Conference News & Views

Church Music Gala at the /Schermerhorn

The 130+ voice Chancel Choir of Brentwood United Methodist Church together with special guest artist Wintley Phipps will appear in concert at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Sunday evening, April 27, at 7:00 p.m. They will be accompanied by the “Orchestra of Brentwood,” which is comprised of members of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra as well as free-lance players and session players. Also lending their voices in song will be the 60 members of Brentwood UMC’s Treble Chorus (ages 4th grade through 9th grade).

Among pieces to be performed by the choir are: “Love Divine, All Loves, Excelling,” “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” “To God Be the Glory,” “How Firm A Foundation,” “Hallelujah,” and “Rejoice the Lord Is King.” Wintley Phipps will sing many of the church’s best loved hymns including: “Amazing Grace,” “It Is Well,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” “How Great Thou Art” and others. There will be individual numbers by the orchestra as well and the new organ at the Schermerhorn will also be featured in Camille Saint-Saens’ Symphny No. 3 in C-minor (allegro moderator).

Wintley Phipps


Wintley Phipps, who was born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in Montreal, Canada, is a world-renowned vocal artist, pastor, motivational speaker, and education activist. He is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc. The Dream Academy is a non-profit organization that features a customized on-line curriculum to increase reading, math, English comprehension and proficiency; an enhanced capacity to navigate the Internet; and weekly one-to-one mentoring that focuses on values enrichment and character building, for children of prisoners and those falling behind in school. A humanitarian and visionary, Mr. Phipps inspires others to excellence and the realization of their life goals.

Mr. Phipps has been the featured speaker and performer for many notable occasions around the world. On January 2, 2007, by special request of Ms. Oprah Winfrey, Mr. Phipps delivered the inspirational address and prayer for the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. He has sung for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush at the annual National Presidential Prayer Breakfast events and other distinguished celebrations. Wintley was selected by Oprah Winfrey to offer musical interpretations for her week-long coverage of the “9/11” tragedy and was asked to pen a special prayer for her to deliver in tribute to the lives lost.

Mr. Phipps has performed on Saturday Night Live as well as Sunday Live and has been the special guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and CBS Nightwatch. Mr. Phipps was nominated for Grammy Awards in 1988 and 1989. He is the author of The Power of A Dream (1996), founder of Songs of Freedom Publishing Company and Coral Records Recording Company. His recording of hymns is the ONLY recording ever endorsed by Billy Graham.

All seats for the performance are reserved and the cost is $20.00 per seat. The tickets can be purchased by calling the music office at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 615-324-7227. If you have not experienced the amazing acoustics at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this concert would be a good time to do so, and, truly, there is not a bad seat in the house.

If your church has used this resource to develop a plan to bring new growth and vitality to your church, Aldersgate Renewal Ministries [ARM] wants you to know that we have team-led, local church renewal events that can help address some of the “10 Decisions” that the Scotts mention in their book. You can read more about all of our team-led, local church renewal events on our website http://www.aldersgaterenewal.org/ under Renewal Events.

Decision #9 Recognizing the Reality of the United Methodist Church
In this chapter the Scotts write that personal evangelism is a keen concern that must be recovered from our Methodist History for the church to flourish. ARM’s Lay Witness Mission and Venture in Discipleship both model lay people sharing their faith with others.

Decision #6 Readdressing Systemic Issues and Decision #5 Reconsidering Clergy Issues In both of these chapters the Scotts write that clergy must become leaders among equals with laity and develop partnership ministry with laity. ARM’s Venture in Discipleship weekend seeks to encourage and empower the laity of a local church to deepen their commitment to discipleship and service. As part of the weekend they turn in a sheet indicating where they sense God calling them to serve in the local church, the community, and/or the world.

Decision #4 Restoring the Purposes of the Local Church In this chapter the Scotts highlight the importance of Wesley’s class meetings in the growth of Methodism in the past. ARM’s Lay Witness Mission is an excellent way to begin or strengthen a small group ministry. ARM will also soon have available a DVD on small group leader training.

Decision #3 Redefining the Laity The Scott’s write about the importance of the laity in the growth of Methodism in the past and the need for the laity to again carry the main responsibility for ministry in the local church. ARM’s Lay Witness Mission is a weekend where a visiting team of lay people come and share with the church how Jesus has touched and changed their lives. Participants in these missions usually testify to an intensified relationship with Christ and a desire to be part of small groups and prayer ministry. It’s effectiveness has been demonstrated over 45 years.
ARM’s Venture in Discipleship weekend where a visiting team seeks to encourage and empower the laity of a local church to deepen their commitment to discipleship and service. As part of the weekend they complete a sheet indicating where they sense God calling them to serve in the local church, the community, and/or the world.
ARM’s Lord Teach Us to Pray weekend targets improving the lay person’s prayer life.
ARM’s Pathways to a Praying Church targets improving the church’s corporate prayer life with increased lay involvement.

Decision # 2 Returning to a Belief and Practice of Sanctification and Decision #1 Rebirth by the Holy Spirit in both of these chapters the Scotts talk about the need for a renewed emphasis on the Holy Spirit. They encourage local churches to hold seminars on the Holy Spirit. ARM’s Life in the Spirit Seminar will deepen participants’ knowledge of and relationship with the Holy Spirit. They will learn to live their lives in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. ARM has provided these seminars for local churches for 20 years.

If any of these events seem like they would help your church address the “Decisions” in Restoring Methodism at your church we encourage you to contact our Director of Church Relations, Dr. Frank H. Billman, by phone: toll-free 1-877-857-9372 or by email: fbillman@AldersgateRenewal.org