2.14.2007

Welcome to the web presence for "David North & The Gospel Celebration"


David North & The Gospel Celebration (DNGC) was a unique and exciting "out" gospel group that was based in the Washington, DC area. This talented group of musicians performed at MCC and other churches around the country and a variety of LGBT festivals and special events, between the years 1997 - 2001.
The group was led by the Rev. David K. North who served as the lead vocalist and wrote all of the original gospel compositions performed by DNGC. The other regular vocalists in the group included: Scott Breivold (Tenor); Shirley Clay (Alto); and Frieda Rink-Walton (Soprano). They were backed by a wonderfully talented set of musicians that included: Jeanie Broderick (Drums); Virgil Night (Bass); and Janina Sajka (Keyboards).
DNGC presented music that put a fresh face on a timeless message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and LGBT perspective. Their energetic and diverse performances ran the gamut from traditional to contemporary and embraced a variety of musical styles. Original compositions written by the Rev. David K. North were the mainstay of the DNGC repertoire. Their songs, featuring creative arrangements and tight vocal harmonies, presented themes of gratitude, encouragement, determination, and grace. The group's music sought to affirm God's unconditional love and to empower the LGBT
 community to accept with pride their unique place in God's creation.

DNGC performed for
MCC churches in DC, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and more; the 1999 UFMCC general conference; the 1999 Soulforce "Journey to Lynchburg" event; Gay Pride Festivals in Maryland, New Orleans and the Nation's Capital; a gospel brunch in Washington, DC honoring Ms. Rosa Parks; the 1998 GLAAD Media Awards Ceremony; the 1998 "Gospel and Soul" event hosted by the Human Rights Campaign; and several affirming churches including Methodist and Baptist congregations.

In 1999 DNGC released their recording "I Am Not Ashamed." The CD features eleven original compositions that reveal powerful messages for all God's people. The title track, a kind of "anthem" for the GLBT community written by David North and Virgil Night, was enthusiastically received at churches and Gay Pride events and was performed live at the Millennium March on Washington April 30th, 2000.
As a result of various personal, spiritual, and professional pursuits, the group is no longer performing together. We stay in touch though, and enjoy making music when we can. We hope that through our CD the music we made will live on and continue to touch people's lives.

2.13.2007

Be Encouraged (Song Lyrics)

Be Encouraged
(By David K. North)

Be encouraged,
When you find yourself growing weary.
Be encouraged,
When your path gets dark and dreary.

Be encouraged,
When you find you are standing alone.
Be encouraged,
When you feel your hope almost gone.

There is someone who knows what you're going through
Trust in the Lord, yes, God knows just what to do.
When you're down to your last dime,
Be encouraged, God will step in on time.

Be encouraged,
When troubles are all around.
Be encouraged,
When your so called friends can't be found.

Be encouraged,
When your eyes get filled with tears.
Be encouraged,
When surrounded by doubts and fears.

Keep looking up, yes, your help is on the way.
Now may be hard, but there'll be a brighter day.
When you're down to your last dime,
Be encouraged, God will step in on time.

Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of our God.
You need to know that the good you do, won't be in vain.
Hold on, keep the faith, stand fast through sunshine and rain.
Be encouraged, God will step in on time.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

Whosoever Will (Song Lyrics)

Whosoever Will
(By David K. North)

Whosoever will
Whosoever will
Whosoever will, let them come

No matter where you been
No matter where or when

Whosoever will, let them come

Copyright 1998. David K. North

Power of Prayer (Song Lyrics)

Power of Prayer
(By David K. North)

Just stop, to pray
God wants to hear from you
The Lord knows, when you're burdened and in despair
Anytime, anywhere, just call on Jesus, He'll be right there
Any hour, you have the power of prayer.

Every time you pray, Jesus is listening, listening
Already on the way, is your blessing, your blessing
Anytime, anywhere, just call on Jesus, He'll be right there
Any hour, you have the power of prayer.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

No I'll Never Turn Back (Song Lyrics)

No I'll Never Turn Back
(By David K. North)

As I walk this road to glory, I will never turn back.
As I talk and tell my story, I'll never, never, never turn back!
Everybody sing...

No, I'll never turn back. No, I'll never turn back.
No, I'll never turn back. No, I'll never turn back!

Come what may, from day to day, I will never turn back.
As long as God is guiding me all the way, I will never, never, never turn
back!

Everybody sing...
Long as I live, when troubles rise, I will never turn back.
I'm gonna wipe these tears from my eyes, and then I'll never, never, never
turn back!
Come on help me sing...

No, I'll never turn back. No, I'll never turn back.
No, I'll never turn back. No, I'll never turn back!

