Area natives to perform for president
Lori Smith said she and her husband, Jeffrey, feel “very honored’ to perform at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday in front of an audience that includes President and Mrs. Bush. “It’s exciting and neat and an honor to go there to give our message in song,’ she remarked.
The Smiths are Connellsville natives now living in Metamora, Ill., just outside Peoria. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Larry and Shirley Metsger of Connellsville and Smith is the son of Roger and Cyndy Smith of Dunbar.
The Smiths are traveling to Washington, D.C., with the Grace Singers of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria. The Grace Singers include 24 vocalists selected by Dr. Alan Miller, Grace Presbyterian’s minister of music, to perform at the National Prayer Breakfast. Mrs. Smith is a soprano and Smith is a tenor.
The breakfast will take place at the Hilton Towers in Washington, D.C. C-SPAN is expected to broadcast the breakfast live, beginning approximately at 8 a.m. Singer Michael W. Smith is the featured performer.
The Grace Presbyterian congregation received the invitation to perform at the breakfast from their congressman, U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, who is in charge of music for the event.
“He’s been attending our Christmas program for several years,’ explained Mrs. Smith. “It’s been broadcast nationally (over Cornerstone Television) and he’s on the committee for the National Prayer Breakfast.’
The choir began practicing for the National Prayer Breakfast after Christmas. Their plans have attracted attention from the Peoria media, which is sending a television news crew to film their rehearsals and do a story on the choir.
For the breakfast, the choir will perform a four-minute medley of hymns and upbeat songs at the beginning of the breakfast. They include “How Great Thou Art,’ “Great is Thy Faithfulness,’ “I’ll Put on a Crown,’ “The Anchor Holds’ and a reprise of “How Great Thou Art.’
The Grace Singers will also close the breakfast with a song called “This is Love,’ followed by “Amazing Grace.’ Mrs. Smith will have a solo on “Amazing Grace.’
“A lot of people have asked, ‘Are you nervous about singing in front of the president?” Mrs. Smith noted. “I am a little, but I try to remember that it’s God I’m singing to. He sings through me and I won’t have to worry about it.’
In addition to President and Mrs. Bush, the breakfast will include members of the Cabinet, Congress and about 600 diplomats from around the world. Mrs. Smith said that thousands of people will attend the event – so large a number that many will sit in different parts of the hotel.
The Grace Singers will leave Peoria on Tuesday for Washington. They are expected to rehearse on Wednesday and then perform Thursday.
After the breakfast, the Grace Singers have been invited to visit LaHood at his office and to tour the Capitol. They will also attend dinner at the Capitol Club. The choir is waiting for word on a possible White House tour Friday. They will also attend the Holocaust Museum before returning to Illinois.
“They’re thrilled,’ Shirley Metsger said of the Smiths’ trip.
The couple graduated from Connellsville Area High School: Smith in 1987 and Mrs. Smith in 1988.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University in 1992 and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from WVU in 1994. He is a senior development engineer with Caterpillar Inc. of Peoria. Mrs. Smith received a mathematics degree with a minor in secondary education from Westminster College in 1992. She worked as a teacher for seven years but is now a homemaker. Married in 1994, the couple has two daughters: Michaela, 3, and Larissa, 1.
Mrs. Metsger said of her daughter and son-in-law’s upcoming performance in Washington, “I think it’s a great honor. We’ve been supportive of all their programs.’
Cyndy Smith of the couple’s appearance, “We’re just absolutely thrilled. We’re very proud of them.’