On Sunday, the Harrison Delta Community Singers will grace Wesley United Methodist Church with a Christmas performance for the first time since 2019.
The theme of the 3 p.m. concert is “a musical celebration for Jesus Christ, who was born to save the world.” It will include traditional Christmas carols such as “O Holy Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
The finale will be Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus, a favorite of Albert Harrison, who has directed the singers for more than 20 years.
Ophelia Nathan, the media contact for the singers, said the community keeps coming back to this event because Wesley United Methodist Church is a “lighthouse for the community.”
“It’s just the celebration in song and praise to remind everybody of the reason for the season, our lord and savior Jesus Christ,” she said.
Her role has been mostly to coordinate with Harrison to help the production run smoothly. He chooses the songs and arrangement, and she’s there to provide “whatever he needs,” she said.
For Nathan personally, the appeal of the Christmas concert is the joy and community it brings to others. The concert attracts people from various denominations and from different walks of life, including teachers, administrators and firefighters.
“It’s all volunteer. Different denominations volunteer their voices to bring this event to life,” Nathan said.
“It draws students that Mr. Harrison has enabled with scholarships to go to college. ... There will be a couple of people driving from Texas just because they want to honor him for his help and continued support in trying to get music to the community,” she said.
The program this year is dedicated to the late Hattie B. Lucas, who Nathan said was instrumental in years past in ensuring the church was ready and available for choir practice.
Admission to the concert is free.
- Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
