The St. John’s Men’s Chorus and two handbell ensembles will present “Come Let Us Adore Him,” a free concert, at 4 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. Kent Bernhardt will serve as narrator, using an original Christmas narration written by Susan Shinn, which will be interwoven with the musical selections.
The Men’s Chorus is directed by Rosemary C. Kinard, associate parish musician. Janie R. Rollins serves as piano accompanist for the group. Rob Durocher, minister of music, will play the organ for several selections. Instrumentalists include Michelle Trivette, saxophone; Kevin Agner, cello; Deanna Rattray, flute; Daniel Trivette, Marcus Clonts, and Daniel Winecoff, percussion. The two St. John’s adult handbell ensembles, directed by Kimberly Lentz, will play a prelude and several selections during the program. The concert will include many favorites such as “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Gesu Bambino,” “The First Noel,” “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” “Go, Tell It On the Mountain,” and many more seasonal selections.
Members of the Men’s Chorus are Ray Gandy, Darrell Norris, Chris Scoggins, Norman Sloop, Bob Tannehill, Julius Waggoner, Mike Weddington, Neal Wilkinson, Donny Yost, first tenors; David Agner, Mark Brown, Chuck Dunlap, David Foreman, Stan Jordan, Karl Kinard, Fred Krusemark, Dennis Rogers, Mitch Siegel, Gary Taylor, second tenors; David Alexander, Lane Brown, Parker Hatchett, Sam Morgan, Randy Overcash, David Roof, Wayne Thonen, Carter Woolly, and Bob Yost, baritones; Nelson Austin, Willi Beilfuss, Clancy Bostian, David Call, Jim Epperson, Steven Freeman, Frank Goodnight, David Hall, Geoffrey Hoy, Ed Lutz, Bob Meyers, David Nelson, Ron Potts, Gordon Senter, Jerry Spencer and Henry Trexler, basses.
Members of the Classic Handbell Ringers are JoAnn Bullard, Carol Everhart, Margaret Hunter, Susan Myers, Kathy Norris, Randy Overcash, Rachel Safrit, Chris Scoggins, Susan Shinn, Missy Shives, Shawne Stauffer, and Henry Trexler. Members of the Luther Ringers are Patti Beaver, Ron Corriher, Tonya German, Margaret Hunter, Beth Lewallen, Kristen May, Sherry Morgan, Wesley Rhyne, Emily Robertson, Tammy Safrit, Chris Scoggins, Shawne Stauffer, Lauren West, and Jonathan Williams.
The St. John’s Inner Voices, a small auditioned ensemble composed of members of the Men’s Chorus, will also be featured. Ensemble members are Nelson Austin, Chuck Dunlap, Jim Epperson, Frank Goodnight, David Hall, Stan Jordan, Bob Meyers, Darrell Norris, Randy Overcash, Dennis Rogers, Chris Scoggins, Gordon Senter, Mitch Siegel, Bob Tannehill, Henry Trexler, Mike Weddington, Neal Wilkinson, and Donny Yost.
The Men’s Chorus was formed in 1994 as a part of the fellowship ministry at St. John’s. It quickly grew into a community group, composed of men from the Salisbury-Rowan area who enjoy singing all styles of music. The group rehearses on Sunday afternoons in the fall and spring, and performs for many local events, local and out-of-town churches, civic events, and many concerts to benefit the Crisis Council’s Battered Women’s Shelter and Rowan Helping Ministries.
A freewill offering will be received during the intermission to benefit Rowan Helping Ministries, and the performance will include a Christmas carol sing-along for the audience. Please plan to attend and enjoy this holiday choral tradition.
The Rev. Rhodes Woolly is senior pastor.