Harlem Gospel Choir

Friday night I was surfing the internet to find happenings around the city. I came across a "meet the artist" event at Lincoln Center where the Harlem Gospel Choir would be performing as part of Black History Month. If you haven't heard of them, they're big. World famous. They have traveled to the most unlikely of countries, spreading the gospel message through their soulful songs and have performed for 2 popes and Nelson Mandela.

Anyway, the event was Saturday morning, and I had been planning a long winter slumber, so I almost didn't go, but I toughed it out, woke up, and was rewarded with the most incredible experience. They were PHENOMENAL.

The setting was small, actually in an atrium of the Lincoln Center, probably not more than a couple hundred people just sitting around anywhere they could find...even the floor. By the end, though, not a single person was sitting. We were all on our feet, hands together or in the air. There may have even been a little jumping. They sang "I Believe I Can Fly," a gospel version of "Celebration" ("ce-le-bra-ate Je-SUS CHRIST! dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun"), "Oh Happy Day," and many other soulful classics. As one of the singers put it, "I don't know if y'all go to church, but we're goin to church! Right here, right now! We're all goin to church!"

At the end they took questions, and we got to hear a bit more about their mission and incredible outlooks on life. Quite a privilege to see and hear from them.