via Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis
by Mccgsl Church on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 12:50pm
Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Saint Louis is excited to announce the results of the How Sweet the Sound: A Verizon Experience regional choir competition held at the Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday, September 26, 2011. The Best Large Choir prize was awarded to Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Saint Louis (MCCGSL) for their 53 member choir performance of “Psalm 68, Let Our God Arise” by Kurt Carr. Jerry Smith, MCCGSL Director of Music, accepted the $10,000 award from Host Donald Lawrence in front of a packed house at the Scottrade Center.
Additionally, the MCCGSL choir was selected as Regional Competition, Best Overall Choir. As winners of this award, the MCCGSL choir received all expense paid travel to Los Angeles, California, to perform in the Verizon Best National Choir Competition on Friday, October 28, 2011, at the Staples Center. Each choir member received a medal with the inscription “Regional Competition, Best Overall Choir”; a Droid mobile phone, and a $50 gift certificate for activation.
The Judges for the How Sweet The Sound Regional Competition in St. Louis were Marvin Sapp, Shirley Caesar, and Dorinda Clark-Cole. In commenting on the MCCGSL choir performance, Pastor Marvin Sapp said, “Let me start by saying this is what heaven is supposed to look like! It’s supposed to look like a multiplicity of cultures, colors, creeds all coming together for the sole purpose of magnifying and glorifying the God of our fathers.” Judge Shirley Caesar shared, “They did not miss a beat.” Dorinda Clark-Cole reported, “This is what heaven really does look like. You all did a wonderful performance."Jerry Smith told the choir before the stage, “Sing to God and do not worry about anything else. We are here to worship and to give God our best.” Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell stated, “I am so proud of our church choir! Their vocal performance was amazing – truly the best of their three years in Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound competition. Yet, I am even more proud of their genuine, praise-filled spirits which demonstrated without a doubt that God’s love is for ALL people.”
MCC of Greater Saint Louis was founded in 1973 as an outreach to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. Today, it has a membership of 413 and owns its own facility for worship and ministry at 1919 S. Broadway, in the Soulard neighborhood. Its mission is to accept, embody, and declare God’s love for all. MCCGSL lives out this mission by providing direct ministries of worship, education, pastoral care, and outreach to those seeking a progressive and inclusive faith community. MCCGSL also collaborates with other community nonprofits such as One St. Louis, Peter & Paul Community Services, Winter Outreach, St. Louis Pridefest, Black Pride, MetroEast Pride, St. Louis Effort for AIDS, Metropolitan Congregations United, Doorways, Food Outreach, Growing American Youth, and Show Me No Hate.
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