Campmeeting Memories in Palm Springs

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The chilly day was Saturday, February 7, 2009, and His Voice concert day was half-way through. The Sabbath morning worship concert in Banning was finished and the men of His Voice had enjoyed a delightful fellowship meal at the Adventist church before traveling east thirty miles on Interstate 10 toward warmer Coachella Valley.
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Winter Campmeeting was next on the agenda and the men of His Voice were eager to meet friends they had made on previous visits to the Palm Springs Adventist Church.
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The afternoon concert in Palm Springs began as His Voice Men's Chorus quietly proceeded down the church aisle, stopping short of the platform, hushing the large campmeeting congregation.
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His Voice Director Michael Naluai stepped forward and began leading the men a Capella, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee . . . "
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The men's voices carried the words softly, building a crescendo as Heaven's music filled every corner of the large Adventist church sanctuary. For those present, the moment was electrifying as the strong sounds of men's voices blended together in harmony and bounced off the stellar walls of the sanctuary.
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After singing the prayer hymn a Capella in the grand worship room His Voice continued up the platform steps as pianists Sonia Dias and Joyce Leal with organist Karen Knight accompanied the men as they sang a song the men's chorus first sang at the Portland Adventist Men's Chorus the previous November, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation, hast thou not heard what the Almighty hast done ...."
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The hour-long concert continued with old-time campmeeting hymns and southern gospel songs wedged in between testimonies from the men of His Voice. This was His Voice Men's Chorus third visit to the Palm Springs church on South Sunrise Way and they were glad to be serenading 'snow birds' from all over the U.S. and Canada. In summer the congregation dwindles down to around sixty congregants but in winter the 400+ sanctuary was filled with visitors to Palm Springs Winter Campmeeting listening to guest speaker Dr. Gordon Bietz, president of Southern Adventist University.
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The His Voice CD, "Written in Red," was offered after the concert to the departing campmeeting guests and many were happy to contribute and receive "a gift for a gift."
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It's was evening time by the time the concert ended and His Voice stepped out in the parking lot. The moon shown high in the sky over the sprawling valley community, reflecting the sweet fellowship of Christian believers. The men and families of His Voice had received more than they gave, for there were many blessings embraced during the concert day ... from witnessing joy on the faces of those listening, embracing the sounds of melodious music breaking down the stress of the week, meeting new and old friends, and last but not least, tasting the delicious Italian dinner so graciously offered to His Voice by the ladies of the Palm Springs Adventist Church.
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