The Morrison Emmanuel Reformed Church’s 80-voice “Voices of Praise” cordially invites the area to celebrate with them as they present EVOP’s 11th annual Spring music celebration, “Say Amen!” The concert will be presented in three performances, Friday and Sunday evenings, April 13 and 15 at 7:00 p.m., and a matinee performance on Saturday afternoon, April 14, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. The church is located at 202 E. Morris Street, the Cherry and Morris Streets intersection.
Moving from an all-gospel format to one that includes a huge variety of music, including a lot of worship music, has been a key in drawing a much younger audience. While the choir still highlights a couple of gospel selections, its move to a more contemporary format is blessing the group with families with children attending, as well as young married couples. This excites the choir, who is so grateful to see this wider attendance. They believe the variety of music will sustain its ministry for many years to come.
For this spring, the stage is filled with 80 singers who will energetically present music from a huge variety of musical genres.
- Contemporary worship songs like “God is on the Move,” “The Lord our God,” “Say Amen,” “Trust in You,” and “What a Savior” remind us of music heard on KLOVE.
- Gospel rockers like “Jesus is Coming Soon,” “The King is Coming”
- Ball Brothers’ “Mercy Tree” and Jim Brady Trio’s arrangement of “The Half That’s Never Been Told” let us revisit the days when gospel artists came to Emmanuel’s sanctuary.
- Included are “Praise Medley,” a medley of Sandi Patty’s biggest hits, and an up-tempo arrangement of “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”
As you listen, there will be times when some of you will want to clap your hands or tap your feet. Others will simply smile, and most of you, at some point, will have tears in your eyes. Our prayer is that no one will leave our sanctuary the same way they came in.
No tickets are needed for this 70-minute concert, but a free-will offering will be received. All ages are welcome, and the church is handicapped accessible. A fellowship hour will follow all performances, hosted by the women of Emmanuel.
A free shuttle bus will be provided one hour prior to, and following, all three performances. This bus will pick up from Ebenezer Reformed Church’s parking lot, just two blocks south of Emmanuel’s campus, dropping riders at the curb in front of Emmanuel.
Members of “Voices of Praise” come from churches within a 50-mile radius and includes 60 members of Emmanuel’s Sanctuary Choir. Illinois churches represented are Bethel Reformed, Sterling; Christian Reformed Church, Morrison; Crossroads Community Church, Morrison; Ebenezer Reformed, Morrison; Emmanuel Reformed, Morrison; First Lutheran Church, Chadwick; Hanover Presbyterian Church, Hanover; Harvest Time Bible Church, Rock Falls; Hope United Methodist Church, Chadwick; Milledgeville Brethren Church, Milledgeville; Open Bible Fellowship, rural Fulton; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Morrison; St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, Morrison; Second Reformed Church, Fulton; Spring Valley Reformed, rural Fulton; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milledgeville. All members have come together unified under one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to share the story of Christ through powerful music.
For more information, please contact the church office at 815-772-3890.