In Remembrance of….

The Pocono Mountain Community Chorus of Churches presented their 34th Annual Holy Week Concert Series in three performances which were held at The United Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, NJ on Sunday March 24th, The Salem-St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kresgeville, PA on Tuesday March 26th, and The Cherry Lane United Methodist Church in Tannersville, PA on Wednesday March 27th. The choir consists of members of churches established in the Monroe County PA and surrounding areas (including New Jersey) varying from Roman Catholicism to Unitarian Universalist. Together, they joined to honor a week in which many of those practicing the Christian religion consider to be of paramount importance to their faith.

The Choir was led by Jack Hamblin and accompanied by Gary Raish on Organ while sharing the Piano alongside Judy Munoz. Bob Riday and Chris Souza also performed alongside the choir on flute and violin. Duets and soloists were also performed throughout the series by Ms. Munoz and Mr. Souza who performed “Folia” by A. Correlli, Michael Yasenchock who performed “Savior, Source of Mercy” by Mrs. Hall Hayes, and Deborah Booth who performed “There is a Balm in Gilead” as arranged by Mark Hayes.

The blend of music and voice made each concert in the series an enjoyable experience especially for those who find solace and a divine grace in the sacred nature of the music performed. However, when one experiences the series in its entirety, one discovers each concert has its own unique nuance to it. The subtly of this experience is difficult to convey but this may be because there is something about it that communicates an awareness that is beyond the normal characteristics of perception. All one can truly say is, “It was nice.” You’ll find more photographs taken during the concert series as well as one of the rehearsals in The Special Events 2013 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151513384020421.546231.636000420&type=1.

To many, the week corresponding with the Hebrew Holiday of Passover contains events in which Joshua son of Joseph (aka Jesus The Messiah or Christ) partook of toward the end of his life c. 33 C. E. (Common Era). These include holidays known as Palm Sunday in which he reportedly rode upon a donkey into the city of Jerusalem located in the Roman province of  Judea, Maundy Thursday in which he held his final meal celebrating the Passover holiday with his disciples, Good Friday upon which he was executed by crucifixion for sedition, and Easter Sunday in which some claim he was reanimated (resurrected) after his death and resumed his role as a leader to his disciples until his “ascension into the Heavens” echoing that of an act believed to had been performed by the Hebrew profit Elijah several centuries earlier.

The Pocono Mountain Community Chorus of Churches hold a series of concerts annually in commemoration of Holy week and the events which took place during it. Members of the community are invited to lend their voices and participate in their 35th annual concert series with rehearsals beginning early in 2014. Membership in the choir is free and open to all singers who enjoy sacred music associated with the Christian faith regardless of their level of musical experience. To learn more about this year’s series, how to participate in next year’s series, or The Pocono Mountain Community Chorus of Churches, Please Contact them at theauctioneer@jackhamblinauctions.com for more information.