“Lift Every Voice A Celebration of Christian Unity in Song.”

Church Choirs from Fauquier, Loudoun and Fairfax Perform

The 8th Choir Sing sponsored by the Great Falls Ecumenical Council, was held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike/Route 193, Great Falls, Virginia.

St. Francis frequently joins with other churches in performances and musical events such as the annual “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in March, a program showcasing a variety of gospel choirs from around the region. This year five church choirs and one community choir from Great Falls, Sterling, Leesburg, Rectortown and Vienna participated in celebrating the spirit of song.

Please see video link to experience the marvelous Mt. Olive Baptist Church Choir of Rectortown, Virginia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZGrYT0nxGc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

The church choirs representing the 2011 Great Falls Ecumenical Council were as follows:

Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church of Vienna
Bob Leggett, Music Director
Reverend John Morris, Pastor

Great Falls United Methodist Church
Robert Mitchell, Music Director
Reverend Nancy Childress, Pastor

St, Francis Episcopal Church of Great Falls
Virginia Sircy, Music Director
Reverend Penelope Bridges, Rector

The host choir St. Francis Episcopal Snow Angels, led by Music Director Virginia Sircy sang Alleluia and A Clare Benediction. Andrew Chapel UMC, Great Falls UMC, First Mt. Olive Baptist Mens Gospel, Mt. Olive Baptist and Voices of Worship Community Choir also participated. Photo courtesy of .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The guest churches presenting were as follows:

Mt. Olive Baptist of Rectortown
Faithe Smith, Music Director
Reverend Roland Smith, Pastor

First Mt. Olive Baptist of Leesburg
Deacon Sonny Young, Male Gospel Director
Reverend Dr. Harold Stinger, Pastor

Voices of Worship (VOW)
Community Choir of Loudoun County
Felecia Kessel Crawley, Music Director

A love offering was taken to honor Reverend Norman W. Smith Sr.’s 50th anniversary as pastor of Mt. Olive Church in Rectortown, Virginia. The offering benefits Mt. Olive’s Smith Washington Scholarship Fund. It provides two $2,000 scholarships, one for a high school senior bound for college and the other for a college student. The fund also buys textbooks for post-secondary students. Contributions may be directed to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, P.O. Drawer C, Rectortown, Virginia 20140 with a notation “Scholarship” designated on the subject line.

The Mt. Olive Baptist Church Choir, led by Music Director Faithe Smith sang a medly of hymns to include Come Unto Jesus. Faithe Smith then led the All Sing “Lift Every Voice” joined in by all choirs. It was an absolutely glorious evening in Great Falls. Photo courtesy of .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

A brief history of each participating church is as follows:

St. Francis Episcopal Church was founded in 1964 by a group of parishioners at St. John’s, McLean, who lived in Great Falls and wanted a local Episcopal community. They met initially at Great Falls Elementary School, but later eight acres of land on Georgetown Pike was donated, including a farmhouse and a commercial dog kennel. The farmhouse was first used as a rectory and later as office and classroom space. The dog kennel was turned into worship space, and provided a cozy home for the next 20 years. In 1984 the nave was built, reflecting the rustic, barn-like design of the old kennel. In 1993 the parish hall was added with offices and classrooms.

Andrew Chapel, founded in 1854, was named for a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, James Osgood Andrew. The original building (often identified by local residents as “The Little Church on the Great Road”) was built on the corner of Leesburg Pike and Trap Road. Services continued there until the Civil War, when the church building was used as a horse stable by troops stationed in the area.

The interior of the building was completely destroyed; but by the early 1870’s, the congregation had repaired and rebuilt the church and services resumed. The congregation worshipped in the original building until 1964 when they built a much-needed larger facility across Trap Road (the present location). The bell from the original building was retained and kept in storage until a new bell tower was erected in 1984. Andrew Chapel once again was able to call worshippers to church services every Sunday morning. At the same time, the sanctuary, which sometimes doubled as a multi-purpose room, received a facelift making it a more comfortable and beautiful place for worship.

