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Page B6-The Chronicle, Thursday, April 19, 198^
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Focus On Religion
Concert shows i
By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
In Winston-Salem's black church community, the
50-voice choir of the Ambassadors for Christ is
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"A Symphony to God in Song '84" is David Allen's
way of dispelling the myth that black people, including
the Ambassadors for Christ, can only sing the highspirited
and rythmic spirituals that serve as the foundation
for many black entertainers.
On Saturday, April 21, Allen, who serves as minister of
music for the Ambassador Cathedral on English Street
and its well-known choir, will perform along with contemporary
gospel singers Larnelle Harris and Priscilla
and Benjamin Winan at 8 p.m. in the Stevens Center.
"The first half of the show will be devoted to classical
and traditional music," says Allen "along with a combination
of works from the 'Creation.'
"Then," he says, "we'll start gettin' down. But what
we're trying to do is let people know that we're not
limited and I think folk have limited us because we sing a
* lot of gospel music."
The Ambassadors for Christ will be accompanied by a
50-piece orchestra composed of members of the WinstonSalem
Symphony.
Harris, a two-time winner of the Dove Award (an inspirational
music award comparable to the Grammy) a
Grammy nominee and a member of the Bill Gaither Trio,
will be backed by the Ambassadors and Allen. On Friday,
Harris will be at Hanes Mall to sign autographsHarris
has made regular appearances on the "700
Club," the "PTL Club" and has been featured on
several of Billy Graham's televised crusades. Even
though Harris has recorded five albums, says Allen, his
name isn't synonomous with gospel music in the black
community.
"The black people really don't know Larnelle," he
Sunrise service held
The Greater United Progressive Baptist Church at 112
Quincy Caldwell Circle will begin its Easter observanc
with a sunrise service at 6 a.m. Breakfast will be servec
At 4 p.m., a 4tDoor Knob Rally" will be held. Th
Rev. Robert Booker, associate minister at New Ligf
Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker.
Bracy H. Bonham Jr. will deliver his trial sermon at th
church at 7:30 p.m.
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Church Calendar, Focus On Relig
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says, "because he sings contemporary gospel, which appeals
more to the white audience. But when they come to -I
the concert, they're going to know that he can sing."
Th is makes the fourth straight year Allen and the Ambassadors
have invited well-known inspirational enter- I
tainers to join with them in concert, a practice which will
continue, he says.
Past performers have included Tramaine Hawkins,
Donald Vail and Keith Pringle. Already, the 30-year-old
musician of 21 years and mastermind behind the performances
is busy working on plans for next year's concert.
He's been courting Andre' Crouch for months now . r
"The thing that I'm trying to do with this event is build j
a tradition that originates in the black community," says
Allen. "That something meaning that it's comparable to
the 'Nutcracker,' which is sold out every year.
vV;
"The thing that I'm trying to do with this event
is build a tradition that originates in the black I
community ... " , J
~ David Allen |
"But," he says, '"the Nutcracker' doesn't appeal to
the black community." * 1
What Allen does want, he says, is something more than \
just an array of gospel music each year. He says he also t
wants to expose his choir to versatile singers and musicians.
/
"The only way I felt I could even build a tradition was t
to offer something to everybody," he says. "We want to c
perform to a mass appeal and to have an orchestra per- v
forming with us adds a new dimension." c
The Winan Duo, says Allen, will only appear in the
concert for one song. They will perform their gospel hit, i
"Lord Lift Us Up." c
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Church Notes
Revival begins Monday
The annual spring revival of Shiloh Baptist Church at
916 E. 12th St. will begin Monday, April 23-27, at 7 p.m.
each night.
The Rev. Moses Javis, pastor of Wetside Baptist
Church in St. Louis, Mo., will be the revival evangelist,
for the week.
The Rev. J. Ray Butler and congregation urge all
prayer bands of the city to join the services.
Javis, a native of Columbia, S.C., received his
bachelor of divinity degree from the J.J. Stark School of
Theology at Benedict College there and received his
bachelor of science degree from Zion College.
He is the former pastor of Gethsemane Bantist Church
in Boiling Springs, where he led the building of a $30,000
educational annex, St. Paul Baptist Church in Gastonia, |
the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.,
where he led in the erection of a half-million dollar
edifice and at his present church. There he led the con- t
gregation in the construction of a million dollar educa- 1
tional building in 1979.
