eternalpraiseministries.com

Sierra Salem Benefit Concert

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:57:22 PST

July 11, 2010
Hello friends -

I hope that you are enjoying your summer! These warm days have made my flowers bloom beautifully. Unfortunately, the weeds are thriving as well....... : ( Mom came over the other night to help me deal with them - aren't Moms sweet? It's been fun seeing everything grow. Are any of you planting gardens this year? What are your favorite things to plant?

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An upcoming concert for you:

On Friday, July 16, at 7:00pm, the Herb Henry Family and Eternal Praise will be in concert at Bethel Church (2361 Scenic Drive in Modesto) to benefit Sierra Salem Christian Homes.

This wonderful organization is celebrating its twentieth year of providing quality, Christ-centered residential care and support to individuals with a developmental disability in Modesto. Sierra Salem is working to open a new home especially for persons with a disability who are over the age of 60.

Admission will be $5 at the door with an offering to be received during the concert.

Come on out and enjoy a wonderful evening with us!

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Happy Sunday to you all!
Allison Jolliff
Eternal Praise

Couriers Concert

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:28:28 PST

Dear Eternal Praise Friends -

We are so excited for the weekend! Not just because it's the weekend and we are off work, but because we have a special evening planned for Saturday night! And we think you should join us for this special evening!!

Many years ago, a group called The Couriers traveled here on the West Coast, singing and making friends along the way. Well....they're back! Eternal Praise is excited to host the Original Couriers, Dave, Duane, and Neil, in concert this Saturday night, June 19. It is sure to be a wonderful experience, and you won't want to miss it! Eternal Praise and Chosen Vision will also be singing. Come on out to the First Baptist Church in Turlock, CA (290 W. Olive Street) at 7:00pm, and spend a few hours enjoying the ministry of The Couriers!

Can't wait to see you!

Allison Jolliff

A Trio of Trios

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:07:51 PST

Hello!

I'm excited to tell you that we have three great trios coming to CA this month!

First, this Sunday, June 13th at 5:00pm, Phil Cross and Crossing will be in Fair Oaks (near Sacramento) at the New Life Community Church (8101 Sunset Ave, Fair Oaks, CA). Crossing is made up of Phil Cross and his wife, Rebekah Cross, and their friend, Sheri Thrower.

On Saturday, June 19th, the original Couriers will be singing at First Baptist Church in Turlock (290 W Olive Street) at 7:00pm. Eternal Praise will also be singing! No ticket is needed - An offering will be taken for their ministry. Dave, Duane and Neil are men of integrity and have influenced many of today's gospel singers.

Finishing out this great round of concerts, the Booth Brothers will bring their Declaration Tour to Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton, CA, on Thursday, June 24th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $16 and are available from Eternal Praise or at www.itickets.com. There are also group rates available by calling 800-965-9324.

Make plans to go see these incredible Trios. You'll be encouraged and you'll have a great time!

I'll be looking for you!

Kristen Dutter
www.EternalPraiseMinistries.com

Couriers Concert

Thu, 13 May 2010 09:01:52 PST

May 10, 2010

Hello Friends!

Many of you have been asking if we are hosting another Songfest this year. Due to a variety of factors, including a lack of parking space, we will not be doing an outside concert at our home this year.

We are, however, hosting the Original Couriers in concert this June!

The Couriers, Dave, Duane, and Neil, toured the West Coast many years ago, making many friends on this side of the United States. My mom remembers them coming to her home for dinner, and my grandparents are excited to see them again! I remember singing their most popular song, The Statue of Liberty, when I was a little girl.

We are pleased to host them in concert on Saturday, June 19 at 7:00pm. The concert will be held at the First Baptist Church in Turlock, located at 290 W. Olive Street. Please visit their website at www.daveduaneandneil.com for more information on their group.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us or contact Gary Dutter at 209-545-0382.

Thank you!
Allison Jolliff

Pray for Dennis

Wed, 05 May 2010 23:03:33 PST

May 4, 2010

Hello friends -

I'm writing to ask for your prayers and to give you an update on Dennis Wyatt. Early Monday morning, Dennis had a massive heart attack. He is doing well, praise God! He had stents placed on Monday and they will be doing more stents tomorrow. We visited Dennis and Marilyn in the hospital this evening and he is looking good and making jokes with the nurses. They are very grateful for the good care he is receiving from all the doctors and nurses. Please keep him and his family in your prayers!

