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"Promoting Southern Gospel Music & Christian Unity"

     The Lexington Southern Gospels Concert Series started with a trial concert on Palm Sunday in April 2000 at the Lexington Masonic Temple.  The group "The Sammons Brothers" were scheduled to perform that evening.  Their tenor, Jamie Pittman, was ill and Tom and Jack Sammons "drafted" their wives in that emergency.  Out of this situation, "Sammons Brothers and Company" was formed.  A total of 35 persons enjoyed that Concert and all agreed that they would like the series to continue.  

     We started the Concert Series on September 10th, 2000, at the Masonic Temple  with the all-male quartet "New Destiny".  Lexington Police Officer Pat Dawson attended our October 2000 Concert and she was so impressed with the program that she volunteered to assist in getting it going.    Pat also got Pastor Linda Jo Powers of the Lexington United Methodist Church interested and at the November Concert, Pastor Linda Jo on that date offered the Methodist Church to the group for further Concerts.  The Concert Series was not moved until May of 2001 to the United Methodist Church.  That first concert drew 26 people.  The following month, June, saw the Concert Series change direction.  "Hope's Call", a new female trio at that time, came for a concert and we had our newest record of 75 in attendance.  July came and we had 90 come to see "The Grimshaw's".  Larger crowds started coming to these concerts.

    April 2002 was our next milestone when 150 came to see "Hope's Call" return to Lexington.  July 1, 2002 came and Pastor Linda Jo Powers, who was then our Co-Chairperson, was transferred to Beaverton and Pastor Betty Blair assumed the duties at Lexington UMC.  She, too, has been a beacon of light for the Concert Committee.  From April through September the series attracted an average attendance of 103 persons.  October 2002 saw us hit our peak when 199 patrons filled the Sanctuary of the Lexington United Methodist Church to see "The Calvarymen Quartet."  October, 2003 brought new records again when the "Calvarymen Quartet" sang to a record crowd of 233.  

    A highlight came when on April 11th 2003 when we hosted a National Group.  Two weeks prior to that date we received an offer to have "The Weatherford's" in Concert on that date.  The  Weatherford's have appeared on many of the Gaither Homecoming Video's.  After much scrambling, with our committee working as a team,  we were able to pull this one off.  The Weatherford's were very pleased with the turnout (120)and Love Offering and mentioned maybe they could come back in 2004.  And come back they did on September 5, 2004.  They are beautiful people singing beautiful Christian music.

      Our goal is to feature the finest in Southern Gospel Music and to Promote Christian Unity throughout the Thumb.  We  had people representing at least 69 different Church's attend our Concert Series during 2002.  We have had persons from at least 182 different Church's attend our Concert Series since we started keeping track in 2002.  We recently had the Pastor from Prairie Du Chren, Wisconsin visit us.  Even more recently we had a gentleman from Ashland, NE in attendance.

    All concerts are held at the Lexington United Methodist Church which is located at 5597 S. Main St., In beautiful downtown Lexington, MI. just two blocks south of the light.  We thank the members of the Lexington United Methodist Church for allowing us to host these concerts for well over seven years now.

LAST:    Concert #101 with "Jerry Garcia and Courtney Lynn"  is history.     Dispite the terrible weather, we had an average attendance for November.  Jerry opened the concert with about 50 minutes of singing and then Courtney followed with about the same amount of time.  They ended up doing a duet on a medley of songs that Courtney generally ends up with.  Concert lasted in all about 2 and 1/4 hours.  Longest we've had yet.  All agreed it was a great concert.

COMING UP:      Concert #102 will feature a new group,  "Rejoice."   This All-Female Sextet comes to us from Ross Bible Church in Port Huron Township.  These girls sing with awesome Harmony.  Barb and I attended a concert in Sparlingville a little over a year ago.  We presented the group to our committee and they agreed we should have them.  They have promised us some Southern Gospel and lots of Christmas Music.  We are excited about them coming to Lexington.

More on our upcoming concerts on our schedule page.

PRAYER CONCERNS:  

Please keep "Joyce Rowley" in your prayers as she continues to recover from some major health problems.  Joyce makes many trips from St. Clair Shores each year to visit Lexington's Concert Series. 

Please keep "Carolyn Smith," a former committee person and Barb's sister , in your prayers as she continues to recover from major problems in her legs. (knees) 

All members of the Armed Forces serving around the world as they continue to keep our country free.

Important News:  Shem Koutz of Lansing has accepted the Lead Singer position for the "Royalheirs."  Shem was scheduled to open our October Concert and has informed us that he will not be able to do that now.  Filling the shoes of Duane Grimes will be an awesome job and we wish him the  best.

© 2007 The Lexington Southern Gospel News