Hi, Nancy:

Join the chorus... Sunday, my group was scheduled to do a half hour of gospel at the small church my wife and I go to. We've performed there several times... raised over $1,500 toward installing an elevator for the elderly (being able to see "elderly" lurking around the corner.) Our tenor was in Florida for Thanksgiving, so I knew we'd only be a trio. Then last week, the two other Messengers had to back out... one was in the hospital, and the other had to go out of town suddenly. That left me.

What I did was a little like what you described in the workshop. I taught the whole congregation to sing their parts... both for white gospel (The Old Account Was Settled) and black gospel(several songs where I taught them all the responses.) We had such a great time, that it was hard to settle down for the service. I didn't help by doing two more songs during the service which had everybody moving.
I finished the workshop we did at NOMAD this year by getting everyone up and having them sing the responses of the other Messengers as I sang lead on Trouble In My Way. I can see doing a whole workshop, really getting people into the phrasing, and trying to loosen everyone up. I think that may be the hardest thing to learn to do... just loosen up, feel the rhythm and let 'er rip. You've given me some good ideas for next year's workshop..

Jerry