NATCHEZ &8212; Choir practice began with a party Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Natchez. It was no ordinary party, however.

For one thing, there was snow; for another, tables covered in red and white cloths featured Christmas decorations and holiday foods; and everyone received a gift.

As longtime choir member Barbara Duck said, &8220;It was wonderful. The Christmas music, along with a gift for each person, was handed out wrapped beautifully.&8221;

Precisely at 8:15, the tempo changed. Work began. And interim music director Larry Black took charge, Duck said.

&8220;I&8217;ve been in choir almost all my life, in this choir almost 40 years,&8221; she said. &8220;Every director has had strong points and I&8217;ve liked them all. But Larry is one ball of fire and energy.&8221;

The interim director conducted his first rehearsal at First Baptist on Aug. 2. &8220;It&8217;s been a trip and a treat,&8221; he said.

Black is best known in church circles for the 34 years he spent at First Baptist Church in Jackson, where he began in 1970.

&8220;We started with 31 people in the choir,&8221; he said. &8220;I was there 34 years, and the Lord and my wife helped us to build it to 365 (choir members).&8221;

Black has led music at the Southern Baptist Convention more than once and has conducted choirs of thousands of voices. But size does not matter, he said.

&8220;I&8217;m as happy directing 50 as 5,000,&8221; he said. &8220;This choir has been so good about wanting to learn the music. They are very eager.&8221;

Choir member Robert Rasberry, who returned to his hometown five years ago, said he was fearful that the choir would not be prepared for the Christmas program, Dec. 8 and 9, when former music director Chris Turner decided to leave the position.

&8220;But to have a man of Larry Black&8217;s skill and talent, we know we&8217;ll be prepared. He has shown us that we&8217;re not going to miss a beat.&8221;

Duck said Black has the choir moving at a fast pace. She likes his attention to a time schedule and to detail. &8220;He tells us that God has blessed him with the knowledge of how to use his time,&8221; she said.

Black wants the choir to worship and to learn, but &8220;he also wants us to have fun. It&8217;s totally enjoyable, and you leave practice feeling good,&8221; she said.

Black has been leading music since he was a teenager, he said. A native of Gadsden, Ala., he came to know the Hurt family years ago, growing close to the Rev. Bill Hurt, pastor at First Baptist in Natchez.

Hurt called to ask him to come to Natchez. And the decision was an easy one, Black said. &8220;My wife and I have visited Natchez through the years, stayed at The Eola, loved walking around town and touring the houses.&8221;

Since retiring from First Baptist Jan. 1, 2005, Black has served in interim positions twice at First Baptist in Daytona Beach and at First Baptist in Tuscaloosa.

&8220;I work for the Supreme Head Hunter,&8221; he said. &8220;He always knows where I am and where I&8217;m going.&8221;

Throughout his ministry, his wife, Sandy, has been his greatest supporter, Black said. &8220;I could never have done this ministry without her.&8221;

Black considers himself first a minister and then a music director. &8220;The most important thing I do really is not directing but being involved in people&8217;s lives and knowing how to minister and encourage them when things are going on in their lives.&8221;

His experience gives him an edge. But his energy drives his work, Black said. &8220;I&8217;m old enough to know what to do and young enough to do it.&8221;

He looks forward to the rehearsals of Christmas music in the next few months. &8220;The program will have a few new features this year,&8221; he said. And he is certain it will be a success.

&8220;People like to be a part of something that has a purpose and is done well,&8221; he said.