Mindy and I have had such a full summer and fall, and I wanted to catch you up on the highlights.
Mindy! A photo posted by @joshbalesmusic on
We are expecting a baby girl in January! Mindy suspects good songs will come from me rocking our new daughter to sleep this January, in the middle of the night...We are so excited.
And we had a wonderful summer of music and counseling.
In Tennessee this week and next playing for a great group of folks at the Summit Conference; and Mindy and Buechner are with me! A photo posted by @joshbalesmusic on
In July, for the 10th year in a row, I played the Summit Ministries conference in Tennessee- joining a few hundred folks in ten nights of 35 minute liturgy and hymn sessions! It was a blast and is an event I look forward to each year.
New hymns album July 14th. And you can hear "Be Thou My Vision" and preorder the project at www.joshbales.com now. A photo posted by @joshbalesmusic on
July was also the month we released The Birds Their Carols Raise, a new album of hymns. The process of making this album on my own was so challenging and exhilarating that I have already begun to dream about a second hymns album. I'll keep you posted on that.
Singing God's story at Orangewood Christian School this morning. Played CountTheStars and Isn'tThatAmazingGrace as well! A photo posted by @joshbalesmusic on
The months of September- November are always full of opportunities to share music and this year has been no different. Over the past few weeks I've played the songs of The Birds Their Carols Raise and Count The Stars for audiences at Christ Church Intown in Jacksonville, FL, Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Saint Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Titusville, FL, Wycliffe Bible Translators in Franklin, NC, Orangewood Christian School in Maitland, FL, Clergy Conference for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida in Oviedo, FL. I never grow tired of the excitement and energy that comes from playing live music in a room full of people!
Also in September I accepted a full time position as Canon Missioner at the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke in downtown Orlando.
My role at Saint Luke's involves heading up our weekly 6pm Eucharist (pictured above) along with other pastoral duties. It's also a role that encourages me to continue writing, recording, and touring, for which I am very grateful. If you're ever in Orlando for the weekend please come see us. More information about the service can be found here.
In addition to music and pastoral ministry, Mindy and I have continued to see clients at Journeys Counseling Center in Orlando. This remains a treasured part of our lives and vocations.
It's that time of year (almost!). As we round the corner of November we will celebrate the first anniversary of The Holly & The Ivy, my Christmas album! You can stream this album online or download it at iTunes/Bandcamp.
Y'all, thanks so much for supporting my music! I hope to see you at an event this Winter or Spring. And please continue to write and say hello. I love hearing from you and do my best to respond to each note. JB