In July 1970, Javis was appointed by former President i
Richard Nixon to the Advisory Committee for Public
Education. In 1977, he gave the opening prayer at the <
92nd Session of the U.S. Congress House of <
Represenatives and in 1978 was appointed lecturer of the 1
Congress of Education General Division of the National ]
Baptist Convention, USA Inc.
* Among Javis' other accomplishments is his election to
'The Seven Last s<
The Fflcter Sunrise f nmmittpp will nrpcpnt tl-io nriniml
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sixth pre-Easter sunrise service, 4'The Seven Last
Words," on Friday, April 20, at Antioch Christian
_?hurch at 1432 Underwood Avenue at 7 p^ir.
~ The" Reverends" Samuel "Cuiiiehuv, pastur ?
Jerusalem Baptist Church; Ellis C. Austin, pastor of Ex-'
odus Baptist Church; R.L. Watlington, pastor of Prince
of Peace Baptist Church; Philmon A. Samuels, associate
pastor of St. Stephens Baptist Church; Frank Flanes,
pastor of Great Zion Wall Baptist Church in Durham;
Emmanuel Rucker, pastor of ML Zion Baptist Church in
'Daybreak' is presented
The Drama Department of First Baptist Church on
Seventh Street will present the Easter drama "Daybreak"
April 22 at 7 p.m. in the lower auditorium of the church.
Members of the cast are Shedrick Adams, Sylvia Neely,
Clyde Dungee, J.L. Lassiter, Minnie Lucas, Jamilia
Lucas, Mary Sawyer, Frances Bowen, Evna Penn, Jennifer
Brown. Linda Mitchell. F.ddie VauaHn* anH n#?Yt#?r
IFelder.
Catherine Humphrey is the director.
Members of the production staff include Mildred Batchelor,
Mattie Clark, Lois Young, Geneva Brown, N.E.
Kiser, Mavis L. Miller, Albert Palmer, Katherine
Meroney, Thomas L. Brown and William Fulton Sr.
2
e Senior Choir to sing
e
it The Senior Choir of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in
Yadkinville will present its seventh annual Easter
ie memorial service at the church, Sunday, April 22, at 7
a.m.
lion
ion, Church Notes, Obituaries
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David Allen, minister of music at Ambassadors fc
veil-known choir-prepares for concert this weeken
>e Larnelle Harris and the Winan Duo (photo by t
Ulen is preoccupied with, especially since he says he and
he Ambassadors aren't trying to compete with other_
hurches. The fact that the concert is on an Easter
veekend is something he also says just couldn't be helped
lue to the availability of the Stevens Center.
"We tried to avoid the Easter weekend," he says, "but
t's hard to get good musicians and then a lot of other
:hurches are doing big productions.
"We try not to clash with each other," says Allen.
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The Rev. Moses Javis
he Morehouse College School of Religion's Board of
rv: :?irv->r> it-:_-i--.i--- - * -?
lviicv.iui> in i7/7diiu nib ciecuun as executive secretary in
1983 to the Missiouri Missionary Baptist State Convention.
Javis, a member of numerous community and church
Drganizations, is a life member of the NAACP, president
df the St. Louis Baptist Union, a member of the St. Louis
Urban League and a member of the Writers Staff for the
National Baptist Convehtion.
He and his wife, Edna, have two sons, Cedric and
Julian, and a daughter, Melody.
ervice to be held
High Point; and Elder Joseph Lowery, pastor of St. Matthews
Apostolic Holiness Church will all deliver sermons
on 4'The Seven Last Words."
These miphtcrc will be accompanied by the*choirs and
cuifgiega*KMKr, and-beg,*nwing at-S*30-ffrrHfrr ?
27th annual Easter sunrise service will be held. '
The Rev. William Elder of Middlefork Christian
Church will the message. Music will be provided by the
Middlefork Prayer Band, the Middlefork Christian (
Church Choir and the Antioch Christian Church Choir.
Breakfast will be served.
Soloist will be Mrs. Thomasene Williams; Mrs. Gladys
Thompson, narrator; Mrs. Louise H. Russell, organist
and directress; andMrs. Mildred C. Leak.
