First UMC, La Feria, celebrates
4 years of Gospel Jam May 16
with special music


First UMC, La Feria, had a special Gospel Jam celebration May 16 in honor of the program’s fourth anniversary.
Gospel Jam is a bimonthly worship service that features bluegrass and old-time country gospel music performed by The Gospel Truth Band.
The band comprises Virginia Harwell (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Zachary Harwell (piano and keyboards), Michael Harwell (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and backup singer), Pastor Randall Hil-burn (bass guitar and backup singer), Heidi Warner (drums) and Mike Wiggins (lead guitar and backup singer).
During the service, several guest musicians and singers from the church joined The Gospel Truth Band for its anniversary performance.
Darlene Brown opened the service with a solo. Mary Beechner played the harmonica, and the Phat Boyz (Lloyd Betts, Karl Cole and Eddie Ostrowski) sang.
Young people participated as well. Tesla Cadena, a fourth-grader, performed a song, and Angelica Reyes, Charlie Bransom, Christina Harwell and Zachary Harwell, all band students at La Feria Junior High or La Feria High School, played brass horns.
Gospel Jam happens the first and third Wednesdays of the month at First UMC. “Gather ’Round the Piano” starts at 6:50 p.m., and the praise music starts at 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to eat a hot, home-cooked dinner may arrived at 6 p.m. and purchase a meal for $5. For more information call (956) 797-5638.