Bless the Lord

Voices of praise echo through the sanctuary with an emotional stirring that sends goosebumps to arms like bloodthirsty mosquitoes.

They're singers young and old - loud and soft - tenor and soprano - all joining forces on Sunday for a celebration that could be healing in itself.

And the theme for the annual choir musical says it all.

Choir members have tuned up for "I Will Bless the Lord at All Times" at St. James Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon, proving that struggles can lead to the best times for singing.

 Choir Director Melvin Watkins said the afternoon gospel music explosion will be a mixture of sedate, traditional sounds and modern, contemporary music.

"It will be conglomeration - we do songs from 2008 all the way back to ‘Oh Happy Day,' " he said. "We really wanted to make it special this year and try to get more of the community involved."

Past the performance, Watkins said attendees are encouraged to praise God despite the discouragements that they face in everyday life.

"Several of the church members have had several things going on - things in life like sickness and death," he said. "We have to continue to sing and praise God at all times."

Alto Claire McQueen said she's excited about this year's choir musical, especially since she's spent most of her life at St. James. Her father, the Rev. W.R. Ockletree, is a former pastor of the church.

"It's really exciting - we get together and other churches come," she said. "We have refreshments after the services too."

Four or five guest choirs from surrounding churches will join the St. James sanctuary choir ministry for the special, uplifting day.
Claudette Jones, principal of the Teen Parent Center and tenor in the St. James choir, said she's been singing since she was a "little-bitty girl," but the spiritual songs mean more to her now that she's lived a while.

"Now we can really have testimony to sing about," she said. "We're human and we live in that human body that gets tired and sick, but I say, ‘It could always be worse.'"

Having experienced some trials herself, Jones said her relationship with the Lord has grown stronger with her voice, and she finds a special connection with the lyrics of "I Never Would Have Made It" - stressing a personal dependence on Jesus.

Her voice reverberates the feelings of worth and thankfulness that she has in her heart - along with the harmonies of her singing comrades.

"We have a good time and we laugh - it's really uplifting to be with people who are of the same accord, singing together for the same celebration," Jones said.