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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1991)
July 17, 1991—The Portland O bserver—Page 3 • Portland Observer RELIGION Scripture o f the ‘Wkcfc Scripture of the W eek Micah 6:8 Bethel AME H< jnors Me Elroy J. Rochelle Me Elroy BY MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS Fifteen years ago, in D ecem ber of 1976 to be exact, J. Rochelle Me Elroy, along with her husband, H oward and their three small children (one daugh ter, Nicole, a student at Spelm an C o l lege in Atlanta, G eorgia; tw o sons, Howard, Jr., a student at University of O regon and Kevin a student at Jesuit High School), arrived in the city o f Portland. The Me Elroy fam ily’s m em bership had been transferred from the W ayman AM E Church in M innea polis, M innesota. On Sunday, July 21, 1991 at 3:00 pm , the Bethel AM E C hurch will honor Mrs. Me Elroy by holding a special program in her honor. W hy? Just to say, “ Thank Y ou,” for all the hard work that she has done for so many years in the departm ent o f Music. Rochelle is a very hum ble laborer in G o d ’s vineyard. She toils for long, arduous hours not looking for any rewards from those she instructs; but she is seeking the ultim ate gratification and rew ard. “ W ell, done! My good and faithful servant. E nter now into the K ingdom .” R ochelle’s musical interest and teaching did not begin in school but at home. She dem onstrated a love for music at an early age. Her m other rec ognized this and nurtured her by giving her instructions. Then, under Mrs. Ruth Ferguson o f Sandersville, G eorgia, she studied music in high school. Follow ing graduation, she continued to pursue her studies in music at Spelman C o l lege under the auspices o f W illis Law- rence Jam es and Dr. W endell P. W ha- lum. H ow ever, Rochelle, to the dismay o f her parents, changed her major to Psychology. “ My folks had sent me to college to receive a degree in Music. B u t-y o u know how kids are when they get on cam pus. Away from their parents...A nd et cetera. I began think ing and knew that I would need a d e gree in a subject that would land me a good paying job following graduation.” W ith Psychology as her major and a m inor in Choral Arts, R ochelle’s life’s journey began. She began, in her fresh man year, traveling with the Atlanta University M oorehouse and Spelman C ollege M ixed Chorus. She was the accom panist with Spelm an G lee Club which consisted o f about sixty voices. Traveling and studying. Traveling and Studying. At the sam e time, she also participated in the M usic Departm ent in the African M ethodist Episcopal C hu rch ’s third, fourth, fifth and sixth districts as their D irector o f M usic, C hoir D irector, general Instructor of M usic, M inister o f M usic, and devel oped and conducted Music W orkshops. “ T h e p u rsu it o f excellence is a G odly q u ality . I believe th a t music- will soothe the savage b east...’’ As the Minister o f Music over Bethel A M E C hurch’s music departm ent, Rochelle has served under four dy namic spiritual leaders: Rev. A. Lee H enderson, Rev. L. Fisher Hines, Rev. M atthew A. W atlcy and the current pastor, Rev. M ilton Green. Rochelle shared, * ‘I was blessed to have been bom into a Christian family. Serving in the church just com es natu ral. You d o n ’t have to work as hard. It’s a certain expectation. It was pleasing before I even knew that it was pleasing. You feel com fortable. You just enjoy doing it.” Not only has Bethel been blessed with the talents o f this multi-faceted woman, but so has First AME Zion. Every second Sunday in the month, Rochelle is over the Sanctuary C hoir at First AME Zion where Rev. Willie Smith is the sen ior pastor. On the first and third Sundays, she is serving at Bethel as the M inister o f Music over the Cathedral Choir. Each year both choirs celebrate a separate Christm as Vesper. And the Cathedral Choir at Bethel holds its annual Gospel C oncert in September. In the fifteen years Rochelle has served as M inister o f M usic, she has worked in conjunction