A memorial breakfast will be served immediately
following the ceremonial march to the cemetery.
Ministers' Wives meet
The International Ministers' Wives Alliance recently
held its regular monthly meeting at the home of the Rev.
and Mrs. Jerry Drayton.
Leading the group in a pre-Easter devotion was Mrs.
Viola Robinson, chaplain; Mrs. Clara Bailey and Mrs.
Rueben Gilliam.
Plans for the anniversary tea, which was held Palm
Sunday evening with the Mandala Players as the featured
guest at First Baptist Church, were finalized.
The president, Mrs. Marion Butler, welcomed a new
member, Mrs. Bobbie Payne, and urged members to support
the Top Ladies of Distinction's breakfast workshop
last weekend at Winston-Salem State University.
The next ckib meeting will be held at the home of the
Rev. and Mrs. Reuben Gilliam.
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?r Christ Cathedral and director of the church's
id at the Stevens Center. The featured guests will
lames Parker).
"We do all we can to support each other."
The Ambassadors' most recent recording adventure,
"You Are My Miracle," is an album that was done live
three years ago at the Cathedral with gospel singer Myrna
Sumners. But, Allen says, the $20,000 production this
year will not be recorded for sales because of royalty and
contract technicalities and legalities.
Tickets are on sale for $8 and $10 at the Stevens Center
box office Monday through Friday.
Goler presents service
Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church will again present
its rendition of Theopore Dubois' 4The Seven Last
Words" at the church at 4th and Dunleith Avenue April
22 at 6 p.m.
Dr. D.L. Cromwell, former minister of music, directed
the cantata for many years, with Mrs. Vivian K. Bright,
George Matthews and Frank Roane as soloists.
This year's production is being directed by the church
organist, Mrs. Bernice Howard Davenport, a student of
Dr. James A. Dillard, a graduate of Winston-Salem State
University, Columbia University and a retired music
teacher.
William Knox, a native of Winston-Salem, will be the
tenor soloist. A member of the Goler choir, Knox has
been a soloist for local churches in the productions of
"The Crucifixion and Hosanna in the Highest." He is
also a student of Bright's and is a member of the Twin City
Choristers.
Miss Kathy Anderson, a native of Marian, S.C., is the
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graduated from Jonhson C. Smith University with a dual
degree in sociology and music and has taught in the local
public schools.
Miss Wanda Lee Stark is this year's guest soloist. She
received her bachelor of arts degree from the North
Carolina School of the Arts and her master of arts degree
from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland,
Ohio. A teacher at Walkertown Junior High School,
Stark serves as organist for Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
Daniel W. Andrews Jr. will be the baritone soloist. An
accomplished musician and a graduate of Tuskegee Institute,
he serves as minister of music at First Baptist
Church on Highland Avenue. He toured Europe, Scandanavia,
the Middle East and North Africa with the Fisk
Jubilee Singers and studied under Dr. Clifford Blair.
Mrs. Hattie Elliot, a member of Goler Metropolitan,
will serve as the narrator. A retired school teacher, Elliot
now works with the Primary Reading Program of the
-cityrrnunty srhool system -SlaeJs a graduate of WSSLtL 1
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Cantatas at First Baptist...
The First Baptist Church Choir of First Baptist Church at
700 Highland Avenue will present "Olivet to Calvary,"
an Easter Cantata by J.H. Maunder, Sunday, April 22, at
the 11 a.m. worship service.
The choir is under the direction of D.W. Andrews,
who win also be a featured soloist and Martha S. Atkins
is the organist.
The soloists will be Virginia Wiseman, Melvin
Williams, Albert Palmer and Harold Palmer.
...and at Galilee Baptist
The Senior Choir of Galilee Baptist Church at 575 Claremont
Ave. will present its first rendition of ffre Easter
Cantata, "King Triumphant," by E.L. Ashford, Sunday,
April 22, at 4 p.m. at the church.
Soloist will be Princetta Covington and Bettie A. Sales,
sopranos; Linda Morrison, contralto; Emma Jean
Cockerham, alto; Alice Carter and John M. Smith,
tenors; and David L. Martin, baritone.
James D. Smith, director and organist for the choir of
Hanes Memorial CME Church, will be the guest organist.
The choir is under the direction of Madeline Samuel
Gerald.