Agape sounds a sacred note at Parliament concert

By Alexis Yancey Jaami

New Thought News Service

Wow! I sang on stage with the Agape International Choir! Twice!

Actually, it was 20 members of the choir led by Rickie Byars Beckwith, who invited New Thought delegates to be part of the group for the Parliament’s Sacred Music Concert on Sunday.

The program also featured the Tibetan Gyuto monks, Muslim singer-songwriter Zain Bhikha and a whirling prayer delivered by the Naqsbandi Sufi Order of “whirling dervishes.”

About 50 of us, including members of the news team, sang “Use Me,” “We Let the Love Wash Over Us,” “I Release and I Let Go” and other New Thought songs. What an experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Before the performance, we rehearsed, each singing our part, soprano, alto, tenor and bass. For the show we dressed gloriously, a rainbow of glowing hues. And at the conclusion of the music, we applauded ourselves as the audience applauded us.
Madalyn Wade, a staff minister with the Sierra Center for Spiritual Living in Nevada City, Calif., was another New Thought delegate who volunteered to take part in the Agape performance.
"It was a little scary and a little bit intimidating, but the rush of being onstage was incredible," she said. "And the choir members were so supportive."

It was an amazing experience, to stand on a stage in front of thousands of people and to see them rise to their feet to clap and sing along. It was their gift to us in response to our gift to them, proof of the law of circulation. New Thought rocks the house. And so it is!