Funeral of George Beverly Shea to celebrate life and music; Rector Launches CD; Donegall Gospel concert; Concert classics; Nashville report on Gettys’ success
Funeral of George Beverly Shea to celebrate life and music
The life, music and ministry of George Beverly Shea, who passed away at the age of 104 on Tuesday will be celebrated during a funeral service this coming Sunday at Anderson Auditorium, Montreat, North Carolina, the town both he and Billy Graham called home.
Dr David Bruce of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and the Rev. Richard White of Christ Community Church – Montreat, will officiate the service.
The service will be open to the public and doors will open at 1:45 p.m.
Often referred to as “America’s beloved gospel singer”, Shea was actually born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada, on 1 February 1909.
He became a part of the Graham team in the 1940s, first through radio and then as soloist for Billy Graham Crusades.
Over the years, Shea sang hundreds of concerts and recorded more than 70 albums of sacred music. He was the recipient of ten Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award in 1965, and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Grammy organisation in 2011.
In 1978, Shea was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, and in 1996 he was elected to the Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He also wrote the music to “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and other widely sung hymns.
The private burial service will be held at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte on Monday. The event will be closed to the media and the public, though media will be allowed on-site three hours after the end of the service.
A memorial website has been set up in Shea’s honour at www.billygraham.org.
Rector Launches CD
A Church of Ireland Rector will launch his very own album this weekend at The Waterside Theatre in Londonderry. Revd David McBeth is the Church of Ireland rector in Dungiven and Bovevagh. He is also well known as a talented musician and performer.
The CD is entitled The Impossible Mile and is a compilation of gospel music. Asked about the inspiration for the album title Mr McBeth said, “The title is from a song about the ‘impossible mile’ that Jesus journeyed to his death on the cross and is a reminder of the cost of that journey for him”. Talking of the title he also said “The title also reminds me of how our journey in ordinary life can sometimes feel like the ‘impossible mile’, but there is strength from knowing that Jesus knows what it means to make that sort of a journey”.
The Impossible Mile is being launched at concerts on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th April, in the Waterside Theatre in Londonderry. Mr McBeth will be performing songs from the album and will also be joined by a number of other noted local acts. Such is the popularity of the events that Saturday evening is sold out, although some tickets are available for Monday evening.
Money raised from album sales will help towards a Mission trip to Kenya that David and a number of his parishioners will be joining this summer. As part of the trip they will be helping to build a library as well as working in slums around Nairobi. A party of 22 people from Northern Ireland will take part in this Mission Team, with CMS Ireland.
Revd David McBeth was well known as a country gospel singer and musician prior to his ordination. In recent times he has begun to perform again. Talking about his musical roots he said “I began singing and playing with a country gospel band and have been giving more concerts recently. For me it brings the gospel outside the walls of the church”.
The Impossible Mile will be available at The Waterside Theatre concerts this coming Saturday and Monday evening. It will also be on sale from The Faith Mission Bookshop, on Spencer Road, Londonderry. It may also be purchased from Mr McBeth directly. Contact details are available at www.dungivenbovevaghparishes.com
Donegall Gospel concert
Award winning Country Gospel singer James Kilbane will bring his very enjoyable and inspirational country and gospel concert to the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Rossnakill, Fanad, Co. Donegal on Friday 26th April 8pm.
The event is being organised by the local Church of Ireland community to help support parish fundraising and work needed to be carried out. It is also being staged in support of the Year of Faith.
James’s home grown style attracts all ages, people of every walk of life. This March marked the release of James and Veritas
Publications releasing his latest album to mark the Year of Faith titled ‘The Songs of Faith Collection’.
The album has received a huge response since its release and is expected to be one of the most popular Irish releases for 2013. The latest album features new and classic gospel songs that have been popular over the past 200 years of Irish life. In 2012 James was voted ‘Gospel Singer of the Year’ and in Spring 2012 was gave a concert for the inmates of Grafton Prison, Ohio.
In the Holy Redeemer church James will be performing songs from his latest releases as well as manyfavorites country gospel classics.
All are very welcome to come and enjoy James Kilbane in concert and tickets are available from organisers or at Clinton’s shop, Tamney, Letterkenny, direct from the Rev. Hoey or by calling 0749192811. All are very welcome and all support to the event will be appreciated. Concert starts at 8pm and doors open and 7.30pm.
Concert classics
Campbell College presents a programme of fine classical music to gently serenade you towards the summer! We are also delighted to feature music students from Campbell College as soloists with Northern Ireland’s premier Chamber Ensemble for this special occasion.
Programme includes:
Mozart Divertimento in D K136
Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings Op. 48
Elgar Serenade for Strings Op. 20
Dvorak Serenade for Strings Op. 22
Holst St. Paul’s Suite Op. 29 (finale)
Mozart Clarinet concerto (2nd Movement)
Please note that the concert programme may be subject to change
Saturday 11th May 2013
At Campbell College, Belmont Road, Belfast
7.30pm Pre-concert reception with a complimentary glass of wine
8.00pm Concert
Terrific Music-making plus a few surprises!
Orchestra: SINFONIETTA
Leader: Tamas Kocsis
Soloists: David Clarke (Clarinet)
Zak Mercer (Piano)
Sam Jordan (Oboe)
Conductors: David G. Openshaw
David Catherwood
Concert Classics is presented by Campbell College and Music Events Direct
Tickets are priced at £16.00 Adult • £5.00 Students • £14.00 Concession
Box Office: 0800 223 0747
Online: musiceventsdirect.ticketsource.co.uk
In person: Front of House Office,
Campbell College, Belmont Road, Belfast
(Payment is cash or cheque only at the College)
Belfast – Nashville couple specializes in lost art of writing hymns for churches
The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/10UDhnX) reports Keith and Kristyn Getty specialize in writing hymns for choirs at a time when most popular church songs are written for rock bands.
And so far the couple, originally from Belfast, Ireland, have been successful.
According to Christian Copyright Licensing International, a song called “In Christ Alone” that Keith co-wrote has been among the top 20 sung in newer churches over the last five years in the United States.
Meanwhile, the Gettys traveled to Florida recently to lead worship at the Gospel Coalition conference. Now, they are on a sabbatical and trying to write more hymns.
Keith Getty wrote the tune for “In Christ Alone” on the back of an electric bill and told his friend, modern hymn writer Stuart Townend, that he wanted the song to tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and he though each verse should begin with the words “In Christ Alone.”
Townend, who wrote the lyrics, used the phrase to begin two verses and began playing it in churches in England where it was an instant hit.
The song is often sung in churches with younger congregations like the Axis Church in Nashville.
The Rev. Jeremy Rose of Axis said a majority of new songs don’t contain a lot of theology; they focus more on how worshippers feel about God. Older hymns have the theology but not a personal touch.
Rose says “In Christ Alone” has both.
“This hymn takes theology and attaches it to my day-in and day-out life and practice,” he said. “It has such depth and truth put to music.”
He said the hymn is similar to “Amazing Grace” or “Be Thou My Vision,” and people want to sing along.
Mark Hosny, director of the National Praise and Worship Institute at Trevecca University in Nashville, says that seems to be a lost art.
“A lot of today’s melodies are not singable. That’s why they don’t stick,” he said.