This has been my fifth and final year on the Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir, and the two things I heard most often from people this year were, "Man, I couldn't do that: be stuck with such a young group of high schoolers I don't know all spring break." And the second was, "Tour is the Great Lakes this year? Michigan? Too bad you had to do the worst route for your last tour."

I'm fairly certain I answered both with a shrug and a weird look, because both statements are pretty foolish.

First of all, if I was stuck, it was on a bus with

leather chairs, TVs, comfy rests, and windows

framed by red velvet curtains; it could have

been worse. Also, the group this year was really

fun, and definitely one of my favorites. And so

was the route: Lake Michigan, St. Louis, Chicago,

and more. We stopped at zoos, eateries, art

galleries, museums, and public parks.

But what irked me the most wasn't just their

presuppositions that tour was going to be a

"bummer of a time" this year for me. What made

me irritated was that they saw both the people

and the route as the most important factors in a

tour choir endeavour. To suppose that, well... then

you're missing completely what Tour Choir is all

about.

Tour Choir is an amazing experience. While in

Fond du Lac, someone remarked that she wished

that her school did something like our Tour Choir.

And it made me realize that what Prof Reim does

through the Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir is not

only amazing, but it's almost unheard of. To take

so many high school students to represent ILC

and give them the opportunity to travel the country year after year singing and playing instruments is really neat, but what is extraordinary is that when arriving at those concerts, it's so personal. There is always a warm welcome, a warm meal, and people who bend over backwards to make the Tour Choir feel welcome and cared for.

Really, "a warm meal" is an understatement. I should have used, "so much scrumptious food and amazing treats that you'll want to tack on an extra 15 lbs" (Some do). But once again, I'm dwelling on what Tour Choir is not about. It's not about the great food, or the awesome sightseeing, or even the bus full of really cool people.

I believe the greatest thing about Tour Choir is the fact that the Gospel songs bring so much comfort to so many people.

To the congregations where we sing, their generosity abounds fourfold, and not because of how amazingly talented they might expect us to be. No, these people, many of whom we have never met, go out of their way to serve us because they know the message that we bring. It's the same one that binds our hearts in Christian love and fellowship with one another, no matter where we come from--faith in the message of Christ who died for you and me.

I'll admit that my first couple of years on Tour Choir, I did put a lot of emphasis on where the trip was to. I mean, Colorado, South Carolina, Washington, and Texas, right? Sweet!

And it's alright to enjoy the locations! But that's not why I kept doing Tour Choir. Had it been, I probably would have stopped at three. Had it been just about the group--despite how fun the guys and girls were this year--I also probably would have stopped at three.

I have been on Tour Choir for five years because I see not only the blessing that the Tour Choir is to the congregations that we visit, but also to the members of the Tour Choir themselves, the blessing it has been to me.

To sing the same songs in concert day after day might sound boring, and like the most stressful, least fun part of Tour. But honestly, it's the most fun and most rewarding. I look forward to the feeling right before a concert; that mixture of nervous anticipation and joy of going to sing songs that we have come to love and know. They might be the same songs to us, but to the people we sing to, it's often the first time they hear them.

It's singing God's praises that is such a comfort to us all--in the choir or in the audience. Singing triumphant, powerful songs that leave people thinking, "Ooh, that was moving!", change into songs like "Before the Throne of God Above…" where out of the corners of our eyes as we sing, we can see tears flowing down cheeks in the audience.

It's those songs that show how much of a blessing Tour Choir is to us and others. Not that we sing so angelically that we make people cry. But because the message hits us all the same:

"Because the sinless savior died, my sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied; to look on him and pardon me."

"One with himself I cannot die, my soul is purchased by his blood.

My life is hid with Christ on high. With Christ my Savior and my God."

I felt my eyes water a couple times too--it was hard to fight against it.

After the concert, a fellow choir member let flow some tears as well, and I gave him a hug, knowing that he had lost his brother recently. I thought of my friend who died earlier this year; of my grandmother who died of cancer. I thought of friends and loved ones who have lost and have suffered much, but also of the greatness of God's love towards all of them and towards me, an undeserving, wretched sinner, and remembering how no matter what sin or how much of it abounds, Grace abounds much more. I marveled at how self-sacrificing everyone in the congregations were, for the purpose of welcoming us messengers that share the Gospel of peace and forgiveness. They, like us, need songs that uplift and edify for the same reasons.

Through Tour Choir, we share a much-needed message. We are all going through something, be it the loss of a loved one, a disaster or a hardship, or an inward struggle. But through song, we bring the encouragement from God to weary hearts while doing something that's timeless and ever enjoyable: singing beautiful songs that share the message of the Bible.

I know many of the melodies will be stuck in my head for years to come.

And the great thing about Tour Choir is that in those concerts held year after year, God's great love will continue to be sung by high schoolers and collegians alike, and will continue to   bring tears, yes--and awe too. But most importantly, bring joy and so much encouragement.

And so I'll gladly make the transition to an audience member of the ILC Tour Choir and Mass Choir, as often as I can. I'll make room for high schoolers to experience the same fun of the tour experience, and most importantly, the gift of fellowship and song that I have come to enjoy, and to share the gift with those who listen and are uplifted too. That is the Immanuel Lutheran Choir: Grace inexpressible; Love undeniable; poured out in beautiful song to those who sing and listen. May God continue to bless the Tour Choir through all its years!