Copyright 1998. David K. North

My Prayer (Song Lyrics)

My Prayer
(By David K. North)

My prayer for you, my sisters and brothers,
As we go along the way,
Is that God will teach us love for each other
While we yet have today.

So may God bless you, love, and keep you
From all hurt, harm, or pain.
And as we grow in the Lord,
May the grace of God be with you.

May the grace of God be with you, Ooh, ooh,
May the peace of the Lord be with you all of your days
May the love that God shared with us, spread throughout the land.
May the grace of God be with you.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

Justified (Song Lyrics)

Justified
(By David K. North)

Justified, by my faith I'm justified.
Justified, Yes, by faith I'm justified.

God knows all about me.
My God made me this way.
I've got a witness is in heaven.
It doesn't matter what the world may do or say.

I'm gonna make it, by faith I'm justified.
I'm gonna take it, I'm going all the way.
I'm not ashamed of how God made me.
This is the gospel that Jesus gave me

RAP: God knows who you are, how you are, what you are.
It's not natural to try to be something that you're not.

Justified, by my faith I'm justified.
Justified, Yes, by faith I'm justified.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

I'm Covered (Song Lyrics)

I'm Covered
(By David K. North)

God's grace is so amazing, it looks beyond my faults, and sees my needs.
It's good to know, that wherever I go, that God loves me, in spite of me.
When I'm up, I'm covered. When I'm down, I'm covered.
When I'm right, I'm covered. When I'm wrong, I'm covered,
By the grace, sweet grace of God.

There is nothing as amazing as the grace of God, it looks beyond all my faults, and sees my needs. It's good to know, that wherever I go, that God loves and cares for me, in spite of me.
When I'm up, I'm covered. When I'm down, I'm covered.
When I'm right, I'm covered. When I'm wrong, I'm covered,
By the grace, sweet grace of God.

I know that, I'm not all I should be.
But thank God, I'm not what I used to be.
With God by my side, to be my guide,
I'll be what God wants me to be

When I'm up, I'm covered. When I'm down, I'm covered.
When I'm right, I'm covered. When I'm wrong, I'm covered,
By the grace, sweet grace of God.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

I Am Not Ashamed (Song Lyrics)

I Am Not Ashamed

(By David K. North & Virgil Night)

After many years of searching
And questioning within
After years of denying the truth in me
The struggle now is over
My life begins again
The time has come to face reality

I am who I am, I am what I am
It doesn't matter how, it doesn't matter why
There's no one to blame
The truth now is clear, I stand without fear
You can know my name
For I am not ashamed

What were you expecting
What were you hoping for
That maybe we would silently disappear?
We're your sisters and your brothers
Your daughters and your sons
It does no good pretending we're not here

No more cowering in the shadows
Afraid to love myself
I must be all I am and nothing less
Nothing more is required than life and liberty
And the pursuit of happiness
For me this is the moment
For me the time is now
To claim our rightful measure of dignity
And standing strong together, our voices WILL be heard
As we fulfill our destiny

Copyright 1998. David K. North & Virgil Night

He Was Wounded (Song Lyrics)

He Was Wounded
(By David K. North)

He was wounded for my transgressions,
He was bruised for my iniquities,
The chastisement of my peace was upon him,
And with his stripes I'm healed.

For me, He decided to die
For me, He was crucified
For me, He shed His precious blood
To wash the guilt away, to wash the shame away, to wash the stain of sin away.

Copyright 1998. David K. North

Beloved (Song Lyrics)

Beloved
(By David K. North)

I never would have believed it, but it's true.
Something wonderful and amazing, and yet it's nothing new.
I've found someone who loves me, more than I could ever have dreamed of.
I am more than loved, I'm beloved.

Lord, you proved your love on Calvary
You didn't have to do it, and yet you gave your life for me.
Mercy by mercy, I'm so very grateful I can say,
I am more than loved, I'm beloved.

Amazingly, even me, I'll never be the same.
Now I know that wherever I go, I'll praise your holy name.
Amazingly, even me, could this really be true?
You see my heart, you know every part. Now all that I have to do is believe it, and receive it.

You see my heart, you know every part. Now all that I have to do is believe it, and receive it.
I am more than loved, I'm beloved
I am more than loved, I'm beloved
I am more than loved, I'm beloved

Nothing that I could ever do or say;
You have made it so clear, nothing can take your love away.
What a blessed assurance just to know each time I pray,

I am more than loved, I'm beloved
I am more than loved, I'm beloved
You are more than loved, you're beloved
You are more than loved, you're beloved
We are more than loved, we're beloved
We are more than loved, we're beloved
I am more than loved, I'm beloved.

Copyright 1998. David K. North