Sing with the Spirit:
Songs of Comfort and Hope
About the Service
Tuesday, June 27 – 10:30 am
This service weaves the singing of Spirituals by soloists and congregation and scripture, a first-person narratives from books written by those formerly enslaved, interviews conducted with them in the 1930s, and commentary. As Frederick Douglass said: “Slaves were expected to sing as well as to work. A silent slave was not liked either by masters, of by overseers. ‘Make a noise there! Make a noise there!’ and ‘Bear a hand’, were words usually addressed to slaves when they were silent. This…. may account for the almost constant singing among them.”
Whether singing at work, during worship, or in a rare time of recreation, this powerful music not only shines a light on the events of the past, but also offers hope in circumstances encountered in the present day.
-Eileen Guenther
Michael Boney’s appearance sponsored by the Colorado Springs Chapter AGO.
About the Performers
Michael Boney is an established organist and choral conductor who has been featured in numerous performing arts series in the United States and the United Kingdom including Truro, Wells, Portsmouth, and Canterbury Cathedrals (United Kingdom); the Cathedral of St. Philip (Atlanta, GA), First Presbyterian Church (Wilmington, NC), St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Greenville, NC), and St. Michael’s Cathedral (Boise, ID).Michael earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological seminary and his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from East Carolina University. He studied organ with world-renowned organist Dr. Janette Fishell and choral conducting with Dr. Rhonda Fleming and Dr. Daniel Bara.Prior to his appointment at Saint John’s Cathedral, Michael served as Director of Music and Organist at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Boise, and Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis where he led vibrant music ministries for children, adults, and professional staff singers. Michael also serves on the Standing Commission for Liturgy and Music for the Episcopal Church. At Saint John’s, Michael conducts the Cathedral Choir, Vicars Choral, Cathedral Choristers, serves as organist, and participates in the musical life of the Diocese of Colorado.
A church musician, teacher, scholar, and conductor, Dr. Eileen Guenther is Professor of Church Music at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she teaches music and worship courses and serves as Director of Chapel Music. Eileen presents workshops on Spirituals, clergy-musician relations, and music and social justice for church, musical, and denominational organizations nationwide. She has given recitals internationally, and served from 2008-2014 as national president of the American Guild of Organists.
About the Venue
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
1301 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Foley-Baker Organ IV/76 (2019) (after Möller Op. 9580)
Click here to download the stoplist.
