“I know the country would love to get to know National United Methodist Church as much as I have.”
–Luke Frazer, America Pops Orchestra Founder and Music Director
National United Methodist Church was elated when the PBS special “How Great Thou Art: A Sacred Celebration,” was filmed at Metropolitan Memorial campus last May. The feeling was mutual with Luke Frazer, the show’s Director who lives nearby. He jogged by the sanctuary and noticed the LGBTQ unity signs out front. Then he got online, read our vision of Making the Love of God Obvious, saw our support for Washington Interfaith Network and knew he had to see the inside of the sanctuary.
It was perfect for a sacred show he’d been dreaming about producing to include luminaries like Gladys Knight (who was not ultimately available), Kristen Chenowith, Sandy Patty, and Patti LaBelle (who were). The dazzling show was sold out, with a portion of proceeds designated for the important work of Washington Interfaith Network. None who attended the evening will soon forget the duet between Emmy and Tony Award winning Kristen Chenowith and Grammy winning Sandy Patty singing “Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee—How great Thou art! How great Thou art!”
“Since a very early age, some of the music that has inspired me the most is from being raised in the church,” says LaBelle. “That music created a foundation for my love of singing. And I have never lost that love and passion for this music.” The Godmother of Soul brought the house down with “When You’ve Been Blessed (Feels Like Heaven)”:
The country did get to know National United Methodist Church through this sacred celebration because we are a people of faith and hope.
Our sanctuaries on Nebraska and Connecticut Ave are gardens of music and love, and it feels like heaven! It is our pleasure sharing the open and expansive love of God in our local neighborhoods and now especially with the nation through this PBS concert as well as our ongoing, engaging online worship services and podcast.
So we are taking this opportunity to invite friends to undergird this work by helping us to keep the music playing here! We’ve been inspired by the concert to attract musicians to inspire and teach us, supplying them with all the resources they need for powerful and memorable services on all campuses, including our digital campus. Worship equips us with passion and purpose to meet the needs of our communities. Whether we join with larger groups like Washington Interfaith Network organizing for affordable housing or we cook free community meals each Sunday at Wesley Campus, love GROWS here! HOPE grows here!
I have faith
I have hope
And I trust in the day
When the music
From Heaven
Will show us the way
It's a garden of music
It's a garden of love
And we all are His children
Sharing gifts from above
When you've been blessed
Feels like Heaven
Heaven
Caption: Metropolitan Nursery School Executive Director Kristen Maxson brings a young student into the sanctuary while “How Great Thou Art” rehearses for the show. National UMC hosts two vibrant schools on our two campuses.
The Patti LaBelle anthem “When You’ve Been Blessed” concludes this way, with Patti’s voice soaring to stratospheric octaves here at the climax,
When you've been blessed
Pass it on
Pass it on
Why don't you?
Why don't you?
Pass it on
And on
Please enjoy “How Great Thou Art: A Sacred Celebration” online and then GIVE to National United Methodist Church.
When Chenowith proclaims, “Then sings my soul,” we all can sing with her because God has been faithful to us too! “My God, how great Thou art!”
Thank you for singing with us!
Pastor Doug