By: Kaitlyn Myra
On January 27, the Gospel Choir put on a wonderful, joy-filled chapel that left a lasting impact on those who attended. The powerful spirit of praise and worship rang throughout the service, sparking awe and anticipation for their next performance. The chapel consisted of many gospel songs, including Total Praise by Richard Smallwood and His Eye is on the Sparrow by Lauryn Hill. Professor Robin Bell also brought an energizing word, encouraging us to come before the Lord and give thanks.
The Gospel Choir was recently formed by a group of people seeking an avenue to worship the Lord authentically and genuinely. Rooted in the Gospel tradition, with fun, exuberant songs, the words are simple and relatable for anyone to sing. The Gospel Choir was created by Thalin Johnson with the help of Abbie Donaldon and Isaac Wilson. Others gathered around them to support this vision and bring it to life. The community is the beautiful part of this endeavor. It is built from a diverse group of people, from different ages and walks of Christianity, united in their faith and passion for worship, lifting up their voices as one and inviting others to join in giving glory to the Lord.
Thalin Johnson emphasizes the importance of gospel music, stating, “Gospel music is important to our community because it’s real and honest worship. It isn’t fake. It isn’t showy. It is not about performance. It brings people together, who are different, to glorify God in one sound. Gospel music is important because it teaches us to worship and praise God, even in the midst of our deepest trials.”
The main purpose of the Gospel Choir is to glorify God by fostering a community of authentic worship by celebrating and singing music from the gospel tradition.
Gospel music is real and honest. It is not about performance, but coming before God to glorify Him as a community.
The Gospel Choir has performed twice so far and has two more planned for the future: a chapel performance at the end of April and a concert the week before finals in May! If you are interested in joining or have any questions, they would love to have more members! Contact Thalin Johnson via email at tcjohnson@students.unwsp.edu for any inquiries regarding the Gospel Choir.
Photos by: Matthew Sherrard
