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Chapter 15 Purpose "The Anointing of God Breaks the Yokes" Sister Mary Bracey once again stands in the cross-aisle, addressing the congregation . When she and her husband, Brother Samuel Bracey,were called to follow the St. James Gospel Choir, they rose from the pews singing. Sister Bracey's powerful voice swallowed the closing words of Evangelist Lofton's introduction, and the passion has yet to subside. After marching forward to the rousing choruses of "If the Lord Needs Somebody:' the Bracey Singers had launched into a driving rendition of "Everything Is Moving by the Power of God." The entire congregation had joined in the exuberant "shout-time" singing. Then the musicians had pushed the song-and the clapping saints-into an extra, instrumental verse. Now fans are flapping throughout the pews, and winded saints are crying "Glory!" and "Praise God!" As the guitarist whips the melody to a frothy crescendo, Sister Bracey wails, "Thank You, Jesus!" No longer do her words craft a simple statement of praise. Instead, they flow with the shifting contours of chant. Sister Bracey is shaking her head, clenching her fistsby her side, clearly feeling the power. As the guitarist plays on, her words begin to roll, threatening at every moment to burst into song. She seems to be straining to hold herself back, struggling to keep the passion in check. We're getting ready to leaveyou now! We ask that you pray for us, and we'll do the same for you. I'm feeling all right! Knowing that God is a good God! Thinking about [the] way God cares for us! May He help me right now! We ask that you pray for us, and we'll do the same for you. We're going to leave you in God's hands, the one that will take care of ... (That's alright!) (Yeah!) (Alright now!) (Yes! /Amen!) (YesHe is!) (Uh-huh!) (Yeah!) (Glory! Glory!) (Thank You, Lord Iesusl) (Uh-huh!) (Glory to God!) Sister Bracey's words fade in her plunging tone, the final «you" lost to a sharp shake of the head that leaves her face facing heaven. Her chanted remarks chart a singsong pattern that pulls every opening line to a tonal rise, and then sends its counterpart into a breathy dive. The lines rise and fall, rise and fall, the pattern broken only by the cried affirmation «I'm feeling all right!" which begins at a voice-cracking pitch even higher than its close. If this was a sermon, the sound alone would suggest climax.1 But the words carry no sustained message. Nor do they link themselves to the songs sung or yet to be sung. Instead, they just pour out, freely mixing praise, prayer, announcement, and testimony in an exuberant jumble. Watching her rapt delivery, I realize that Sister Bracey doesn't need to say anything more than she's said. Her tone-and more important, her entire body-convey her message for her. As another «Praise God!" rings from the amen corner, Sister Bracey's husband steps to the microphone. "Branchettes, I'm going to sing my last song for you;' he promises, his resonant baritone sounding a sharp contrast to his wife's piercing soprano. «Lord Jesus!" cries Sister Perry. Brother Samuel Bracey continues with a quick «Hallelujah, search my soul!" tagged by a sudden, rising «Hey!" Then he shakes his head, signaling to all the fleeting touch of the Spirit. Cries of «Glory!" and «Go ahead!" ring from the pews, as Brother Bracey utters a brief, falsetto "Whoo!" Then, with another shake of the head and a swift shrug of his shoulders, he shouts «Hallelujah!" Scattered claps erupt from the congregation, accompanied by another wave of enthusiastic affirmation. When the saints finally fallsilent, Brother Bracey again addresses the Branchettes, saying, «On down the line, you all are doing just what I'm going to sing about!"«Lord Jesus!" responds Sister Perry. Deacon Eldridge adds an "Oh yes!" while the drummer strikes a single-beat accent on the snare. Then Brother Bracey says, «If you ... " This time, however, he can't finish, the «feeling" rising too high to allow him to proceed. As he shakes his head in silence, the guitarist plays a quiet, calming phrase. «Thank You, Jesus;' whispers Sister Bracey. «Jesus!" calls Sister Perry. Suddenly, Brother Bracey starts to sing. His richly textured voice fillsthe church with quavering passion, as he slides his opening word in and around the emergent melody, stretching it for...

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