Gospel

Otterbein United Brethren in Christ Church, 146 Leitersburg St., Greencastle, Pa., a night of praise through music starts at 6:30 p.m. this Sunday in the church sanctuary. The evening will feature music from local worship teams, including one team that will take song requests. Refreshments follow. Two Top Fellowship Church, 13743 Fort Loudon Road, Mercersburg, Pa., Jerry Bennett in concert at 7 p.m. Hagerstown City Park band shell, the 2009 Gospel in the Park summer concerts will be Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Ringgold Praise Band will be performing on June 10.

Contemporary School of the Arts and Gallery Inc. will host a gospel concert Saturday, June 20, at the Bridge of Life church in downtown Hagerstown. Doors open at noon and the concert begins at 1 p.m. The church, at the site of the former Colonial Theatre at 14 S. Potomac St., has been refurbished and has been the site for recent concerts, seminars and movies. The concert will feature a variety of youth choirs from the Tri-State area, as well as numerous other performers, including Shannon Watkins, Abigail Nigh, Mia Hoover, Heather Gayle and groups In Touch and River Knot.

The Sharps and Flats Gospel Singers will perform Saturday at 7 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 216 N. Cleveland Ave. in Hagerstown. The group includes Kathy and Lee Henson, Chris and Fred Hazelwood, and Allen Painter. A freewill offering will be taken. Refreshments will be served after the concert. For more information, call 301-733-3482.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Eric Byrd is a devoutly religious man, but religion isn't a precursor to appreciating gospel music. "I'm hoping to break whatever misconceptions people may have about the music," said Byrd, who is the director of the McDaniel College Gospel Choir. Byrd will lead a gospel workshop Saturday at the Morgan Arts Council headquarters in Berkeley Springs. Participants from Saturday might perform at a free concert Sunday with Byrd and 30 members of the McDaniel College Gospel Choir at Berkeley Springs High School auditorium.

o Read more Kristy Smith columns at washingtoncountyliving.com Greetings, neighbors Hope your Easter was filled with all the old and new traditions that you enjoy. County offering summer camps The Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation will offer several summer camps and programs serving the Boonsboro area. For programming, schedules and fees, contact Marsha Moats, program coordinator, at 240-313-2812 or go to www.washco-md.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- An exhibit continuing through May 22 at The Ice House aims to turn up the volume on roots music, "America's soundtrack. " The exhibit, "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music," is now open at The Ice House, the headquarters of the Morgan Arts Council (MAC) in Berkeley Springs. The exhibit will be on view at The Ice House through May 22, said MAC Executive Director Mary Hott. The exhibit, part of the Smithsonian Institutions' Museums on Main Street program, probes the American story through roots music.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Harmonies from a gospel bluegrass band echoed through a hall Wednesday night at Heritage Academy and spectators occasionally kept the beat with claps as a New Year's Eve tradition at the school entered its 29th year. New Year's Eve may mean imbibing for some people, but the annual free concert is designed to provide "another kind of party" for the community, said Ann Cunningham, who helped organize the show. About 150 people attended the show to hear gospel tunes sprinkled with commentary from performers about the power of God. A man named Shields Secrest started the concert in 1979, and after he passed away not too many years ago, the New Year's Eve show was renamed in his honor, said Cunningham, a member of the Hagerstown-based Morning Star Singers who performed during the Secrest Memorial Sing.

From the looks of things, residents of the Tri-State region might have many answers to the oft-asked question, "What are you doing for New Year's?" We've rounded up a healthy list of options for bringing in 2009 the right way, regardless of whether that might involve a martini, Moonbounce or music by carillon. It seems there's something for everyone. Here's what we came up with: The party scene · Downtown Live New Year's Eve party Music, food and other festivities at Duffy's on Potomac and its basement lounge, Ava. 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at 28 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown.

The Boonsboro Family Worship Center, at 7605 Old National Pike, Boonsboro, will hold Senior Adult Day on Sunday, Nov. 2, with services at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Gospel music singer Willis Canada will be featured at the 6 p.m. service. He has traveled for more than 25 years spreading the love of Jesus Christ through Southern gospel music. He has appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the Daystar Network. He has worked with the military, stateside and in Germany. Audiences have been blessed by his tenor voice, warm personality and his originality in delivering the message in song.

St. Mark's to host book-signing Sunday St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 18313 Lappans Road, will host a book signing for the Rev. Anne Weatherholt's book, "Breaking the Silence: The Church Responds to Domestic Violence," Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the parish hall. Copies of the book will be on sale for $16 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to CASA of Washington County. Representatives from CASA will be on hand with information on local domestic violence programs and support.