The Master's Men - a cappella songs of faith

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Our 2009 Annual Retreat, Wrightsville Beach, NC


The view from the hotel 5th floor, looking over Wrightsville Beach.	Continuation of the view over Wrightsville, Saturday morning. A beautiful day ahead!	Our coach for the weekend, Bill Rashleigh, begins with some physical breathing and support exercises.


Feeling the expansion in the diaphragm and lower back.	Mmmmm breakfast! Oh, right...back to the breathing...	Pushing that breakfast out of the way so we can breathe!


We spend a lot of time warming up with breathing and humming and basic vocal warmups.	All to get the singing mechanism working early in the morning. Some days are tougher than others!	We're almost ready to start running tuning exercises and other vocal techniques. Bill can go all day...bring it baby!


Here's the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort from the spacious concrete deck overlooking the pool area...sweet!	And here's the main outdoor pool, flanked by jacuzzis, all just steps from the beach.	A pathway leads to a gazebo overlooking the ocean, and steps leading down to paradise...ahhh.


Our director, Robert Cox, gets involved as we get to work on one of our numbers.	Checking notes on some new music, gotta get it just right.	Robert and Bill make a great team, getting us to work hard and produce some glorious sounds... ok, maybe just a joyful noise!


Hurray, it's lunch time already! How time flies when you're getting whipped into shape...uh, I mean, having FUN!	The staff at the hotel takes good care of us.	Such a relaxing time, good food, good friends, a gorgeous day outside, just another perfect retreat weekend.


Time to catch up with each other...it's more than just the singing. It's the fellowship too, that makes the group special.	Another shot of the hotel, while out for a walk after lunch.	Heading down the walkway, over the dune, and down to the warm white sandy beach!


Ahhhhh the soft warm sand. Hard to remember it's actually November!	This place is full of people in the summer, but here in the off-season it's just wide open spaces, ideal for taking a quiet walk and enjoying God's amazing beauty.	Further down the beach, looking back toward the hotel...maybe I'll just keep on walking!


I know what you're thinking. You want to drive down here right now, don't you? I don't blame ya! It's great!	The new and improved (and vitamin fortified) Johnny Mercer's Pier. I think it's been hardened against nuclear attack since Hurricane Fran took down the original wooden one in '96!	Under the pier, you can see the sturdy concrete supports holding this thing up to weather any future storm.


Here's the main building at Johnny Mercer's Pier, lots of fun stuff to look at and buy in there, just a couple bucks to get out on the pier. Bring your fishing pole!	Another shot of the pier from the other side, stretching out into the Atlantic.	Looking further down the beach past the pier, far as you can see, just beautiful and peaceful. The waves rolling in just lull you to sleep.


After a good workout in the afternoon, the gang headed off to the Causeway Cafe for Saturday night dinner.	Hey, buddy, get that camera outta my face, I'm tryin' to eat here!!	Nothing too fancy here, just good food and good people. My kind of place.


More of the counter ... ummm I think I was aiming for something else, maybe I was just thirsty.	Robert just can't keep his hands to himself! Wherever there are two or more of you gathered in my name... sing!	We had to get up after dinner and sing for the restaurant staff...any excuse to sing these great songs!


Another angle on us singing at the restaurant.	Bill had the camera and was running around to catch all of us in the act...!	And another one...


A closeup of our 12-foot tall director... oh, wait, Bill was sitting down for this one.	Just look at those mouth shapes, will ya! A face only a director could love.	OK Robert, let us all in on the joke...


Back at the hotel after dinner, we got back to work for another hour or so.	Standing in a circle helps us hear each other better and create a better blend. We can also see each other's faces! Wait, is that a good thing?	Bill gives us some final pointers to add to the boatload he's left us with all day.


Oops, sorry Dale, I think that flash was a bit too bright for ya... either that or you need to get out in the sun more!	Another shot of us working the songs for Sunday morning.	Bill gave Robert some great tips as well, and he's already showing us what great hands he's got.


Here are Sunday morning at Windemere Presbyterian Church, warming up once again before the morning service.	Let's put all the stuff we learned this weekend into good use as we sing God's praise!	C'mon, Skee, our singing isn't THAT bad, is it? Stop crying...please?


OK that's better...hey guys, we need to do something about our posture! Can we get a little more life into this warmup?? Maybe we just need more coffee.	Back in the choir room, we noticed this sign taped to the side of the piano (facing the choir chairs), and realized Bill's not the only one yelling at us about letting those "R's" creep into our vowels! Somebody else gets it in this church!!	Bill helps us get the most out of another phrase. Let's do it right!


Just more shots of Bill working with us in the few minutes before we head into the morning service.	And another angle from the seats...	And one more...


OK, time to put the camera away, time to head in to the service (which went great!).	After church we enjoyed a majestic boat ride on Elliott's majestic boat! Awesome baby!	I'm King of the World!! (What? the water's...over there? Oh. Sorry.)


Ann and the kids get their McDonalds' grub set up as Elliott looks on with lust in his heart for some fries...	Hey, look who Robert's bringing aboard...the Blues Brothers!	Connie eases down the steps from the upper deck hoping to not crash into Priscilla!


Everyone is getting settled in for a lovely boat ride along the Waterway...it's such a perfect day to be out on the water!	OK this is shaping up in the back of the boat, let's go see what's out front...	Ohhh yeah, here we go, easing up the channel, heading out into a little more open water. This is the place to be for a bird's eye view.


Just passing through...	Elliott man's the Captain's chair, surrounded by computer displays and dials and knobs...hey, what's this "depth charge" button do?	Connie and son Ken relax just behind the captain's chair...


Lots of other boats out on the water with us. Makes you wanna sell your house and get one, doesn't it?	A look out the back from the upper deck. You can't believe how beautiful a day it is out here.	Everyone wants to see the view from the command post. Hey Jim, are those Somali pirates behind you?? Battle stations!


We got to the drawbridge but we're too late to catch the hourly raising to let boats through. We'll just turn around and head the other way.	So many beautiful big boats on the water, others waiting to be taken out for a spin. I need to buy a lottery ticket.	Frizz holds court with Bill in the comfort and shade of the back of the boat as we cruise past beautiful large beach homes. Love this place!!


Bill enjoys another handful of peanuts as we continue our leisurely cruise. Ben must be calculating how many years of allowance he'll need to save before he can buy one of these beauties.	Elliott give the engines a boost and churns up the wake behind us, leaving a trail of bubbles and waves for other boats to contend with.

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