The Gospel Choir of which I am a long-time member (more than 30 years actually) will hold its 21st Anniversary Concert tomorrow afternoon. We have rehearsed long for this day. We have learned three new gospel songs, only one of which we might be able to use again by adapting it. Most of the music we learn for these concerts cannot be used at Mass.
We have invited several other Gospel choirs to celebrate with us: The Gospel Voices of Glen Allen - The Maggie L. Walker Alumni Gospel Choir - The Men of Goodwill - Holy Rosary Catholic Church Choir - Redeemed Ministry - Special Guest Musicians - and a Flag Ministry.
Here is the music we have learned:
Our God is an Awesome God
My God is Awesome
Let the Church say "Amen"
I am aware that few of my readers may be interested in this music, but who knows... At any rate, WE love the music... and are looking forward to a festive afternoon, singing in praise of our awesome God!
A vendor friend of mine told me this remarkable story about her sister's cat. During the first week of December, the cat failed to return home from one of her excursions outside. The sister searched for several days without finding the cat and finally concluded that it had been run over or that some other accident had befallen it.
The sister is a manager of a mobile home park and often has business with one or another of the folks who rent spaces in the park. One day last week, she visited one of the families in the park. As she approached the mobile home, she thought she heard a cat mewing from underneath the home. Mobile homes are usually required to have a "skirt" around the bottom of the home for aesthetic reasons and the sound was coming from behind the skirt.
Anyhow, she spoke with the owners and told them there was a cat under their home and that they would have to open the skirt and remove it. Apparently, the homeowners had not heard the cat or had not paid any attention to it.
The homeowners opened the skirt and a cat bounded out from underneath the home like a bat out of hell! The cat was nothing but skin and bones but before it fled down the street and out of sight, the sister noticed the collar around the cat's neck and realized that this was HER CAT!!! The cat who had been missing for a month!
The sister went home and prepared to search the neighborhood to see if she could find her cat. She wasn't sure the cat would be able to find its way home because of its emaciated condition. After having no food or water for a month, it might be in too bad a shape to remember where she belonged.
But as the woman opened her door to begin the search, THERE STOOD HER CAT WAITING TO COME INTO THE HOUSE! She opened the door and the cat darted in and went directly to where her food and water bowls had stood.
You can imagine the joy in that household. Because the cat came back!
~ Drawing - My Skinny Cat by Keith Mills
The church was packed! There was standing room only in the rear of the sanctuary and the choir loft was filled with folks who had found no room downstairs! The date was September 26, 2010 and the Gospel Choir was celebrating its 19th Anniversary!
The choir is actually 33 years old, having been organized in 1977 under the pastorship of Fr. S. We did not celebrate our anniversaries with concerts in the early years; but once the tradition began, we have gotten better and better both as a gospel choir and as people who really know how to celebrate with music and a delicious meal afterwards!
We have always invited other choirs to celebrate with us and they have added their unique styles of Gospel music to ours, so that our celebrations are a spirit-filled and glorious tribute to our God.
This year our guest choirs were the Youth & Children's Choir of Union Baptist Church, The Gospel Voices of Glen Allen, The Maggie Walker Alumni Gospel Choir and The Tribe of Judah of ROK Church Int'l of Ashburn Va.
In addition to the choirs, we were graced with beautiful presentations by the Praise Dance & Flag Ministry of Ministers Iris Pollard and Geri Gatling. The huge white flags, which gave the appearance of wings, accented the music and dance in a stunningly beautiful way. The congregation showed their appreciation with standing ovations!
Our theme this year was "Souled out for Jesus!" and our choir led off with our theme song, "Souled Out!" featuring Jordan W-R as lead singer. This rousing gospel song was followed by the beautiful "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" featuring our own Kim F. We closed out our portion of the concert with "I Will Bless The Lord." All of our hard work in learning these three new songs was rewarded by the appreciation shown by our parishioners and guests!
After the concert, a wonderful repast awaited our guests. The decorating committee had done a great job in making our parish hall festive and beautiful. An abundance of good food had been provided for our guests and all enjoyed themselves.
It was a wonderful evening celebration and we look forward to next year when we celebrate our 20th Anniversary!
