This month is going by in a blur. I'm only home in Nashville for two weeks of it, much of that time in two or three day increments, and I was bummed to miss the meditative service at St. Bart's and the Festival of Lessons and Carols at Scarritt-Bennett. Although I still regret missing those worship experiences this year, Thursday night more than made up for it.

18 months ago a group from Fellowship Bible Church visited Kenya and left wishing they could do more for the people there. Because FBC is home to many of the top artists, studio musicians, and producers in Nashville, it wasn't long before they decided an original CD could be a catalyst for raising money. This December the church released Ring the Bells: A Christmas Offering, with new songs written and performed by Christy Nockels (formerly of Watermark), Cheri Keaggy, Geoff Moore, Cindy Morgan, and others.

Amazingly, everyone involved not only wrote or played for free, but the church is donating every cent from the CD to their African mission partnerships.

Thursday night they took it a step further, and performed the music in two sold-out concerts--and all the money from ticket sales also went back to missions.

The thing about this project is these aren't just nice people doing something for free--it's one of the best Christmas CDs I've ever heard, and the concert was amazing. By the end, when Ronnie Freeman and Cindy Morgan sang the title track, the room was on its feet clapping, raising hands, and dancing along. There was such a spirit of celebration in the room--of the child born in Bethlehem and the children who will be helped in Africa.

So I'm resigned that Christmas 2007 will be hectic. But in the blur of travel, events, and work, Thursday night is one moment that will stand out in clear focus.