39th Annual Popeye Sacred Concert a spirited affair
Those attending the 39th Annual Popeye Sacred Concert at St. Mary's Church Sept. 9 were treated to a spirited concert that featured two vocal soloists, two piano soloists, two church choirs, a combined church choir selection, and the opportunity for the audience to sing along in three congregational hymns.
Vocal soloists for the event included Steve Colonel and Melody Colonel. Linda Roth played a piano solo and Vicky Beers performed a 15-minute piano prelude, accompanied the vocal soloists, accompanied the Methodist Church Choir, the combined church choir, and performed a piano postlude.
The church choirs that performed included the Chester First Baptist Church, directed by Linda Schafer, and the First United Methodist Church Choir, led by Vicky Beers. Both choirs combined for one final number and that group was directed by Linda Schafer.
The event began with a piano prelude performed by Vicky Beers, who played a selection of religious favorites.
FR. Eugene Wojcik of St. Mary's Church opened the formal portion of the event by providing an Invocation. He then welcomed everyone to the concert and praised the efforts of coordinator Gwendy Garner.
The concert started with a Congregational Hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness," after which the First Baptist Church Choir sang, "Are You Washed in the Blood."
The First United Methodist Church Choir followed with their performance of "Coming Home," accompanied by Vicky Beers.
The first vocal solo of the day was "On Holy Ground," performed by Steve Colonel, a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and band and choir director at Chester High School. He also directs the Chester Grade School Choir.
All performers and audience members then took center stage for "To God Be the Glory." Everyone seemed to really enjoy taking part in the concert and the rousing enthusiasm of everyone in attendance was a great testimony to the holiness filling the St. Mary's sanctuary.
Linda Roth then performed a piano solo titled "Holy, Holy, Holy." Roth now lives and teaches piano in St. Louis, but has been a lifelong member, pianist and choir director at the First Presbyterian Church in Chester.
Melody Colonel, daughter of Steve and Sue Colonel of Chester, was the other vocal soloist of the event, singing "On Eagles Wings," accompanied by Vicky Beers.
The Methodist Church Choir then sang their second piece of the day, "I Can Pray," led and accompanied by Vicky Beers.
Soloists in the performance of "I Can Pray" included Kathy Belcher and her daughter, Sarah Hammel. The Methodists dedicated the performance in loving memory of Manley Limbaugh, who sang in the Methodist Church Choir for approximately 75 years prior to his death last year.
The First Baptist Church Choir performed "The Power of the Cross" as led by Linda Schafer. Steve Colonel followed with his second solo of "The Holy City."
The congregation then took part in its final song of the concert as they sang "Jesus Keep Me near the Cross" accompanied by Vicky Beers.
To close the concert, both the First Baptist Church Choir and the First United Methodist Church Choir performed, directed by Linda Schafer and accompanied by Vicky Beers.
FR. Eugene Wojcik gave a Benediction to formally close the event, after which Vicky Beers played a postlude as the audience left the sanctuary.
"Our appreciation goes to all who participated in today's Sacred Concert including the choirs, vocal and instrumental soloists, and directors," Garner said in closing.