By By PATTI TRUJILLO;Special to the Daily News
A musical treat at Washington’s First Presbyterian Church turned into a financial boon for the Purpose of God Annex.
For two hours to a full house Saturday evening, Market Street Brass performed Christmas pieces adapted to the sounds of a brass quintet.
First Presbyterian Church began presenting Christmas concerts three years ago when the church’s new organ was installed, said Michael Morgan, organist and the church’s director of music.
During the quintet’s performance, Edward Bach, arranger for and leader of the quintet, delivered lines of patter that were amusing, entertaining and enlightening.
He said the evening would be full of “fun and enjoyment — music is supposed to be that way.”
The musicians included Bach on trumpet; Virginia Keast, trumpet; Jack Masarie, horn; Randy Kohlenberg, trombone and Dennis Askew, tuba.
They played “The Wexford Carol,” a piece that included a mellow tuba solo during the lyrical Irish carol; “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” which is “arguably one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written,” according to Bach; sing-alongs “What Child Is This” and “White Christmas;” “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” and many other seasonal pieces.
000200000382000004E937C,The Gospel reading, the story of Christmas to “Silent Night, Holy Night,” was presented by Patch Clark.
After the reading, Morgan said, “During this concert, we would always have a love offering for a local effort.”
Purpose of God Annex, he said, “is a mission that was changing people’s lives. It started out with school children.”
He asked Bishop Samuel Jones and Mother Regina Jones, founder of Purpose of God Annex, to stand to be recognized for their ministry. That ministry has expanded to include people in their 20s who have no where else to turn, Morgan said. Then, he introduced Derrick Lawrence to the audience.
00020000052900000865523,“I was banished from the Washington Housing Authority since I caught a drug conviction there.
Lawrence added, “There’s a lot that are in the situation that I was in — and they need help.”
Morgan took back the microphone, saying, “The Wise Men took gifts to one they did not know.”
Morgan was overcome by emotion that took his voice away for several moments.
After the concert, Lawrence said, “I grew up only a few blocks from here, and I always wondered what it looked like inside this place because the outside is so nice.
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