On May 27, the Holiness Tabernacle Music Department hosted its first ever Midnight Musical: Sounds Like an Overflow! The late night service drew large crowds, as youth and young adults gathered to magnify God.
Lion of Judah
You are the great I Am!
Lion of Judah
You reign over all the land!
The HTC Praise Team kicked off the evening with energy-packed praise, singing “Lion of Judah” by Eddie James and bringing the whole house to its feet with the call and response:
Because You’re holy (You’re holy)
You’re mighty (You’re mighty)
You’re worthy (You’re worthy)
Of glory (Of glory)
I lift Your name on high! (I lift Your name on high!)
All around the sanctuary, hands were clapping and bodies were rocking in adoration to the true and living God! After the opening prayer and scripture, Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. welcomed each of the visitors and invited them to feel at home as they blessed the Lord together. Under the direction of the Music Department President, Sis. Yolinda McCown, the Midnight Musical was designed to be an outlet for true praise. Coming off the heels of a 21 day consecration, the members of HTC were more than ready to express their love to God in a sacrificial way.
Ministers and performers from all over the Virginia and DC region came to participate in the midnight program. Emcee and “heavenly hype woman” for the evening, Evangelist Missionary Andrea Mabry, introduced the first guests, Bro. Julius Seals and Sis. Kellie Seals of Reconciliation COGIC in Richmond. The pair came with a familiar tune that allowed everyone to join in – Tye Tribett’s “I Have No Other Choice”:
I have no other choice but to trust You
That’s all I can do
With excitement and fervor, the audience leapt to its feet to finish the chorus together:
I have no other choice but to believe!
“Our next song is called ‘We’re Gonna Make It,’” explained Sis. Kellie to the audience, slowing down the pace a bit with a selection that had a very personal meaning for the two singers. “We’ll be singing it without our former pastor, Elder Geno Thomas, so forgive us because we’re missing the alto note…”
And as though to honor the memory of their late pastor, the couple sang to the glory of God and ushered in a spirit of encouragement for all.
Next on the program was gospel rapper Manifest, also known as Bro. Maurice Edmonds of Bethlehem COGIC in Chesapeake, Virginia. With his unique style of original lyricism, Bro. Edmonds encouraged the people to look to God who could take us “Higher”:
Let me see you throw your hands in the sky
Cause God is the head of your life
And He’s taking you higher
He’s taking you higher
He’s taking you higher
He’s taking you higher
Without a doubt, each piece was designed to bring the hearer to a place of reflection. In his “Can You Hear Me,” Bro. Edmonds and the ensemble of worshippers cried out to the Lord:
God are You hearing me
God are You listening
The glory of Your presence I am constantly picturing
So let me take a snapshot
And live in this moment forever, where time won’t stop
After a brief offertory intermission, where the HTC Praise Team invited the audience to “Give Him Glory!” as the congregation gave a free will offering to the music ministry, a group of young ladies from “Yeshua” COGIC, the Lion of Judah COGIC and Holiness Tabernacle COGIC took the service to the next level with Bishop Paul Morton’s “Chasing After You”:
I’m chasing after You
No matter what I have to do
Cause I need you, more and more!
Next came a beautiful rendition of Israel Houghton’s “Moving Forward” and the young women invited all in attendance to move forward with God:
You make all things new
Yes, You make all things new
And I will follow You
Forward!
JudahLYFE Ministries of Washington, DC were the final guest performers of the evening – and they brought with them a stage full of worshippers and musicians.
“Our lifestyle should reflect a life of praise!” exclaimed one young man as the group came up. With outstretched hands and open hearts, the sounds of trombones, trumpets, organs and drums mixed with the harmony of voices and once again brought the congregation to its feet.
“I came here with a mind to give Him glory!” the leader continued during a mini praise break before leading the group into an original piece entitled “I Have Great Expectation.”
“We can’t always do [a midnight musical] on a Sunday because we’re pressed for time.” Indeed, the service was designed especially for those not bound by time constraints – but willing to bless the name of the Lord at any hour of the night!
But like any true praise experience – the night wasn’t quite over. After the invitation was made for prayer at the altar, the HTC Praise Team came to bring the pre-dawn service to its conclusion with another call and response selection:
Your name is above all names (Your name is above all names)
You’re worthy of all our praise (You’re worthy of all our praise)
Mighty are the works of Your hands (Mighty are the works of Your hands)
Mighty are the works of Your hands! (Mighty are the works of Your hands!)
As each verse took the voices higher and higher, it was as though the entire congregation was on a mission to literally reach the doors of heaven! Singing a medley arranged by the Church Of God In Christ National Music Department President, Dr. Judith McAllister, the Praise Team broke down the doors of heaven:
We lift Your name on high
We lift Your name on high
We lift You higher, higher!
Higher, higher!
Higher, higher!
Higher, higher!
And that was when the true overflow came.
The sound that had been hovering just beyond everyone’s reach, manifested itself in a mighty way as youth and young adults began to dance before the Lord with all of their might! The anointing was high and the overflow of God’s Spirit was evident in His house of worship. It was truly a time of magnificent praise.
Minister Andre Powell, chairperson for the program, concluded the night with heartfelt expressions of gratitude for all that came out to support. “We pray that you were blessed in tonight’s service,” he said before ending with prayer.
The first ever HTC Midnight Musical was indeed a blessing to all – and brought it with it the sound of true Spiritual overflow!