I've lost two more. I want to cry.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Like we don't have enough politics to deal with these days

Comments

[belluthien]

So sorry, hon. I wish your church wasn't trying to jockey space with this other group... Seems to only cause headaches.
Hugs,
y

[bonnie_halfelvn]

At rehearsal tonight, we had five people. My tenor is out of town. They did their best, but it is such a small sound. And there are fewer people to "cover" when our bass is off. I give him high marks for trying, but he just can't do it by himself.

I think the time has come for me to look for something else.... I hate to leave the loyal ones who have stuck it out, but this church is dying, and it isn't very enjoyable to be a part of that. I need a new job and a new church.

[belluthien]

You know, it just may be time for you to leave.
I realize it's hard, sad, and bites.
The church we recently left seemed like it has been dying since we joined. That is a very big drain to live with...
I'm thinking/praying, and all that... for you.
Hugs & love,
y

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Having a choir that sounded so good with ameteurs, some who couldn't read music, was what kept me going. Without that, it feels empty.

[maidoforange]

Oh, no. I'm sorry to hear that, dear.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Thanks. Yeah, it pretty much bites.

[homefryes]

Ugh ... sometimes church politics can be worse than government politics! Sorry to hear about your situation.

- D.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

This was all about a power struggle, and Annette can be very stubborn. But I consider her a friend and she was also my best soprano. It's a huge disappointment. I have done my best to stay out of the fray, but it's been a very tense year.

I may resign after Christmas regardless of whether I find something else or not. I'll have to see if I can manage without the extra income. Cutting back on choir performances has already been discussed as a possibility. I don't want to do solos all year long; I pretty much exhaust my repertoire every summer as it is. The smell of the coffee is getting very strong. I'm tired of being part of a dying church.

[primsong]

I can't tell you how sorry and saddened I am to hear this, I was hoping you might have found a way for the two groups to make some kind of peace/mutual respect agreement... Our church kept getting littler and we were having a hard time paying bills (still have to get the other half of the roof done) but we've a new pastor starting and already attendance is going up, whew... but we're only sharing with a preschool, not another church. It's so hard... I know we quit having a choir at all some time ago, there just weren't enough people. Now we just rotate four (one for each part) to help lead on Sundays which had proven more realistic for our resources. Shoot, our music director isn't even being paid anymore, she's doing it voluntarily because we didn't have any money to give her. :-P Very sad.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

I was hoping the two churches would be big enough to get past the initial tension, but there is mutual dislike that has not diminished. I have done my best personally to stay out of the fray, but it has affected me anyway. The only consolation I have is the knowledge that no one left because of anything I did.

I've been stewing over this today, and I think I need to ask the remaining members what they want to do.

If I leave my job with choir, I will also leave the church. I have never done anything like that; I normally have a very strong sense of loyalty. But I feel like I'm on a sinking ship. The choir has sustained me through bad days at work and much more. I will miss the extra income, but it has never been just about that.