Category: General News

Looking forward to a banquet coming up on October 25, 2011 at Shady Maple Restaurant. Information is posted on the flyer following:

The trip began at 3:00 am on Friday morning, August 5th.  Jason, then Brian, then Daryl took a turn driving. Click here to watch life unfold on the GOP bus!  This trip, Sheryl also helped out with the driving, and did a fantastic job. 

 One of the funnier moments was instructing Danny on driving the bus for the first time (as well as his first try at driving manual transmission.) Watch here for his successful second attempt! Nothing like learning to drive with a whole busload of people!

Our first program was at the Simon J. Graber building, graciously hosted by Jason and Joanna Knepp and family!  They provided dinner and motel for us that evening, and the service was a blessing.

 The following day was jam-packed with fun activities with friends; going out for breakfast at Knepp Family Restaurant with Hank, Jason, Joanna, and daughter, Rachel; eating lunch with Nate and Rose Overholt and family at Jeremy and Vanita Sensenig’s from Fresh Start; and letting the children run off some energy.

 We drove about a 1/2 hour to the program that evening at Hillside Mennonite Church. It was the first time we were ever there, but we received a warm welcome, and it was great to meet more brothers and sisters in the Lord.

The next morning we enjoyed a morning service at Fresh Start Chapel and a quick meal, then it was onto the bus for a 5 hour trip to our Sunday evening program.

Eldon and Audrey Miller and family hosted this evening at Salem, and had a meal for us immediately on arrival. We finally were able to do a Sunday evening program here, and they definitely had a good turnout!

This time we spent Sunday night in Indiana, and tanked up on sleep for the ride home Monday, rather than travelling through the night. Each night we were so grateful to our hosting families, and blessed by your generous spirits! We couldn’t continue our ministry without you!

Our prayer and aim for this weekend was to focus on salvation.  We hope to plant the seed, or perhaps water it. It would be nice to “see the increase”, however, only God can know what was happening in people’s hearts. Only God can truly save the soul. We were blessed to have someone comment on our facebook page, “You guys were great tonight! But I think we should have rented a stadium for all the people… 🙂 It’s so awesome to see God using you to encourage so many people. Thanks for your testimonies & the emphasis on salvation.”

On April 1st, the bus hit the road for the first weekend trip of the 2011 year.  Goshen, IN was our destination.  The families went along this time, except for Daryl’s family, who remained at home recovering from the flu.  Brian’s oldest daughters also stayed at home, but Jason’s whole family went.  Danny managed to bring his ENTIRE family on the trip, too!!

2011 was the first year the A Cappella Gospel Sing took place, but hopefully this will become an annual event. Ray Yutzy, of Sharon Bethel Quartet from Iowa, headed up the event, along with a committee of five men in the Goshen area. Ray did a phenomenal job of envisioning the weekend and helping it to run smoothly. Thanks, Ray!

Quartets, quintets, choirs, and family groups from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Canada, and more…

Followers Quartet

Garment of Praise

Greene Mountain Men’s Choir

Harmony Quartet

Harmony 5

Harmony 5 Generation 2

New Freedom Quartet

New Heights Quartet

The Harbor Lights

Higher Ground Quartet

The Living Faith Quartet

Sharon Bethel Quartet

Smucker Family

Many thanks to James Yoder, of Kalona, IA, who ran the sound and did a magnificent job! Also our appreciation goes to Fairhaven, for hosting the event at their church and to the Fairhaven/Woodlawn Youth for operating the food booth. 

Near the dining area, each of the groups were able to set up a table to display their CDs and cassettes, and that is where we were able to meet friends and visit. 

A highlight of the trip was being able to reach new people in the Goshen, IN area.  From  those we met, we received many encouraging words to go on singing. Thank you for that! We can go for quite a while on an encouraging word!

We also enjoyed meeting the other singing groups, and getting to know them. What a wonderful fellowship in working together to worship the Lord and bringing others a blessing!

The A Cappella Gospel Sing was Friday and Saturday, so on Sunday Garment of Praise sang at Blue River Church of the Brethren.

 

Four quartets and yummy food make for a great night! On March 12, Saturday evening, Garment of Praise hosted a quartet night at Bethany Grace Fellowship in Terre Hill, PA. They invited Unshackled and Testify, both local groups, to join them in singing for the evening. The offering went toward sending the juniors and seniors of Fairview Christian School to Nicaragua on a missions trip in May.

The evening consisted of the groups singing together, then Testify, followed by Unshackled. The high school of Fairview Christian School sang “Alpha and Omega”, then Garment of Praise wrapped up the night. Another quartet from Tidings of Peace in York, PA, came and sang a few numbers also. 

After the program, there was a delicious dessert buffet in the basement.  The parents of the juniors and seniors donated a variety of yummy desserts for people to choose from. Everyone had fun picking out a little bit of different kinds. Wouldn’t it be great if this was after EVERY Garment of Praise program?!

 Thanks to all the moms, students, faculty, and quartets that made the night a success!  The students were able to raise what they were hoping, thanks to everyone who attended.  Every bit of help was appreciated!

We will be having a program in Belleville, PA with the Stutzman family this Sunday night, March 20. This was not listed on the original schedule, but is on now. If you need any more information or directions, contact Earl Yoder (814) 441-0357.

