Post Tagged with: "Middle School Worship Team"

Comedian Jeff Allen Headlines ACS Legacy Gala on May 12, Helps Raise Funds for Tuition Assistance Grant Fund

Comedian Jeff Allen entertained an audience of over 300 people as the headliner at Atlantic Christian School’s 7th Legacy Gala on Friday, May 12 at the Ocean City Tabernacle. The Gala and a Silent Auction held at the event, along with the May 16 Cougar Classic Golf Tournament, helped raise funds for the school’s Tuition Assistance Grant Fund. The events together netted $31,000 for the fund that since 2017 has provided tuition discounts to hundreds of qualified families in need to give them access to a Christian education for their children.

Allen began his career in 1978 and has entertained audiences around the world. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent, Comedy Central, Pureflix, Dry Bar Comedy, Apostles of Comedy, in films like “Thou Shalt Not Laugh,” and more. Allen’s second book, “Are We There Yet,” is due for release this coming September.

“Mr. Allen has been making people laugh for five decades and he certainly lived up to his reputation,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Many of us in the audience appreciated his humorous perspective on everyday life situations and we were laughing until we cried.”

After performing his comedy act, Allen was presented with a thank-you gift from ACS — an original drawing by ACS 11th grader Ryleigh Martin that illustrated Proverbs 16:24 –“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.”

The evening’s program began with 12th grader Daniella Ajayi welcoming the audience to the Gala and offering an invocation. Chief School Administrator Oblen then came forward for a special presentation to the Dye Family to thank them for partnering with ACS to create the Tuition Assistance Grant Fund in 2017. She presented the Dyes with a framed photo of the Ocean City Music Pier, where several ACS concerts were held in the 1990s when Bob Dye was the ACS choir director.

Oblen said that over the past six years, the fund has provided a tuition discount for nearly 580 students from over 430 new and returning families — giving out a total of nearly $940,000 in aid.  For the coming school year, Oblen said ACS expects to award at least $217,000 from the fund to benefit 142 students from 117 families.

“We are so thankful for the Dye family’s passion for Christian education and their decision to partner with our school to make this vital Tuition Assistance Fund a reality,” Oblen said. “We want to continue making ACS affordable for families who are seeking a Christian education for their children; that’s what you’re supporting by being here tonight.”

Following the presentation to the Dye family, the 23-member Middle School Worship Team, led by staff member Kelly Flynn, gave an uplifting performance of Cory Asbury’s “The Father’s House” and Hillsong Worship’s “New Wine.”

12th grader Cruz Lewis then introduced Allen, remarking that his life story was inspiring — not only for Allen’s outstanding accomplishments as a comedian, but for his courage to share his journey of transformation — from being an atheist and involved in drugs and alcohol — to becoming a born-again Christian.

During his remarks at the Gala, Allen touched on the experiences that led to his conversion to becoming a Christian in 1997 — describing it as a 7-year journey that began on the first day that he became sober.

“Our job is to show up and to seek, like Jesus says, just knock, and He’ll answer. It doesn’t mean today, tomorrow, or next week, but in time,” Allen said. He noted that the journey to faith will result “in a peace that you never knew could exist.”

After Allen’s performance, 12th grader Sam Glancey shared from his heart about how he has been blessed to be a beneficiary of the Tuition Assistance Grant Fund for the past six years. Lisa Dye, a member of the ACS faculty from 1997-2020, then spoke about the purpose of the fund and encouraged those in the audience to join her and her family in making a donation to the fund.

The Gala program concluded with 11th grader Ryleigh Martin giving a solo performance of “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship and Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz delivering a benediction.

Prior to the Gala Program, sponsors and other supporters attended a delicious appetizer and dessert reception catered by Elite Fleet and had the opportunity to meet Jeff Allen and pose for a photograph. The Silent Auction, spearheaded by staff member PJ Santos, was also open during the reception and attracted friendly competition among more than 70 items up for bid.

Photo credits: John Loreaux

 

 

New 4th Grade Worship Team Formed, Joins Other Teams Leading Weekly Chapel Worship

A new 4th Grade Worship Team has formed this week, joining three other talented student teams who are leading the singing in different weekly chapels. Seventeen enthusiastic 4th grade students turned out for the first after-school practice on December 1 and are being divided into two groups that will alternate leading worship in the Early Education/Kindergarten chapels on Fridays.

“We added additional chapels this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic so we would have smaller groups of students gathering together and that created new opportunities for additional worship teams to get involved,” said faculty member Teresa Bird, who is leading the new team. “We are thrilled to give our 4th grade students the opportunity to serve the Lord through the gift of music.”

The members of the new 4th grade team are: Amelia Crawford, Natalie Dickson, Eva Dimashi, Isabelle Edwards, Mia Gaffney, Hadassah Gonzalez, Chase Hagel, Peyton Hiller, Emily Johnson, Emily Kinch,  Jennyfer Loaiza-Riveros, Novella Malave, John Mazahreh, Layla McCarthy, Alayna O’Donoghue, Kaila Smalls, and Dominic Zielinski.

Mrs. Bird is also excited to be in her eighth year directing the 5th Grade Worship Team, which leads worship that incorporates lively choreography at the two elementary chapels on Wednesday mornings. The team has also led worship at special events this year, including the Veterans Appreciation Chapel and the 50th Anniversary Celebration Chapel. The eight members of the 5th grade team are: Zoey Holmstrom, Reagan Lindsay, Raquel Mitchell, Isabella Patiag, Nina Purdy, Vanessa Rallo, Chelsie Richards, and Lexi Wyckoff. Both the 4th and 5th grade teams meet after school to practice each week.

Twenty-eight students in middle school and high school are also part of Worship Teams that meet in elective classes twice a week, under the direction of staff members Kelly Flynn and Bill Smallwood. Mrs. Flynn and Mr. Smallwood are in their second year leading the two teams and are experienced musicians who lead worship on Sundays at New Life Assembly Church in Egg Harbor Township. “We truly enjoy sharing our love of worshipping God through music and the spoken word with our students and seeing them be inspired to get involved in their own church worship teams,” Mrs. Flynn said.

The middle school and high school teams alternate leading worship each week in the Upper School Chapel on Wednesday mornings. The Middle School team recently led worship for the Grandparents’ Day chapel and Flynn said they are now excited to be preparing special music for the upcoming December 16 Middle School Christmas Chapel.  The High School Worship team and the 5th Grade Worship Team are providing special music at the December 23 Elementary and High School Christmas Chapels.

The Middle School Worship team members are: Ashlee Alford, Isabel Alford, Ava Barberio, Leah Boyer, Annalena DiMaio, Rebecca DiMaio, Jayden Dixon, Gianna Flynn, Mackenzie Flynn, Autumn Henson, Caden Kim, Joshua Kinch, Autumn Loo, Kiara Loo, Jadelyn Maurer, Lydia McCarthy, Isabella Santos, Taylor Santos, Shelby Tomlinson, and Anyae Welch.

The High School Worship team members are:  Elizabeth Alford, Destiny Brewer, Asher Dawkins, Tommy Ellison, Evangelina Kim, Rebekah Kimmerley, Haven Sanchez, and Quinn Schrag.