Shirley sings with Christmas spirit
It was cold and dreary out at early this morning, but Shirley Caesar warmed up the Millis Athletic Convocation Center at High Point University.
The First Lady of Gospel -- a Durham native, Raleigh pastor and winner of 11 Grammy Awards -- filled the place with some powerful music, highlighting the Community Prayer Breakfast attended by more than 700 people.
Now I feel the Christmas season has really begun.
The program was a great gift to the community, thanks to Tom and Buren Haggai and High Point University.
And dozens of students were on hand to help out, despite the early hour. One told me he got there at 4:30 to start setting up.
Like many a college student, Shirley herself said she normally doesn't roll out of bed until about 11. But she was in top form this morning.
Oh, yes. Energetic HPU President Nido Qubein was at the front door, greeting everyone as they came in. He's really thriving in this job.
Comments (6)
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This sounds great. Maybe they will have another and hopefully publicize it more.
Ditto on Nido.
Posted on December 9, 2005 11:48 AM
Doug,
Did you say CHRISTMAS season? Don't let the paper's leadership see that you slipped!
I'm a CHRISTmas believer and am proud of it. I'm glad to see you are too!
Too all others, MERRY FESTIVUS!
PS Our county school system could benefit from a leader like Nido....... too bad leaders like him are so hard to find.
Posted on December 9, 2005 3:42 PM
Great catch on the CHRISTmas, Tim.
Forget this Happy Holidays stuff. If you want to say "Merry Christmas" just say it.
I heard on the radio today some public schools in another state are changing any reference to religion in "Silent Night" and actually changing the words. Sad times indeed.
Changing the Pledge to take out "God", changing our U.S.coins, now our Christmas songs. What's next? What about the rights of Christians in this country?
Do you know in the elementary schools there can be no reference to any relgious symbols for Christmas. Snowman, Santa, elves are okay.
I wonder what God is thinking when he's watching us.
Posted on December 9, 2005 4:16 PM
Some school systems around here are much more traditional than others when it comes to Christmas.
I haven't seen any suppression of Christmas here at the N&R. We're even planning to print the Christmas story from Luke on our Dec. 25 editorial page.
Posted on December 9, 2005 4:26 PM
That is certainly nice to hear. Don't think you would see that out in California.
I can see to a point about religious Christmas symbols in a "public" school. But kids learn Ramadan (spelling?) songs and Hannakah songs too so why not Silent Night? At least give Christians same billing.
This country was founded on these principals. Today, our schools are very diverse and that is a good thing. This is one reason I love to sub at Florence. It is like the Little UN. It's fun to see all the children getting along just fine and hearing about different customs and watching the differen foods they eat. (I almost tried tiny dry little real fish snacks from China one day at Pilot Elem - but just couldn't do it.) It is also very rewarding to see a new child come who speaks no English and the kids (2nd grade) hover over the child to help like she's a little doll. By the end of the year, she is speaking English just fine. They kind of "adopt" her. It is truly amazing to watch the interaction and see the end results of such nurturing.
I just think is would be nice to keep the American and Christmas traditions too.
Posted on December 9, 2005 9:14 PM
There is plenty of holiday season dilution in Guilford County.
First, the schools call it Winter Break, not Christmas Break. I'm almost sure that it was Called Christmas for most of the first 100 years or so.
Second, Greensboro is having their Holiday Parade. It was noted on natonal television today that Greensboro had made it a generic holiday, rather than Christmas. I'm sure a few years ago that the parade was a Christmas Parade.
When we make everthing generic, what is the holiday that we are celebrating... winter?
Posted on December 11, 2005 12:36 PM