02/06/2025
Dearest Selah family,
On the advent of Black History Month, and after nearly one month of devastating events that have touched and deeply impacted EVERY one of us, how does one communicate all of the things in a single post? As we prepare to lift up our voices for you in our 18th(!) year, our leadership must acknowledge the unfathomable losses of so many of our singers, our audience members, and our community. We must acknowledge the suffering and the fear that we are all feeling. We must acknowledge every single structure over the years that has housed us, where we have rehearsed, opened our doors, and performed - for you. We must recognize the history of Altadena, as one of the early communities under the Fair Housing Act to prohibit race-based discrimination against home buyers and renters, allowing Black families to finally become homeowners in this area and begin acquiring generational wealth.
We must acknowledge the history that is Selah Gospel Choir, born in Pasadena in 2007 as a space for those who want to sing gospel music, birthed by the spirit of the Black church and the ancestry of the Black community, feeling they could not either bring their whole selves and identities into their daily lives or could not access gospel music in their communities or places of worship. We must acknowledge the many frightening changes in the foundation of our freedoms over the last few weeks, changes that will no doubt tear at our families, at all of us.
In this moment in history we know in our hearts that the soothing balm that has always lifted the spirit and healed the soul is music. Gospel Music. That spirit is the foundation of our mission to uplift and strengthen our community by singing inspiring, soul stirring - Gospel Music. Let us love on you.
This season’s concert will be held at La Cañada Congregational Church, February 15 & 16, and though we will be selling tickets as always, this season the ticket table is a donation table - the welcome table. For Altadena, for a beautiful and blessed Black History Month, for all of us, and for you - Doors are wide open to all.
Don't be discouraged
Joy comes in the morning
Know that God is nigh
Stand still and look up
God is going to show up
He is standing by
There's healing for your sorrow
Healing for your pain
Healing for your spirit
There's shelter from the rain
Lord send the healing
For this we know
There is a balm in Gilead
Healing for the soul
