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A Dexter church choir will present a special evening of uplifting, heart-warming music in concert next month – music of praise to God and to help a young boy fighting a valiant battle.
The Chancel Choir of the Dexter First United Methodist Church will present “With A Voice of Praise” – an evening of singing and praise. The concert will be held at 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 at the church on South Walnut Street in Dexter.
According to church music director MaryRuth Boone, the evening of music fulfills two purposes the choir hopes to achieve in this special evening of music.
“We learn in the Old Testament that we are to sing praises to God,” Boone said. She said the psalmist wrote in the 47th chapter in the Book of Psalms ‘Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.’ This evening of music is being planned to carry out for that purpose.”
The concert program will include selections from the Chancel Choir of the church. Boone noted that the choir is a unique and talented ensemble – with members young and not-so-young; members who have joined the fellowship in recent months and members who have been a part of the choir for decades.
“This is a wonderful, talented, dedicated group of people who love the Lord, love music, and love our community,” she said. The evening will also include performances by vocal soloists and a rousing piano performance.
Boone said a “love offering” will be collected during the concert to help a young boy with community and church ties.
Young Drew Albritton has been fighting ganglioneuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Drew is the 3-year-old son of Mike and Elizabeth (Carrol) Albritton who live in the Greater St. Louis area, where both are teachers. Drew is a patient at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
Elizabeth is the daughter of Carolyn and Dean Carroll of Dexter and is a Dexter native. The Carrolls are members of the First United Methodist Church, and Elizabeth and her brother Clay grew up in the church, were active members of the church Sunday School and youth programs, were acolytes, and sang in the Chancel Choir as teens. Elizabeth is a graduate of Dexter High School.
Since his diagnosis of cancer this summer, Drew has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy with more in his future, a major surgery, and a stem cell transplant, radiation, immunotherapy, and extensive physical therapy are all a part of the young boy’s future, Boone said.
“The choir members wanted to do something to reach out and help the Albrittons during this time,” Boone said. “This evening of music is an opportunity for the choir – and the community – to show our love and support, and to let them know we love them, and are thinking and praying for them every day.”
The public is invited to the Feb. 24 evening of music, “With A Voice of Praise.” The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and admission is free, but the “love offering” for young Drew will be accepted.
A special reception hosted by the FUMC Agape Circle will follow the concert in Wesley Hall on the church campus.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Cato