Garment of Praise is hosting a quartets night in Terre Hill, PA at Bethany Grace Fellowship on March 12, 2011. Program will start at 7:00 pm and will feature:

Come and enjoy an evening of good music and fellowship. Refreshments will be served afterwards. All proceeds from the evening will benefit the Fairview Christian School Junior/Senior mission trip to Nicaragua.

Any questions: Fairview Christian School 610-372-8826

                                Brian Fox: 610-373-8202

We haven’t had a program in quite a while, so it was great to hit the road again and SING!  We always have plenty of busyness going on without Garment of Praise programs, but we still miss it.   We’ve been working on getting a new sound system that works for us, and we’ve also been working on a couple new songs to add to our programs, and, eventually, record on our new CD. Our church, Fairview Mennonite Church, which we all attend, has been practicing weekly for a few chorus programs in the area–with Brian Fox directing most of the music. So, our plates are full… and overflowing!

It’s always good to get out and sing through the songs, and visit with our friends in churches.  Last Sunday night, February 27, we sang near Elizabethtown, PA, at Risser’s Mennonite Church.  We felt a little rough around the edges, but it definitely was fun to harmonize, praise God, and work together again! 

We’re looking at getting busier in the next few months! We have some more Garment of Praise programs coming soon, but our church chorus, which we are all a part of, is doing a few programs in March and April also.

We did not have this program on the original schedule: Life Ministries Banquet at Shady Maple Banquet Facilities in New Holland on Monday evening, March 28, 2011.  Garment of Praise singing and appetizers will be at 6:00pm.  Dinner and program to follow. See more information following. Make sure to reserve a spot–we’ll see you there!

Its been a busy last three months, but you couldn’t tell that by the amount of website activity, could you? Its about time for some updates; to let you know where we’ve been singing, what we’ve been doing, and to thank you for remembering us as a quartet in your prayers. We appreciate it when we’re on the road for safety, and while we’re singing, that God would encourage the church.

In August, we had a Sunday morning program at Life Mennonite Fellowship, and an evening service at Myerstown Mennonite Church. The latter was supposed to be an outdoor “park” singing, but since it was raining, we sang indoors, and had a good evening anyway.   At the end of August, like we do every other year, the guys sang several times throughout the day at Country Fest, down in Accident, Maryland.  The men did a one day trip down and back, so the families didn’t go along this time.

Also in August–kind of unrelated to the Garment of Praise, but, yet, it affects us so much– Fairview Mennonite Church had a deacon ordination. Several years ago, Marcus Fox was ordained to this position, but when we ordained a new minister last fall, Marcus was called and ordained as pastor, thus creating a need for a new deacon. On August 22nd, the church received nominations, and Jason Fox’s name was one of the men nominated. One week later, Jason did receive the call to become our deacon, and was ordained to this position. Will this create changes within the quartet? Only God knows, but as for now, we are “going on with the song”,  joyfully, and with as much enthusiasm as ever. Jason loves to sing, and continues on as our contact person, also.     

On the first day of September, the quartet had the exciting, new privilege of singing at the Blue Mountain Gospel Music Festival in Lebanon, PA. This used to be in Kempton, PA, and held fond memories for the “older” members of the quartet.  This was where they watched their favorite Southern Gospel groups sing when they were teenagers.  Garden Spot Promotions puts on the 5-day event, and we were humbled by the opportunity to participate in the Wednesday evening concert with the Allen family, the Down East Boys, and the Greenes.  Danny Jones, of the Singing News magazine, was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

The rest of September we had a few programs–Fairmount Homes Auction and Word of Life Mennonite Church in Lititz, PA. We had a program scheduled at Sonlight Christian Fellowship for the 18th, but rescheduled that for October 3rd.

Also in September, the Brian Fox family and Daryl Petersheim and his wife, Renita, visited the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. They didn’t have any part in the convention, but enjoyed the other groups’ singing and ministry during each evening concert and the daytime showcases.  It was special to hear the Kingdom Heirs sing “The Empty Tomb Says It All”, the song Daryl penned and won the 2008 songwriters contest with.

Our October singings are not finished yet–it’s been a busy month already! October 2nd, we sang at the kick-off night for the Manheim Farm Show.  What an encouragement to see a town’s farm show start out with a Gospel concert! The next Sunday night we took the bus to an evening program, Sonlight Christian Fellowship, out near Hanover, PA. Thankfully, this time we remembered the sound system!  The following Saturday and Sunday, we also had programs. Saturday night was a local gospel sing-along in Fleetwood, PA, only a few miles from Daryl’s home. 

 Also performing that day were the Revival Rivers (Martin and Jen McPherson) and the Stony Mountain Gang. It was a very diverse group sharing Christ; praise and worship music, bluegrass, and a cappella. A wonderful fellowship meal was provided half-way through the program.

Sunday evening we boarded the bus again–this time to Chambersburg, PA, to the Shanks Church of the Brethren. Thanks to the hosts for the fun evening of singing, the snack afterwards, and the food they sent home with us!

Continue to remember us in prayer as we finish out the year of 2010.  We have two banquets/concerts still coming up in October, the 26th and the 30th. We’d love to have you join us. The guys also squeezed in a recording date in October. Recording is coming along slow, but sure. We have no projected date for completion yet.