Strongly worded emails

So on Sunday, I had time after the service to clean out the choir folders, put old anthems away and get out new anthems.  I like to have the music ready for our rehearsals, especially now that I’m way more prepared for the services.  After the service, one of the members and her daughter, Ashley came up to me and asked what there was to joining the choir.  Evidently Ashley wants to be more involved in the church, but being in 6th grade doesn’t really fit in.  She’s too old for the 3 and 4-year old Sunday school, but not quite old enough for Confirmation.  She asked her mom if she could join choir!  I’m so excited to have another voice, and a youth of the church at that!  Spurred on by that, I’m going to try really hard to have a firm choir schedule put into place.  We’ll still have rehearsals every week before church, but also to know when the choir is actually singing.  I’m excited!  Eric and James helped me clean out the folders and we made one for Ashley with her name on it and everything.  Its going to be awesome!

As I was getting music out of the library for the folders, I discovered one of the anthems missing.  I couldn’t figure out where it had gone.  Maybe I already took it out.  Maybe I had taken it home for some reason.  I was fairly certain all the music was back at church.  So where did it go?  Rhonda finally told me that she had just found out Candy, an old/ex-member has been "borrowing" music.  Another member had seen her there when they were setting things up during the week.  Candy is the same woman who ticked me off at the church meeting about a week ago.  Now I don’t mind her borrowing music.  I don’t mind anyone borrowing music.  But ask.  Let someone know that you are taking music that DOESN’T BELONG TO YOU!  Also a list of what music you took would have been nice.  I was livid.  I could not believe she had the nerve to waltz in and just take the music like she owned it.  Especially considering it was something I was planning on using for Advent.  Its not her music.  It belongs to St. Mark’s and we get dibs!  I talked with my mom and she agreed with me.  She actually informed me that if I pulled something like that on her, she would have banned me from their library.  Rhonda is going to send her a nice email, asking for the music back or at least a list of what she has.  If that doesn’t work, she’ll be getting a more strongly worded email from myself.

This is the part of church politics that most people don’t realize.  Yes, we are Christian and nice and kind, but there are still disagreements and consequences.  There is still a part of it that works like a business with proper procedures for things that must be followed.  When they are not, you get a slap on the wrist.  A lot of people have trouble with this concept, and this can cause problems.  Thankfully, my time in the law firm has helped me realize there is a way to deal with people professionally.  You have to be able to let them know when they cross lines and make them understand how to do it correctly.  Even when you really want to scream at them and tear their hair out.  Even when those people may be your friends.  Its a skill, but an important one.  Its something else I bring to the table in my new career path.