and cooperatively with other musicians in and around the city of Portland such as Tim Stafford, Joan D cland, Calvin A llm on, C laude Bowles, Dorothy Davis, Danny Osborne, Reg ina Id Pearsal 1, Terry S now den, G ale Hardy, John G ainer o f Eugene and she is presently working with Mrs. Virginia M cClinton, organist. These people have served as organists, assistant directors, concert musicians and associate organ ists during workshops and musicals. She genuinely appreciates their dedication and cooperation. For those readers who arc unable to figure out why Bethel is making such a fuss over Rochelle, let me tell you why: working with two choirs at two different locations, holding two separate rehears als every week, planning program s, rehearsing for concerts, selecting m u sic, playing for unscheduled events, traveling with the pastors, taking c a re o f fam ily, driving back and forth, back and forth...No! S he’s not a super woman. She’s just blessed. Yes, a woman blessed by God and who has com m itted her gift o f music to the service o f the Lord. “ The pursuit of excellence” says Rochelle “ is a Godly quality. I believe that music will soothe the savage beast in the souls of man. The m inistry of music lakes on many realms. There arc people who may not relate to the spoken Word but can easily relate to the W ord in musical form. For as far back as we can rem em ber, the book o f Psalms has been a blueprint for those who labor in the m inistry of m usic.” “ I have e n d eav o red to p re se n t C hrist so th at people everywhere might be in sp ired , e n co u rag ed and sa v e d .’’ I asked Rochelle if she specialized in a certain form o f music. Her response was, " I enjoy choral m usic, anthem s, hymns and spirituals. This is the area of music in which I received my training. I have even worked w ith choirs outside of the AME church. Y et there is an entire generation o f young people who do not relate to the old hym ns, Negro Spiritu als, and just forget about anthem s. They don’t seem to have an ear for it!” she exclaimed. “ The African M ethodist Episcopal Church’s history is told through the Negro Spirituals. I have a problem with this generation and their pulling away from what is heritage and tradi tion. It is so unfortunate that a lot o f our traditions are dying.” In addition to the care and upkeep of her family and the tasks set before her at the churches, Rochelle perform s as a Volunteer Therapist in nursing homes. She plays and sings for the alzheim er patients. She found that the loud and brash sounds of today’s music are irritat ing to them. She gives them soothing songs. M elodious hym ns o f their youth. “ Their favorite is ‘Just As I A m .’ You can’t assum e that these people are all saved ju st because of their age. But every tim e this song is sung, it never fails to bring tears to their eyes and they join in with singing or just lapping their toes. I praise God for blessing me and allow ing me the chance to share this gift, that He has given to me, with others.” In the month o f O ctober, 1991, Rochelle has, on one of her many burn ers, plans for a Music W orkshop to be entitled “ AN EVENING W ITH N E GRO SPIRITUALS.” This should prove to be an event that wc should all look forward to attending. “ I count it a privilege to be a part of the great ministry o f Jesus C hrist,” Rochelle concludes, “ thru the art form of sacred music. I have endeavored to present Christ so that people everywhere might be inspired, encouraged and saved. My rew ard is having had the challenge to turn choirs around, helping them to m inister in song and helping them feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit by sing ing G o d ’s Praises.” “You know what'.,> I don't think this kind o f program has been attempted by anyone else. Rochelle is a very compe tent musician, a faithful servant o f God and she does an excellent job o f teach ing. The only proper thing fo r us to do would be to honor her fo r her service to us and to God’s program. Furthermore, Rochelle's dad was an elder in the AME church so she comes to us with a rich heritage. We’re very grateful to have her her.’’ -Rev. Milton Green, pastor of Bethel AME The Shaver Gospel Group Sponsor: A Building Fund M usical For The SL Mark Baptist Church 103 N.E. M orris Street Portland, O regon 97212 Dr. Joe S. H ardie, Pastor Sunday, July 21,1991 3:00 P.M. O ther Guests Include: The St. M ark Church Choir G reater Faith Church Choir A rtie Christm as Joe Johnson & M alcom Jackson Sabrina Bryant Johnny Wilson The Gospel Trumpet Rev. Ira H am m ond The P ublic Is Invited Em anuel Hospital & H ealth C enter, Portland, proposes to ac quire an MRI scanner. On June 21, 1991 the O H P notified the applicant that additional inform ation is required before a determ ination can be m ade as to w hether this project is subject to certificate o f need review. The M.W.St. Joseph Grand Lodge The M.W. St. Joseph G rand Lodge A ncient Free and A ccepted Scottish Rite M asons and Mt. O live G rand chapter O rder o f Eastern Star o f O regon closed the 32nd G rand Com m unication June 16-22,1991. The session was well attended. O pening with the SL John’s Day W orship at the Mt. G illard Baptist Church, the Rev. H. Callow ay, pas tor. C losing with a gala King and Queen banquet, at the Matt Dishman Com m unity Center, with guest speaker, Congressw om an M argaret Carter. Catcress Mrs. Aldridge Johnson The 111 Clarence Tolbert, 33 G.M. Sis. Thelm a M. Sylvester, G.W .M . VANN & VANN FUNERAL St. Mark Baptist Church 103 N.E. Morris Street Portland, Oregon 97212 Church Phone: 287-7457 Cleodus Vann 503/281-2836 5211 N. W illia m s P o rtla n d , Or. 9721 7 - Make a Decision - "Inquire about the services we offer" Cox Funeral Home, Inc. 24 Hr. Service 281-4891 We are interested in your problems Jésus Loves You! Ällän Wnipla Œ OratKäh PsaJm 3 4 :3 4236 NE Eighth Avenue (comer of 8fh & Skidmore) Portland, Oregon 97211 (503) 287-0261 Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor HMÍÚWV..'V,' " .piw inìfvwiM WMeo rnrttìTtT-TTi MT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH WE ARE MOVING SUNDAY SERVICES TO Stone Tower Church, N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th Worship Services 8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Church School 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. Bible Study, Wednesdays. 116 N.E.Schuyler 10:30 A.M. and 6:30 P.M. Radio Ministry each Sunday. 8:00 A.M.-KBMS A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor Church Office 116 N.E. Schuy er. Maranatha Church 4222 N.E. 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon Sunday Services Sunday School 9:00 A.M . Morning W orship 10:30 A.M . S u n d a y S chool 9:30 A M . Evening Worship 6:00 P.M. S u n d a y W orship 11:00 A M . M idw eek Service - W ednesday 7:00 P.M. Bible Study, W ednesday 5:30 PM . Saturday- BASIC Youth Service P rayer Service, W ednesday 6:00 PM. Rev. Dr. Jo e S . H ardie, P astor H e T h a t Loveth Not, K now eth N o t God; F o r G od Is love I J o h n 4:8 7:00 P.M. Rev. Wendall H. Wallace Senior Pastor "Maranatha Live" Radio Program/Talk Show KPDQ 93.7 FM 800 AM 11:00 P.M. to 12:00 midnight (Each Sunday) .M W -.a. For Best Results Advertise in the Observer Mallory Avenue Christian Church (Disciples o f Christ) D IR E C T O R S Family Owned and Operated Since 1954 Serving the City of Portland for over 37 years In your hour of need Vann &Vann are there to serve "Before You Must" Sunday School M orn ing W orship Tuesday Bible Study a nd Prayer 126 N.E. Alberto Portland, 0 8 97211 (505) 288-5173 Inter-rodal Congregation 8101 N. Fiske Avenue Portland, Oregon 97203 Church Phone: 289-0147 Sunday Service 10:45 Sunday School "9:30 Bible Study 6:00 Evening Service 7:00 P.M. God's Presence promises Power through Jesus Christ in G ood Times and Bod Times M a tth e w 11:28 "Come to m e ail you who are w eary and heavy laden and I w ill give you rest" 9:45am 1 1 :00am 7:30pm S t Paul Missionary Baptist Church Dunisu A. Bull Pastor Study Phone: 289-1911 ___ Pastor, Rev. James C .t. Faulkner Theme: Whatever you’re going to do for the Lord, do it now. I Peter iv.ll