internet availability we will have for the next few days, I will sum up today's events.

"We started our day by packing our bags and cleaning things up around Corrymeela. It was a very sad morning for all of us with the prospect of leaving such an amazing place. David, of Belfast, Christian, of El Salvador, and Niki, of Winnipeg, all were incredible people. They were nothing but nice for our entire stay. We shared all of our reflections in a circle where a few tears were shed. When we finally departed, we took our bus out to Dunluce Castle, which was farther west on the Antrim coast. There were ruins of a castle that had thrived for hundreds of years, with a lot of bloodshed surrounding it. We had an awesome tour guide who told us all the dirty secrets, and we were treated to some breath-taking views of the sea. We were surprised to hear that the last people to live in it had their entire kitchen, including 20 chefs and waiters, fall into the sea during a dinner party. Crazy stuff! We got back on the bus, and found out the bus's cargo door had come open on the trip, and Chris Griffin and Andrea Hebner's suitcases had fallen out on the side of the road. They were at the local police station, and there was not much harm done...Phew!

We finally made it to Derryloran Parish Church in Cookstown, N.I. in the early evening, and we rehearsed for a bit. We were all treated to an incredible meal of Irish Stew with dessert and tea afterwards by some of the women of the congregation. What we have found is the unbelievable hospitality of the Irish!

After meriting a standing-ovation at the concert, we found our host families and we driven to our homes for the night. Harper, Erik, Mike, and I are staying with a lovely couple who so graciously allowed me to update the blog on their PC! So now I must retire, after a supper of tea and chips (fries).

Thank you to everyone following us!"

-Chris Smith

Some 4/12 Belfast pictures from the Zukauckas family....

the Clonard Church of the Holy Redeemer (Catholic Monastery) - Belfast


Alicia's birthday on the bus with Corrymeela staff member, Christian, from El Salvador


The group in front of the Peace Wall in Belfast

Friday the 13th eve update.....

Good evening. I hope this Friday the 13th has been a good one for you. (no walking under ladders, black cats, or broken mirrors, etc.)

For you regular Blog-checkers.....I'll have a bunch of new Belfast pictures posted this evening. Come on back a little later.

Your humble Blogmaster, Jeff

even though it's Friday the 13th - our Agape Singers have the "Luck of the Irish!" update

From the overnight email mailbag from "Son of Blogmaster"......


"Hey Dad,

Everyone here is in awe of the blog, so keep up the good work :)

Mike wrote an update for Wednesday:

"Hey all! How are things back home? Today was an exciting day, and I have been anxious to write this blog entry! It began like a typical day here at Corrymeela - I was roused by a burst of sunshine and a faint chorus of baa's coming from the sheep pen outside. Breakfast was served, and after dish-washing it was off to choir practice in the Croi (my favorite building here). After we sang, David Price prepared us for the next day's trip to Belfast by leading us in an activity which examined our preconceptions of the city and gave us the chance to ask David questions we had about it. David provided us with a brief lecture covering the modern history of Belfast.

Among the more interesting facts learned was the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was originally to be called the Northern Ireland Police Service (NIPS). Somehow, I doubt that acronym would have garnered much respect for the law. Next on our intinerary was a visit to the Glens of Antrim.

Our bus could only take us so far along the way, we had the pleasure of hiking the remaining distance, taking care to dodge cars traveling the one lane dirt road (always running to the LEFT side, of course).

It was a scenic trip up the mountainside. At the top we paused at a sheep pen, where I asked Alicia the infamous question, "What's a baby lamb called?"

Most of us went down the other side of the mountain to discover the chain of waterfalls called the waterfall walk.When we returned to Corrymeela, we ate a light dinner and performed for the locals in our first concert. It was a smash hit and our guests rocked out to our gospel jams and were moved by our emotional pieces. We are developing quite a following! Afterward, David sent us for a late night beachwalk and a supper of fish and chips at the best joint in Ballycastle. We paused for a moment to listen to the vast ocean and to stargaze.

We collected some smooth white stones by the seashore.

It has been an astounding day, and it's time to get some rest for Belfast tomorrow!

I will try not to blow too many pounds on trendy clothes, but some adults should know better than to give me plastic (yes, I'm looking at YOU, Mom and Dad)! Love you guys!"-Mike

Danielle and Emily are currently writing updates for yesterday. We might have to add that tonight, but we'll see. Here are some pictures from Belfast which was yesterday,

Thursday.

Love,

Chris"

some Thursday 4/12 pictures from Belfast....

the "Peace Wall" in Belfast - dividing the residences of the Irish Catholics and the Protestants....

Cregagh Presbyterian Church - Belfast. The singers did a performance here on Thursday. (trivia: The Irvines were married here!) (a pic from the Zuckauckas family)

Erik in front of Clonard Monastery - Belfast

Belfast City Hall