The history of Great Falls United Methodist Church can be traced back to two churches organized here in the Great Falls area during the nineteenth century. The first, Salem Church, was established in 1876 near our present location on Georgetown Pike. Arnon Chapel was erected in 1889 near the corner of Arnon Chapel Road and Walker Road. Each church catered to the residents of the then rural area surrounding Forestville (as the Great Falls community was known at that time).

In 1944, as World War II dominated the news, Salem Church and Arnon Chapel merged to form Forestville Methodist Church and the combined church was established at our present site. In January of 1989, the congregation voted to change the name to Great Falls United Methodist Church reflecting the change in the name of our community.

Mt. Olive Baptist Church is located in Rectortown in Fauquier County. In 1867 just down the road from where the present church stands, a Prayer Band began the construction of the first church. Rev. James Carter of Culpeper, Virginia, was called as the first pastor. However, he resigned and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1870, before the building could be completed.

In 1871, Rev. Richard P. Dawson of Orange County, Virginia, became the second pastor. Under Rev. Dawson’s leadership, the church which continued to grow and prosper was finally completed. However, this church was destroyed by fire. Due to his great leadership abilities, the people were not discouraged, and they rebuilt a new edifice on the same site.

Mount Olive Church relocated approximately one half mile west to its present site. The cornerstone was laid on September 17, 1911. The new edifice was something to behold. Mount Olive has grown beyond that first one story structure. Land adjacent to the church was purchased to build additional amenities and a baptismal pool. On April 17, 1982, the education wing was dedicated to the Lord. The interior and exterior of the sanctuary have been renovated. On March 22, 2003, the congregation gathered to break ground for an extension of the Fellowship Hall.

First Mount Olive Baptist Church of Leesburg, Virginia began with a small number of dedicated Christians who had a desire to worship God together. In 1884, under the leadership of Elder Alfred Wright, a small building in Leesburg was purchased for worship services. This building which continues to stand on the East side of Liberty Street between Loudoun and Market Streets served as the Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church for almost 70 years. During this time the church was a member of the Second National Catoctin Association. This congregation was established over 126 years ago.

Voices of Worship is a volunteer choir specializing in soul-winning praise and worship for the glory of God and the edification of the body. All singers and musicians are dedicated to using their God-given musical gifts for excellence in worship. Under the musical direction of founder and singer/songwriter, pianist and instructor Felicia Crawley, VOW specializes in engaging audiences with its spirit-filled praise and worship service. VOW seeks to witness through their worship. The choir and music ensemble offers up their musical gifts in spirit and in truth to the glory of God and the love of Christ.

After the concert, all choir members, church congregations and guests were invited to a reception in the parish hall hosted by Salem Baptist Church of Great Falls.

A special thanks to St. Francis Episcopal Church, its clergy, choir, vestry, ushers and staff who accommodate and support Lift Every Voice events.

Beverly Bradford came to St. Francis in 1989, charmed by the simple church named for the patron saint of animals. At St. Francis she has performed as lay reader; worked with youth groups and serves on the Great Falls Ecumenical Council (GFEC). Beverly established “Lift Every Voice” choir sing in 2004. She is committed to weigh vestry decisions by the St. Francis mission statement: “Will it promote harmony with God’s creation in the spirit of St. Francis?” Beverly began her vestry term in 2011. Photo courtesy of .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Thank you Lord for the generosity of the Great Falls churches that provide for this outstanding event and the reception that follows. Please bless the clergy and lay members who contribute their time and talent to keep us close in Christian unity throughout the year.

19 “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” [Ephesians 5:19-21].

Please see upcoming praise music concert event in Sterling

Voices of Worship - V.O.W
Soul-Winning Praise & Worship
Come & Join Us in Worship

“Praise Without Walls”
A Spirit-Filled Community
Ressurection Celebration

Saturday, April 9th @ 5-7 PM
Community Lutheran Church
(Adjacent to Cascades Library in Sterling)
21014 Whitfield Place
Sterling, VA 20165-7222
Phone 703-430-6006

Felicia Kessel Crawley & the “Voices of Worship” and Luke Frazier & Community Lutheran Church Music Ministry invite you to a community-wide, worship-filled celebration of Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection.

Donation: Help The LINK Ministry feed the hungry in Sterling and Herndon with your canned goods.

For information contact: Felicia Kessel Crawley, V.O.W. Director
(703) 725-5042 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)