New CD Unveiled in Escondido

Saturday, May 14, 2011, His Voice journeyed into San Diego County for a morning worship concert at the Escondido Adventist Church with two big surprises in hand.

His Voice shared their new CD, "Almighty God" for the first time and Joyce Leal accompanied the men's chorus on the piano, replacing His Voice pianist Jerry Albritton, for the day.

TILL THE SWEET BY AND BY ...

(Double click on pictures to enlarge them).

.
It was the day that wasn't on the calendar, a down-day, the day most of His Voice would have been quietly attending their own churches, wearing ordinary church clothes, sharing cups of cold water between thoughts of the impending summer's heat. But May 31, 2008, wasn't any ordinary day for the Men of His Voice. Those who could, came from the far corners of Riverside and San Diego Counties and donned their singing garb. (We missed you, Bruce, Bob F, Leonard, Nelson, Oscar, Rudy, and Russ!) The men sang and prayed as the brothers they truly are, honoring long-time His Voice Baritone, Ron Harrison at the Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sun City. The pictures above show a silhouette of gratefulness to the Brother of us all, Jesus Christ.

.
The rich sounds of Christian men singing together circled the colorful stain-glass-windowed sanctuary as His Voice sang "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Does Jesus Care" to begin the worship service. Following Pastor Vadim's gripping personal testimony of his own baptism in Russia, the young pastor called up the men and families of His Voice to come bless the departing Mr. Harrison with a live circle of prayer shown above. During the day, three pianists accompanied the men, two being our own Sonja Diaz during the hour of worship and Joyce Leal for the evening vespers concert. His Voice Tenor Rodney Knight's wife, Karen Knight, who is also our concert scheduler, stepped in as a "minute woman" to accompany the chorus at Sun City Gardens senior center two miles down the street from the Valley Church on Bradley.

.

Toward the end of the senior center concert, pianist Joyce arrived and relieved Karen Knight on the piano. Later, Joyce shared with us the miracle of avoiding a terrible accident by mere inches on I-15 below Corona as she and His Voice Tenor Bill Leal were driving down to join His Voice for the afternoon and evening concerts. All of us breathed a grateful prayer for God's protection of such a wonderful friend and vital part of this ministry.

.

As the sun began to lower on the horizon, a quiet little Sabbath grew into a collage of blessings as the men gathered to begin the evening vespers concert at the Valley Church. Special features for the evening included inspirational solos by Michael Hunt and Karen Knight. (Notice Karen wearing one of the His Voice Hawaiian shirts above.) We'd love future concerts to include Karen sometimes at piano and/or singing as a featured soloist with His Voice.

.

Of course, the whole day's concerts had been planned for Tennessee-bound Ron Harrison in mind and at the end of the concert, Ron was given an official His Voice Circle of Prayer picture signed by many of Ron's His Voice family. As a last request, Ron asked Director Mike if His Voice could sing one more song, his favorite, and the Spirit of God flowed through the sanctuary as the whole congregation sang the festive Southern Gospel song, "Hallelujah By and By."

.

The evening ended with Director Mike Naluai's wife Debbie and other ladies of the Valley Adventist Church (http://www.valleysda.com/) hosting a delightful evening supper for those who stayed by. Gifts for a new Valley Church baby lined the wall as the family of His Voice said their goodbyes to their brother in Christ.

.

At the beginning of this week this reporter felt tired thinking about the idea of a full concert day two weeks before the June concert in Laguna Niguel, but by the end of the day it was evident that everyone felt blessed, strengthened, and anxious for the next opportunity to be instruments of God's Grace through His Voice.

.

May God bless Ron and all others who come and go in the His Voice family, you will always be in our circle of prayer!

.

Nancy (the Notetaker) Troyer

HIS VOICE on YOUTUBE

I was doing a little search on the Internet and found our men's chorus and the Men's Festival of Music mass men's choir (see May 6 blog) on You Tube. Check out the half dozen video recordings on the infamous network > http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=His+Voice+men%27s+Chorus&search_type= Special thanks to the person who recorded and posted these songs. The choir was covered up a bit by the concert grand piano hiding most of the men behind it's beautiful ebony exterior but as our name indicates, it is His Voice.

