September 25 – Hymn Sing

A Hymn Sing sponsored by Rev. Dr, Sheryll Powell, Senior Pastor, and Musician Sonya    Williams was awesome. I arrived to the sounds of wailing Bagpipes, followed later by a band which regularly plays at St. James live on Butner Road  The GTC mixed choir and their  Children’s choir were riveting.  Other area musicians, choir directors  conductors and   soloists added to the pool of talent which led up the feature artist Dr. James Abbington, a former Professor at Candler School of Theology.   He introduced a new African American hymnal “ One Lord One Faith One Baptism”.  As Executive Director of the project Professor Abbington gave us a short History of the origins of many well known hymns.  The new  hymnal was a collaboration of Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, AME , AMEZ and CME musicians. Several members from these congregations were present and sang along  to hymns in the book at the  direction of   Dr. Abbington who conducted with vigor.  Your favorite hymn is in the book.   We sang along to  “The Lord will make a Way”,“ My help cometh from Thee,”  “My Soul Loves Jesus”, “We Shall Behold Him “ and “Come Thou Fount of every Blessing.” CWU members present were Roberta Rhodes, Lillie Hercules, Joyce Tillman, Connie Pope, Elouise Young and      President Claudette Rainey. An offering taken at the end of the evening was earmarked for the victims of the Bahamian Hurricane.  Submitted by: Claudette Rainey Member GTC AME