Hello World,

One of the best ways to celebrate the season is sitting in front of a roaring fire, sipping on sparkling apple cider and listening to Christmas classics playing in the background. Gospel artist and gifted songstress Michele Sweeting loves the spirit of the holidays, especially the celebration of the birth of the Savior. The consummate vocalist and graduate of the Big Apple’s renowned Music & Art High School is known for her rousing performances including her first single, a rendition of “Center of My Joy,” which launched her career and took New York City by storm. Now, the pastor of The People’s Church and the anointed worship leader has just added a brand new holiday favorite to the Christmas collection with the release of her new single, “Oh Holy Night.” The song is currently available on all digital outlets.

“Oh Holy Night,” penned in 1847 by Adolphe Adam, regularly tops the list of best loved Christmas carols. But few of those renditions are in English and in Spanish. That was a unique twist that Michele gave her memorable interpretation of the hymn, “Oh Holy Night/Oh Noche Santa.” “I always knew that when I recorded the song, I wanted it to have that larger than life sound,” shares the songstress. “Raymond Diaz, who has worked with Mariah Carey and Enrique Iglesias, and who I know through Sanctuary Church with Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera, produced the song and gave it a brilliant orchestration; he incorporated a beautiful string arrangement capturing exactly what I wanted.”

The track is already receiving love online and Michele is hoping that believers and non-believers alike will be moved by its life-changing message. “‘Oh Holy Night’ has always grabbed my heart because it’s about the Savior’s birth,” says Sweeting. “During Christmas, many are focused on the popular culture of the holidays instead of being focused on the Gift on the Tree.” The song is also special to her because she heard it at home as a child. She says, “When I was growing up, I remember my mother playing a number of versions of ‘Oh Holy Night’ by artists from The Carpenters to the Temptations to Barbra Streisand to Gladys Knight. So many artists have recorded the song and I wanted it to be part of my musical tapestry as well.”

Listen to Michele’s “Oh Holy Night” below:

Michele has released a number of songs that have become part of her musical tapestry. Her first release, Center of My Joy, spawned the single – of the same name – and saw the artist peak on the New York Gospel charts for 6 weeks at the top spot. Center of My Joy was followed by Lamb of God, a sophomore release which solidified her standing as a Contemporary Gospel Recording Artist. That project was followed by her single, “Only By Grace,” which dropped in the summer of 2019. Her latest single, “Only See You”, peaked at #43 on the Billboard Gospel 100 Chart. Michele has been seen singing her songs on Christian TV, appearing on programs such as Babbie’s House, Atlanta Live, Hour of Harvest and Bobby Jones Presents. She’s traveled the world singing God’s praises in places like Russia, Egypt, Trinidad and Barbados.

Known as a pastor, psalmist and educator, she recently launched The People’s Church, a ministry birthed through COVID-19 under the covering of her Bishop, Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera, founder of the Council of Holistic Christian Churches and Ministries (CHCCM). She, her husband, Rev. Louis DeCaro, Jr., Ph.D., and their son are the founders of Loaves and Fishes Ministries as well. “Professor Michele,” as she is affectionately known, is also an adjunct professor at The City College of New York and John Jay College, where she teaches English and Literature. In addition, Michele is a Ph.D. Candidate (ABD) at Walden University and a two-time co-author of the anthologies, It’s Possible! Living Beyond Limitations, and recently, Crystal Clear Sisters: Walking in Purpose. For more information about the music ministry of Michele Sweeting, go to MicheleSweeting.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Any thoughts?

The post New York City’s Songbird, Gospel Artist & Pastor Michele Sweeting Rings In The Holidays With Bilingual Rendition of ‘Oh Holy Night;’ Taps Raymond Diaz, Producer of Mariah Carey & Enrique Iglesias appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

By now, you may have have heard that Pastor Joel Osteeen, leader of one of the largest megachurches in the country Lakewood Church, has a lineup on Easter that is sure to bring the masses. Stars such as Kanye West and his Sunday Service Choir (how they gon social distance?), the Mariah Carey and hometown hero and media mogul Tyler Perry (Y’all heard how he blessed senior citizens with free groceries here in the A & Nola, right?) will be in the house for the online service! While I love all three of these celebrities (well, at this point, my opinion of Kanye is fluid…), I wonder if the celebrity approach is the move on THIS Easter…

I don’t know about you, but this will be the first time that I know about that I haven’t darkened the threshold of a church building on Easter Sunday. Although this will be the fourth Sunday I think I haven’t been in church since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to quarantine at home, I’m still struggling with it. And this Easter Sunday, I don’t just want to do Bedside Baptist as what is becoming normal. I need a way to celebrate the resurrection of my Lord and Savior that feels befitting of the occasion. I need a WORD from some pastors who know the Lord in special way that can give me some divine strength to continue walking by faith during this strange season. God bless celebrities, but their star power isn’t the power that I need…But at the same time, I recognize that stars may be seeking strength as well and whatever shine they may get from this appearance may be secondary to their need of the Son to shine…

One of my Facebook friends pointed out that the names of the stars are larger than than the word Easter and that Jesus is not mentioned at all on the flyer. She is calling the service “Eastertainment.”

What say you? Will you be tuning on Sunday? How you will celebrate Easter at home?

Any thoughts?

The post Is Pastor Joel Osteen’s Star-Studded Easter Service (i.e. Kanye West, Mariah Carey & Tyler Perry) Appropriate This Easter? appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Hello World,

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you,” as the song says…and celebrities are getting in the Christmas spirit too…check out these great videos of celebs doing their thang at Christmas time…

Below is Blair Underwood reading as a part of the 42nd Annual Candlelight Processional at Disney’s Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida. The processional, which happens each night from Nov. 23 through Dec.  30, includes a retelling of the Christmas story, a mass choir and a full orchestra. Different celebrities are featured throughout the run of the processional including Andy Garcia, Whoopi Goldberg, Alfre Woodard & Amy Grant and others. For more information, go to disney.com.

My absolute fave secular Christmas song is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Here is Mariah remixing her hit backed up by Jimmy Fallon, The Roots with classroom instruments and school children…Gotta love it!!!

And I saved the funniest one for last…Apparently, the original video of DMX singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is no longer available via YouTube but someone has matched up the audio of the original video with the visual of the “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”and it is sooo cute…Check it out…

It is the most wonderful time of the year…again Merry Christmas!!!

Any thoughts?

The post Celebrities get in the Christmas spirit from Blair Underwood to DMX… appeared first on After the Altar Call.