COMMENTS ON INFO ON YOUTUBE . . .

1. You say, that doesn't sound like "Does Jesus Care" ... well, it wasn't, instead the song was "Glory."

2. Joyce Leal, was at the piano during the Festival of Music. We are blessed to have both Sonja Diaz and Joyce Leal as our His Voice pianists.

3. Anesio Diaz sung the solo on our signature song, "Written in Red." We refer to Anesio as our Brazilian Irish tenor -- didn't he sound wonderful?

4. It is true that the choir's beginnings is in the Azure Hills and Fallbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church choirs united by Director Mike Naluai. However, the choir now includes men from all over Southern California from south of Escondido to the east in Banning and the north in Highlands and practices at the Valley Adventist Church in Sun City. His Voice is definitely grateful to the Azure Hills and Fallbrook churches for all the ways they have encouraged this ministry!

UNWRAPPED SERENITY

It’s Thursday night and the men of His Voice are at the Valley Adventist Church in Sun City singing beautiful songs together. Sonja Dias is at the piano as Mike Naluai directs and encourages the men. The mellow sounds of old gospel favorites float through church sanctuary, "Does Jesus Care ... I'm Satisfied ... No More Night ... Praise the Lord, the Almighty ...." I wish you were here soaking in these sounds of praise! The sanctuary is beautiful and in a state of anticipation as the stage props build each week for the Easter cantata, just two weeks away. One thing we won't forget is how blessed the men's chorus is to be able to practice weekly in this remarkable house of worship.
.

The sound of rustling plastic filled the room earlier in the evening as the men unwrapped their new concert shirts. We’re all used to seeing His Voice in their matching blue shirts that have served them well the past three years. Earlier this week, His Voice wives, Debbie and Natalija, scooped up the the new aqua or teal colored shirts in a super Kohl’s sale. The theme color easily reminds me of somewhere serene ... perhaps, Heaven! Now we await a new tie Pianist Joyce has found to complete the ensemble.
.

As practice ended this evening, I quickly put my new book away and joined the group as they pressed close in a circle of prayer sharing requests of all kinds, maybe even one of yours. His Voice Bass Buddy Fisher spoke for everyone when he bowed his head and began praying with a beautiful promise from God, “Fear not, for I am with you….”

.

The whole evening spent in praise is now behind us. The anxiety and stress disappears in this atmosphere as easily as a new shirt unwrapped.

---

Thank you, Lord!

.

Written by Nancy (the Notetaker) Troyer, His Voice News Editor

REFRESHED IN LANCASTER

The day was almost over when the men of His Voice entered the sanctuary of the Lancaster Adventist Church, this past Saturday evening, to sing for vespers. We all felt a bit fatigued after many miles on the road and programs in Palmdale, Acton, and another part of Lancaster. But as the sounds of praise filled the sanctuary the men seemed to rebound and sing with a new vigor. Their faces brightened with smiles and their voices deepened. There was no question why the men were there. They had come to praise God and within those praises came the strength of God's presence. If you, too, find yourself down ... maybe even depressed, start singing His songs. Lift your hands and the corners of your mouth to sing directly to Him and you will be amazed and definitely refreshed. After all, He's right there, loving you!

---

PICTURES: Top left is the His Voice Men's Chorus entering the Lancaster Church sanctuary - notice the beautiful stain glass window. Top right is of the men clapping; Middle left is Anesio Dias, our Brazilian Irish tenor, singing our signature song "Written in Red"; Middle right is a photo of the group singing, but the view is only a reflection on the outside glass window - amazing; Bottom left is of our two pianists - Joyce Leal & Sonia Dias - both of their husbands sing in the chorus. Bottom right is the best shot of the group with Director Mike. DOUBLE CLICK on any of these pictures to enlarge them.