Unity in song

Choir rehearsals have been an important, albeit tricky-to-organize, element of the new Community Worship Choir, comprising multiple areas churches. The choir will sing March 20.

At a Night of Worship March 20, Russellville area churches will unite in song for an evening of praise.

Last fall the music ministers of three local churches – Scott Underwood of Calvary Baptist Church, Jamie Kiel of Tharptown Baptist and Bert Fowler of Russellville First Baptist Church – got together to discuss the idea of uniting the community with a combined choir from area churches to present a special service. They decided that Easter would be the ideal time for such an event.

Fowler said they began planning the music and getting the word out to area churches. “The logistics of distributing music and rehearsing such a group proved to be a daunting task, but somehow God has pulled it all together,” Fowler said. “Some of the choirs have practiced on their own while others have attended two joint rehearsals.”

It’s been a challenge, Fowler said, to iron out the details. “It’s been a learning process and has been complicated by the ongoing responsibilities and programs of their own churches,” he said.

But through that learning process has come event the Community Worship Choir hopes will be beneficial to all.

The Night of Worship will be held March 20 at 6 p.m. at the Russellville City Schools Auditorium. Admission is free. A ten-member live orchestra will accompany the choir of about a hundred singers.

Songs include the traditional hymns “Blessed Assurance” and “How Great Thou Art;” the classic anthems “This Blood” and “Arise My Love;” and the contemporary worship songs “The Lamb Has Overcome” and “Victor’s Crown.”

“The hope is that this will not be a one-time event but that the group will grow and sing for other occasions during the year,” Fowler said.