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Published Saturday, May 02, 2009 in Local

Inspiration in the Park to bring music downtown Sunday

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

The Greenville Street Park, which is increasingly seen as a place to hold enjoyable community events, will be the site for an inspirational concert Sunday afternoon.

Inspiration in the Park -- a singing event sponsored by Newnan Presbyterian Church -- will be held from 3-5 p.m. The park has a classic amphitheater and landscaped grounds with benches that attract folks wanting to relax. Couples in wedding attire or formal dress frequently pose for photographers there, and it has attracted theatrical, concert and fundraising events.

A youth concert by Trinity Baptist Church and an Easter sunrise service sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Newnan are among the religious gatherings already held at the park, and the National Day of Prayer observance will be held there Thursday at noon.

Inspiration in the Park will bring a wide range of musical talent together for a free concert. Bob Coggin, chairman of the committee that organized the event, said the concert grew from a challenge by representatives of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

In August or September of last year, Presbytery representatives visited the Newnan church and challenged the congregation to mount some effort to reach out to the community. The goal was to have something that would have a "beneficial impact on the community" and be something "not just for our church," Coggin said.

Sunday's concert will be the fruition of "what the Presbytery challenged us to do," he said.

"We are excited to offer the community an opportunity to come together and enjoy a time of fellowship and hear inspirational music from a wide variety of churches and inspirational performers," said Harry Barrow, pastor at Newnan Presbyterian.

Scheduled to perform at the concert are:

n Men of God, an exciting African-American male group from Grantville.

n Masterworks Ensemble, an ensemble group from the larger local Masterworks chorus.

n Georgia-Indiana Mountain Gospel Quartet, featuring popular local singers John and Lalla McGee and Dave and Debbie Webster.

n Moreland Community Singers, a 30-voice group with singers from different denominations.

n Newnan Chapel Male Chorus, popular local African-American performing group.

Lawn chairs may be brought for seating and are recommended. Parking will be available in the Newnan Presbyterian parking lots, which will be marked.

A performance by the Newnan Chapel Male Chorus at Newnan Presbyterian helped to form the concept of pulling from the community to find a range of talented singers with a gospel message for Inspiration in the Park.

The "park" part of the plan was easy. "We've got the greatest venue for it, right across from the church at the Greenville Street Park," Coggin noted. Planners want Sunday's event "to be inspirational" as well as entertaining, he said.

In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Newnan Presbyterian Church sanctuary. Light refreshments will be served in the church fellowship hall following the concert.

Members of the participating groups have been busy during the past week -- practicing their numbers and getting ready for the crowd. "We're looking for in excess of 200 people," Coggin said.

Janet Flanigan, another member at Newnan Presbyterian, said representatives of each group met with church officials at NPC on Monday evening. The gathering provided "a run-through meeting for the event so the performers will know what to expect on the big day," Flanigan said.

Coggin and others at Newnan Presbyterian are already looking ahead to next year's Inspiration in the Park. "We're going to make this an annual event," he said.

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