SEQUIM — “Deep River,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord”: They’re a few of the ways these men sing their joy.
And when the 15 voices get together, they’re an engine, a force reckoning with the powers of song and faith.
The Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers plan on using those powers this Saturday to raise some money in their last concert of the season.
The singers, along with director Michael Rivers and accompanist Penny Hall, will offer their annual benefit concert at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 N. Blake Ave.
In keeping with the choir’s recent spring concerts, the event will be a festive one, with a performance by the Little Brass Band, renditions of “You Raise Me Up,” “Dry Bones,” and “Loving God, Loving Each Other,” with a couple of sing-alongs to send people out on a high note.
Admission is by donation, and unlike previous years, the gospel singers are generating support for not one but four charities: The Captain Joseph House Foundation, Olympic Community Action Programs, aka OlyCAP; the Hill House shelter for women and Healthy Families of Clallam County.
The Little Brass Band is a new thing, a subset of the Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers adding trombones, saxophones and a bass guitar to the mix.
Rivers found out that singers Barclay Jennings, Gordon Shipps, Bill Laney, Michael Craig and Mike Perry played these instruments, and urged them to stretch a bit and form the band.
“Expect to be thoroughly entertained,” said Craig. He’s long been a baritone in the choir and is now player of the alto saxophone.
The Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers will soon go on summer break, to reunite in September to begin the 2014-2015 season of concerts.
To find out more about the singers and their CDs, “Just a Closer Walk,” “Grace,” “O Holy Night” and “Steal Away,” visit PMGospelSingers.com.
