What Hath God Wrought! - Samuel F. B. Morse

For those who feel the A.M.E. Church is not right on task and providing guidance and training for our Youth and future development, let me encourage you to look a little closer, look a little further than your own nose, reexamine the whole issue, and think again. In the midst of many negative ideas and bad news allow me to share some good news.

I have just--this First Sunday in Advent--attended a most wonderful rendition of Gian-Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors", excerpts from Handel's "Messiah", and original and traditional Christmas Spirituals. This concert was performed by the Morris Brown College Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Sharon, Willis. The performance was further enhanced The Morris Brown Opera Workshop and The Morris Brown Choreography Department. It was also accompanied by the MBC Chamber Orchestra. Each group was under the direction of a most capable and well-prepared faculty member.

The concert was an Annual Christmas Concert presented by the Morris Brown Club of Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA where Dr. T. Nathaniel Hercules is pastor and was performed before a capacity audience. I might further add it was one, which would have been well received on Broadway, at the Met and even La Scala. It was also one which many might have been considered to be "Traditional", yet it was performed by young people and appealed to both young and old alike. Next weekend this same group will perform a Gospel Nativity on the school campus.

In another string someone asked why we were not training musicians. The answer this is WE ARE. In fact the A.M.E. Church has been about training musicians for well over a century and it is most evident that we are not about to cease doing so.

Advent is about "Preparing the Way". Today, at least for me, God prepared His way by showing me what He still can, will, and is doing in our Zion. God is alive and well in the A.M.E. Church and He still smiles on our work as He did on Richard Allen some 214 years ago. To borrow a line from Patrick Henry, "It matters not what course others may take", I am A.M.E. and proud to be.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Answers

Praise the Lord!

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Praise the Lord! What good news. News we can use during this Advent season as we prepare our hearts and minds for the entrance of Christ into our lives to refresh and renew us to be gainfully employed in our Father's business. Praise God, my hope is rekindled with the news of excellence being displayed by African-Americans. Thanks be to God!

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Like Morris Brown College, Wilberforce University has an excellent music training and an awesome college touring choir. Yes, the musical training in the AME church is going on!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2001

Like Morris Brown College, Wilberforce University has an excellent music training program and an awesome college touring choir. Yes, the musical training in the AME church is going on!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2001

Are there CD's or cassettes available for either of these two institution's choirs? If so, please let me know where or from whom I can purchase. I can also tell you that the electrifying Eleventh Episcopal District is equally proud of the Edward Waters College Choir of Jacksonville, Florida. They are magnificent. My heart overflows with tears of joy whenever I hear them perform. Ahhh! Par excellance! Although we do want to continue to encourage our young people in the arts lets not forget to solidify their love of academia.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2001