Daughters of Grace concert scheduled
CARMICHAELS – This DOG can sing! Make that Daughters of Grace, if you please.
Add miles of country road and a practice tape, and you have the story that Mary Jane Kent of Wind Ridge loves to tell about being part of a music ministry, and where she gets to practice.
“Because I spend so much time in the car, I sing along with the practice CD while traveling to and from work every morning and afternoon. I’ve sung my way past every tree and across every bridge between Wind Ridge and Carmichaels!”
Kent will be returning to Carmichaels Friday night to do what she loves best – sing songs of inspiration and humor with 50 other Daughters of Grace, led by Jonella Williamson. They will be performing at Greene Valley Presbyterian Church starting at 7 p.m. It’s their Spring Concert, and yes, it’s for a good cause.
“We share our love of music, our love of God and our desire to reach out to our communities,” Kent said. “There’s just no better way to spend a Friday evening than to celebrate friendship with music, fellowship and refreshments while supporting the young people of our communities. We furnish after-concert refreshments, and there is no charge for admission. We just ask for an offering.”
This year, Greene County Young Life will receive the proceeds from Friday’s concert.
Heather Grice Nelson, a former Spanish teacher at West Greene, started Young Life for Greene County seven years ago. It brings teens together to be part of a ministry that started in the 1950s to practice what is preached – to love unconditionally.
“There are a lot of messages that kids hear these days … not all of the good. Young Life seeks to be a message sharer, telling kids they are made for a purpose by the Creator of the universe, and they are special and cherished because he loves them dearly,” Young Life supporter Marybeth Coote of Holbrook said.
On Thursdays, these kids, along with some Waynesburg University students, might meet at the Coote home to eat dinner together and talk. But now it’s track season and they are busy with after-school activities. University students who have become part of the circle of friendship that Young Life nurtures are there with them, being both friends and role models.
Coote and other adults are Young Life committee members, offering moral and administrative support, including fundraising. Williamson and her husband, Ben, were already individual supporters of Young Life.
“When Jonella was asked if the DOGs would share one of their concert offerings with Young Life, she was delighted to say yes,” Coote said. “This year, our kids will be going to Lake Champion Young Life camp in New York. The next event for Greene County Young Life is a picnic at Rogersville Park May 8. In years past, we have played some crazy games, including Jello Twister. The events are open to all Greene County teenagers.”
Friday’s concert, “Friends for Life,” celebrates the many facets of friendship and features music ranging from the themes of the popular “Golden Girls” and “Friends” TV sitcoms to the hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”