With 65 guests, we packed them in. They were sitting in the front hall and living room…

and in the dining room…

and up the staircase…

The music was beautiful. Left to right: Nathan Clark George, Ross Sermons, and Mark Stoffel.

You can listen to some of the music we heard on Nathan’s web site. A few of my favorites are “Remember O Thou Man,” “O Little One Sweet,” and “What If I Were in the Garden.”

And after the concert, yummy goodies. We served sausage balls, spicy cranberry meatballs, bacon wrapped dates, a veggie tray with beau monde dip, three cheese spread [I left out the chicken and mixed everything together except the tomatoes and parsley which I sprinkled on top] with crackers, fresh red grapes, a tray of cheese and meat picks with pickles and olives, Chex Mix, and four kinds of homemade truffles. We had hot spiced punch, cold punch and hot coffee. With temps below freezing, it was a good evening for something hot to drink. I prepared all the food, except the veggie tray, the day before. Worked out great! The meatballs were kept warm in a crock pot and the sausage balls and bacon wrapped dates were kept in covered dishes in a warm oven during the concert, so they were ready to go when it was time for refreshments. Very easy menu.

After the concert, there was an opportunity to meet Nathan, purchase CDs, and even get an autograph if you were so inclined.

A lot of our guests stayed for an hour and a half after the concert, visiting and enjoying the goodies, as well as savoring the Christmas atmosphere.

There were three babies at the concert. So sweet! Christmas and babies…two of my favorite things.

Thank you, Nathan, Mark and Ross for another wonderful evening of Christmas music! We so enjoyed it!

Today I’m relaxing. I think I’ll finish Christmas shopping (via the recliner and amazon.com) and maybe I’ll take a nap this afternoon. Sounds good! ~~Rhonda

You can hear Nathan’s wonderful music here. Several people commented on how very much they enjoyed being at the concert in person, hearing the music live. An added dimension to an already beautiful experience.

After the concert, we served appetizers and finger foods, coffee and punch. Everyone stayed to snack and chat, and took the opportunity to look over the CDs and DVDs available for purchase.

One guest (in the yellow shirt below) realized he had heard Mark play at his grandfather’s house twenty years ago!

I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed the evening! It was great fun, as well as spiritually refreshing. We are already looking forward to next year’s concert! Mark told us that after three years in a row, it would be a tradition, and we’d just have to keep doing it year after year. Sounds like a good plan to me!

~~Rhonda

After the concert, everyone stayed to talk, eat, purchase albums, and tour the house. DD#3 has heard Nathan in concert at youth camp three years in a row, and was very excited about having him perform in our home. She wore her “nathan clark george” T-shirt and she asked him to autograph it for her.

Did I mention the totally yummy food??

Cheese spread on bagel chips and cocktail bread, meat and cheese sticks, meatballs in spicy cranberry sauce, veggie tray and dip, sugarplums, and truffles…what’s not to like!

We have known Nathan for a long time. His father is the pastor of a nearby PCA church, the denomination of which we are members. DH is the presbytery youth camp director and has invited Nathan to do a concert at camp each summer. DD#3 has enjoyed Nathan’s camp concerts for three years and was SO happy to have him come to our home for the house concert. We enjoyed meeting Nathan’s friends, and hearing the three of them in concert was a privilege. We are planning to have them back for next Christmas!

~~Rhonda