|
Voices lift GRACE mass choir’s harmonies to the heavens
Pensacola, FL –Diverse in denomination, race, age and background – those are the words used on GRACEfest’s website to describe the volunteer planning committee of GRACEfest organizers. Their mission is to celebrate the similarities in Christ and bring Christians of all denominations together to worship and celebrate side by side. These words could just as easily be used to describe The GRACE Mass Choir, whose night of worship entitled A Gathering of Grace is this year’s pre-GRACEfest event scheduled for September 10th. A Gathering of Grace accomplishes the GRACEfest vision in one fell swoop.
The GRACE Mass Choir debuted last year at GRACEfest, the musical brainchild of Worship Pastor Sammy Pipkins, choir director at First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill. Inspired by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Pipkins prayed that the GRACE Mass Choir would unite voices from churches in Northwest Florida to form a living, singing testament to the joy God brings into so many lives. Last year, 175 voices from 10 churches of various denominations joined Pipkins and GRACE’s cochoir directors Alicia Waters of Greater Little Rock Baptist Church and Janie Frost of West Pensacola Baptist in singing praises. This multicultural, multidenominational choir reflects the true mission and organization of the GRACEfest Christian Music Festival.
“A Gathering of GRACE” a night of worship with the GRACE Mass Choiris scheduled for Saturday, September 10 at 7pm at Olive Baptist Church. The choir will be led by Worship Pastor Sammy Pipkins (First Baptist Church of Cottage Hill), and co-directors Alicia Waters (Greater Little Rock Baptist Church), and Janie Frost (West Pensacola Baptist). There will be a special CD release, A Gathering of GRACE, featuring the GRACE Mass Choir. No admission will be charged – a love offering will be accepted. Seating is limited.
GRACEfest is scheduled for September 16-17 in Downtown Pensacola. A performance schedule can be found on the event’s website at www.gracefest.org.
Performance times are TBA and subject to change. GRACEfest is a multidenominational Christian music festival organized entirely by volunteers from over 40 Churches and 12 Christian denominations. Any net proceeds from this year’s GRACEfest will benefit Rebuild Northwest Florida, an organization devoted to helping rebuild affordable housing for the thousands in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties that have lost their homes due to Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. For information about corporate sponsorships, hotel accommodations, a complete line-up or how to become involved in the GRACEfest organization, visit www.gracefest.org.
| 
