61st Homecoming Celebration
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of
Marietta announces a Homecoming Celebration for its 61st anniversary,
October 23-24, 2010.
This "Harvest Home" Celebration will include
also celebrating the church's food pantry's 20th anniversary, three
ordinations to the ministry in 2010, and a concert by the church's
praise band, Soulfire. A sing-along featuring the old, favorite hymns,
and exuberant welcome to former members and guests, will conclude with
an old-fashioned "dinner on the grounds."
If you would like to send a congratulatory message to
Marietta First, write
fccmarietta@comcast.net. These messages will be shared at the
Harvest Home Celebration.
Meet the Band
 by
Amy Verner
Five men, a
keyboard, a couple of guitars and a set of drums called "Soulfire” lead
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 569 Fraiser Street,
Marietta, on Saturday nights in worship. If you are a fan of the new
wave of Christian Rock groups, you will not want to miss out on this.
Many of the groups’ songs are written by the band members, and some you
will hear on the Christian Rock Stations today.
Soulfire
began in the fall of 2000; Sean Warner began a Saturday evening worship
service. Sean would bring his guitar, pick a few songs, he would have
someone provide a sermon and we would share communion. One Saturday
evening Jeff Shimizu attended the service and was really excited to see
Sean having such a great time that he asked if he could join in at the
next service. Sean welcomed Jeff with open arms and was thrilled that
someone else was interested in a new way to praise our Lord. Well, it
was not long after this that another one of our congregations’ very
talented individuals, Jeff Johnson, joined with Sean and Jeff.
 The three of these men,
gathered every other Saturday evening and played some really great
music, afterwards everyone would meet at the closest pizza restaurant
for dinner and fellowship. The group originally named themselves “Souled
Out”, but then realized another group had already been using this name.
Sean purchased a T-Shirt form a Christian Bookstore that read Soul Fire,
the guys simply put the two words together and Soulfire was born.
For a few years the three men
continued their Saturday Nite Alive service, which was growing in great
numbers, as well as, playing for the congregation on Sunday mornings. In
2002, Steve Wood came to kick it up on the keyboard. Next thing you
know, a set of drums appeared along with Scott Hopkins.
This group has been playing
for benefits and charitable causes within our congregations, as well as
many others. They have appeared on the Grave Digger Show, seen on WATC
TV57 Friday nights at 10:00p.m. and Saturday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. They have recently been in the recording studio.
Soulfire’s mission is to
spread God’s word through their music. Music is said to “move the soul”
and Soulfire’s music moves the souls of those who listen. Their music
appeals to all ages, young and old. The group is looking forward to
spreading beyond our community to reach all those who are looking for a
musical way to praise our Lord. Soulfire has performed for Senior
Citizens Homes, a Homeless Shelter in downtown Atlanta. |
