FIRST TIME AT ST.ANDREW'S UNITED CHURCH IN VERNON BRIDGE

St. Andrews Church-Vernon Bridge

Lynda prepares the musical part of the service while Ann and Sharon discuss the good fun at Saturday's practise.

Today was SMUG's first opportunity to participate in the service at St. Andrew's United Church in Vernon Bridge, PEI, a beautiful country church just outside of Stratford. The service was conducted by the United Church Women, perhaps better known as the UCW. The St. Andrew's organist and choir director, Lynda Sharpe, had asked SMUG some time ago if we would participate in their special summer event. At the time we had our bookings for July and planning to take the month of August off, but in the end we agreed to take on one more summer event.  The group performed the best I have seen and heard them and we were all pleased we had agreed to accommodate Lynda and the UCW.  Maybe the best part was that Lynda accompanied us on the Grand Piano, and can she ever play!!!. I hope we might have more opportunities like this in the near future.. Our thanks once again to Sharon for helping us out when so many are away in the summer months.The raves and reviews following the service were strong and welcome, so much so that I know some left with pretty swelled heads.

The morning service was conducted by Mary's sister Helen MacLeod, assisted by other members of the UCW. The program in lieu of a sermon was a talk and slide show by Adam Drake, a young member of St.Andrew's who is studying in England to become an optometrist. Adam spent time this summer in Africa helping to fit glasses on those less fortunate and also help the physicians restore the sight of the many who might otherwise be going blind; young, as well as the old.

SUNDAY AT CENTRAL QUEENS UNITED

This was SMUG's fourth appearance at Central Queens United Church in Hunter River PEI. There was a large congregation this morning, not sure if so many turned up on this beautiful July Sunday morning to see and hear SMUG or not, and although the director could not see it happen, members of the congregation were reported to be dancing in the aisles! It was a fun morning and the minister, The Reverend Barbara Wagner, was very generous in her praise and hoped SMUG would return to Central Queens again.

CENTRAL QUEENS UNITED CHURCH 2012 SATURDAY PRACTISE

PRACTICING FOR THE CENTRAL QUEENS EVENT.......GOOD FUN.. GOOD FOOD  OUTDOORS~AT BARRY AND LEAH"S BACK DECK

ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC IN BEAUTIFUL STANHOPE PEI 2012



The Old Guys saying "Goodby and Thanks for coming"


CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW


This was it, the annual trek to Stanhope for the jam/picnic. It was great. We`had two hours of great singing and playing just like we had last year when we entertained the director of the Yesterukes, Dianne Sutton and her daughter Jessica from Laurens, South Carolina. This year though we had sandwiches for the picnic and the girls brought great desserts. It was Allison's birthday next Tuesday and we forgot to sing "Happy Birthday" to the Grand Master. Forgive us Allison; it was the year past the big,big one so not as important anyway. You really don't look that old you know.


Just have to give a big thanks to those who brought along "stuff" and made the day so delightful.It would be great to find new venues to do this from time to time.

A SUMMER RETURN TO PARK ROYAL

Back Row Ready!

SMUG played at the Park Royal United Church Sunday morning service on July 8, 2012 for the 5th invitation since our first in July 2009. Les Hiscott, the now retired organist at Park Royal has been very supportive of our group since we first played with the Park Royal Men's Choir at the Prince Edward Home in May of 2009, our first public performance.We were joined this morning by Sharon Woods-Bryenton, our good friend from Andrews of Stratford, as well as Ann Brown, mother of our Leah Brown. Smug pulled off a wonderful performance in spite of our numbers being down. At least many came forward after the service and said so, and the director was "well pleased".

Practicing the hymns with Les

Leah Brown and her mother, Ann, who joined us this morning

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 1

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 2

Saturday Morning Rehearsal 3