Churches join voices for ‘Sweet Land of Liberty’
Members of four Highland Lakes area churches are combining their voices July 3 at First United Methodist Church of Marble Falls, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive in Marble Falls, for a patriotic concert celebrating the Fourth of July. The concert, 'Sweet Land of Liberty,' is 7 p.m. with free admission. Courtesy photo
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — When Joni Bedard, the music director at First United Methodist Church of Marble Falls, looked at the calendar earlier in the year, she thought about the approaching July 4 holiday. The church hadn’t held a patriotic concert in a couple of years, and Bedard decided it was time to change that.
“There’s some wonderful music that we typically associate with the Fourth of July and celebrating our country,” she said. “I thought it was just time for such a concert.”
Bedard reached out to several other local churches to see if they wanted to be part of the concert. As a result, three other congregations will be lending their voices to “Sweet Land of Liberty,” a concert scheduled for 7 p.m. July 3 at First United Methodist Church, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive.
Along with FUMC of Marble Falls, First Baptist Church of Marble Falls, the Marble Falls Church of Christ and Kingsland Community Church are participating in the free concert — but not as four different choirs. Instead, participants will combine their voices into one, powerful group.
“There’s also a kids choir that’s kind of a community children’s choir,” she added.
The local men’s ensemble, Saints Alive, will kick off the night. And members of Hill Country Dance and Cheer will perform.
The music will definitely be patriotic bent with songs such as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Down by the River” and “This Land is Your Land.” One of the more moving parts of the program will come when the choir performs each song of the five armed forces. As the choir sings a branch’s song, veterans and members of that particular branch will be asked to stand so the community can acknowledge them.
The songs are:
- “The Army Goes Rolling Along” for the U.S. Army
- “The Marine’s Hymn” for the U.S. Marine Corps.
- “Anchors Aweigh” for the U.S. Navy
- “Official U.S. Air Force Song” for the U.S. Air Force
- “Semper Paratus” for the U.S. Coast Guard.
“It’s really a way to honor our veterans,” Bedard said.
The show is free, and the public is invited to attend. After the performance, there will be ice cream, brownies and cookies.
daniel@thepicayune.com