There's a lot of crap out there. [Jesus] needs you to be not crappy.
Rev. Billy Rintz
Sunday is traditionally one of the most mentally tiring days. The schedule is jam-packed, with activity followed by activity followed by too much food followed by activity. Day 2 of this camp was not an exception to this rule.
Today's schedule started with the teams' visits to the homeowners. For Ms. Black, this was her first opportunity to meet the team which is going to destroy her house in the morning. She let us know this morning that she will be traveling to Greensboro to stay with her daughter over the course of the week. Although it's sad that we will miss out on the opportunity to bond with the homeowner, it makes our work a lot easier, as we can leave gaping holes in the floor and a commode in the front yard without negatively impacting her life.
Today I arrived at the Huntersville, NC Camp of the Salkehatchie Summer Service program. I have attended this youth mission, sponsored by the South Carolina United Methodist Church, for 5 years. This year marks a new experience for me, though, as I am now classified as an adult, meaning I have a new set of privileges and responsibilities.
Today, we arrived at Huntersville UMC, our home for the week. This year, the adult men are housed in the Youth Lounge, meaning that we have huge amounts of free space. Seriously, we could have a dance party in here without moving any of the beds. It's great, unless we have any snorers in the camp. Pray for quietness.
As one of the adults, my home assignment was made for me (It's ironic that as you get older you have less freedoms in this regard.) On the camp tour of homes I was introduced to Ms. Black, the homeowner we will be serving this week. She is a wonderful lady, and her family seems very close and loving.
Looking around, we saw many areas that need a lot of work. The hallway's floor bounces by a few inches with every step taken. The bathroom essentially needs to be stripped bare and replaced. The steps out of the side door are rather rickety, and the lone hand rail is on the wrong side, completely blocked by the opened door. In all, it looks like our group will have our work cut out for us.
Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to see the South Carolina United Methodist Conference Youth Choir, known to friends as the "Spirit Singers," known to better friends as "CYC," and known to best friends as, well, they haven't told me. This talented group of young people is composed of auditioned youth from across our state. As usual, they sounded great, especially considering they've seen the music for a total of 5 days now.
Two years ago was my first contact with the group, when I inexplicably passed the audition and joined the group at Spartanburg Methodist College for a grueling week of rehearsals. Honestly, I'm still amazed I was given such an opportunity. I had never considered myself to be the "choir type." The extent of my singing had been in the youth's praise band at church. My voice was quiet, hoarse, and flat. Even today, I still found myself in awe of the people singing on stage, despite the fact that I sang with that same group.
For that year-long period when I was in the Spirit Singers, traveling around the state and around the world, I was transformed into the "choir type" of person. I was granted abilities I never knew I had, courage I had only dreamed of, and a life-long group of memories and friends. The year was quite life-changing for me, as I was truly part of a group (a rare feat, as I tend to work best alone). I am so grateful for the opportunities I was given.
Mostly, I just want to thank Kathy-Jo for helping me to achieve things I had never considered for my life. Good luck to the whole choir on your 22nd year of touring.
When I still attended St. Andrews Parish United Methodist Church, I was a member of the youth praise band. The band started with the most rock-n-roll of names: "Youth Praise Band." This small group eventually transformed into the 6-member group known affectionately as "4½ Dudes." Finally, after a single performance, the band was renamed "Basilica." This name was chosen for (officially) its significance in the history of the Christian church and (unofficially) the semblance to Metallica. Indeed, the name was probably too metal for the group it represented, but it served the band well for several years.
Old logo of the now defunct Basilica
When I arrived at Cokesbury, several members of Basilica followed, leaving the remaining members of the group to inexplicably rename themselves "Purple Dog." I don't understand it, but to each their own. The members who arrived at Cokesbury decided to form a newer band, featuring more heavy and electrified music. The new band's name: "Righteous Indignation"
Like Basilica's before it, Righteous Indignation's logo was designed by yours truly. For this logo design, I wanted the text to be easily visible but unclean; a teenage rock band should not have a well-polished logo like the one I designed for the church at large. The colors are loud, the text is vibrant, and (to appease Joshua) a cross is featured prominently.
It may not be the most elegant logo or the most enduring word mark, but it should serve the group well for now. Comments and criticism are appreciated.
Update (June 1): For comparison, the logo of "Basilica" been added.
Designing a identity for any project is a difficult undertaking. The design must be simple, yet eye catching. It must instantly communicate its meaning without seeming simplistic or childish. Most importantly, the symbol must succinctly capture the spirit of the organization. Failing to complete any one of these goals leaves the branding weak and ineffective.
When trying to find a brand for this website, for instance, I worked to balance these goals. The "W" logo, in my opinion, uses its simple lines and strict symmetry to catch the eye. It still retains the shape of the letterform while being easily recognizable as a unique symbol. Despite a basic appearance, a lot of thought went into its design. And when it comes right down to it, the amount of thought required for a personal logo is trivial compared to one that would represent hundred of people and seen by thousands more.
CUMC's New Logo
That is the problem which I was given. I was tasked with developing a new identity for Cokesbury United Methodist Church. The old one consisted of the denomination's cross and flame logo to the left of the church's name in the somewhat overused "Papyrus" font. For the redesign, I tried to follow the same principles I used on my personal logo: a simple, yet distinctive line drawing. The design, which I presented to the pastor and associate pastor, uses the church's stained glass windows as an inspiration. A series of criss-crossing lines compose the body of the image. From a graphic and illustrative standpoint, it is simple. However, on a more symbolic plane, the uses of a window are limitless.
I know that this discussion seems premature, as I do not yet have the ability to display the new logo and word-mark on this site. Once I obtain that permission though, this thought will be a couple of steps closer to completion. It is my hope that the rebranding, so to speak, will be more publicly unveiled in the coming weeks.
Update (May 14, 2009): Thanks to the expert legal advice from commenters, I have decided to bite the bullet and post both the old and new identities.
