Narration and music combine in ‘Seven Steps to the Cross’ cantata

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The power of the spoken word from Scripture, enhanced by music, will be delivered in “Seven Steps to the Cross.”

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Youngstown and Vicinity will present the Holy Week sacred cantata by the Emancipation Community Choir tonight at St. James Church of God in Christ.

Elder Cynthia Wright-Palmer, chairwoman of the IMA planning committee, and the Rev. Dr. Lewis Macklin, IMA president, said the organization always has a Holy Week service.

“This community loves music, so we thought it would be a good idea,” Elder Wright-Palmer said. “Most services focus on the spoken word. This idea combines narration and music.”

The Rev. Mr. Macklin said the IMA deliberately has the event early in Holy Week to avoid conflict with other services.

“It highlights the sacrifice of Jesus for us,” Mr. Macklin said. “We hope this expression of faith engages the Christian community.”

Wright-Palmer said the “Seven Steps to the Cross” uses Scripture passages to advance the story. Quoting Scripture, narrators will discuss the need for the cross, the prophesy, the Last Supper, Garden of Gethsamane, betrayal and denial of Jesus, the trial of Jesus and the agony of the cross.

“The story moves along,” she said.

Wright-Palmer, an associate minister at Elizabeth Baptist Church, also sings in the choir. “Some of the selections, the audience will be familiar with ... others are original music,” she said.

Elder John “Luke” Shumpert is music and production director. He explained the choir started out a gathering of choir members from various churches who sang at the annual Emancipation Proclamation service.

He said Pastor Macklin suggested the singers be organized under the name “Emancipation” to recognize how it started and perform at other community events.

The choir has about 35 members, most from IMA member churches. The choir brings together singers of different ages and places and unifies them, Shumpert said.

Shumpert said he has adapted the “Seven Steps to the Cross” narrative, which is presented at many churches during Holy Week, and interspersed it with musical selections. “It’s the foundation,” said Shumpert, who is minister of music at Elizabeth Baptist Church.

“No Greater Love” and “My God Is Not Dead” are familiar songs; Shumpert wrote three original pieces; and Reggie Smith wrote an original piece.

“I think the presentation will show what a great act of love Jesus did for us,” Shumpert said. “He sacrificed his life for us.”

Shumpert said this presentation will take the audience through a range of emotions.

“Often the emphasis at Easter is on the Resurrection, which is awesome, and we tend to forget about the suffering that Jesus went through,” he said.

He continued that this presentation showcases the events that led to the Resurrection.

“Sometimes other things like Easter egg hunts and new clothes for the holiday get in the way of the real celebration,” he said.

“Jesus sacrificed everything for us.”