As I'm sure you could tell from Allison's last email, we had a wonderful time at the Fan Fest! I've uploaded some pictures to our Picasa Photo Gallery here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/EternalPraise/FanFest2010?feat=directlink

It was fun to see so many of you last weekend. I'll be looking forward to seeing you all again! Thanks for keeping Dennis in your prayers!

Blessings,

Kristen Dutter
Eternal Praise

Fan Fest report and Mark Trammell Concert

Wed, 05 May 2010 23:02:16 PST

May 1, 2010

Hello from Visalia!!!

We have finally found internet access and can let you all know: we are having an absolutely won-der-ful time! But then again, we knew we would! And if you are at home, why are you not here with us????? : )

Concerts have been outstanding this year! Such awesome groups! We've had so much fun in the Exhibit Hall hanging out with some of our biggest heroes!

Eternal Praise sang yesterday, so the nerves are gone and we're waaaay relaxed today! Dennis and Marilyn Wyatt came over last night for a midnight party, and we just talked and talked. We didn't make it to bed until 1:30am!! Starting to feel tired, but a trip to the Tulare Outlets and lunch with Dustin Sweatman and Pat Barker has got the energy flowing again! : )

Seriously. Sign.Up.For.Next.Year! You will have So.Much.Fun!

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Now. For all of you still at home in the Modesto area who are not enjoying this wonderful weekend, I have a great way for you to get in on the fun.

Tomorrow night. That's Sunday, May 2nd. You need to be at Calvary Baptist Church on Miller Avenue. Because: The MARK TRAMMELL QUARTET will be in concert! And they are uh-maz-ing! In fact, Pat Barker himself just walked by and said he will sound extra good if you'all come! (He's the new bass singer)!

So...here are the details. Calvary Baptist Church, 1732 Miller Avenue, Modesto. Sunday, May 2nd. 6:00pm!

Come.

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And guess what? If you are still looking for more great ways to experience this weekend (without actually being here), I have more news! : )

GREATER VISION will be singing on Thursday, May 6th, at 7:00pm, at the Ceres Christian Church in.....Ceres! They are awe-some, and it's great to hear Chris Allman singing tenor with them again! The church is located at 3502 Roeding Road.

Come.

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So, if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm having a wonderful weekend, loving all this great music, and think that you should experience it with me!
Hope to see you soon!
Allison Jolliff
Eternal Praise

Fan Fest and Selah

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:06:40 PST

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Such awesome weather this past weekend! I've been planting flowers up a storm! How did you spend these glorious sunny days?

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This coming weekend: (drum roll, please......) FAN FEST!! We are super excited to be heading to Visalia for the Great Western Fan Festival! A host of amazing showcases and a list of some of Southern Gospel's top performers for the evening concerts are just two reasons why this weekend is something you don't want to miss! Go to www.thefanfest.com for information and make plans to be with us! Eternal Praise will be singing in the Best of the West showcase on Friday afternoon.

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Another concert opportunity: SELAH, a Christian singing group of 3, will be at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto on Friday, May 14th at 7:00pm.
This concert will benefit Bethany Christian Services, helping to raise awareness about Bethany's pregnancy counseling, Bethany's House, and their local and intercountry adoption ministries.
Tickets are $15.00 per person, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. To order tickets, visit www.bethany.org/modestoconcert or call 209-522-5121 ext. 113. You won't want to miss out on this special evening!

I hope all of you have a wonderful week! Hope to see you in Visalia! Stop by our booth and chat with us for a while!

Allison Jolliff
Eternal Praise

Changes for Eternal Praise

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:10:02 PST

Hello friends!

We hope the new year is off to a good start for all of you!

Many of you may have heard about some changes taking place in the ministry of Eternal Praise. We have had the privilege of singing together for over fifteen years. The Skiles family has let us know that they feel it is time for them to stop singing and focus on other things. Dennis Wyatt has also decided to retire. They have written letters to all of you which are below.

While we will really miss them, we completely support their decision and will pray for them in their desire to follow God�s leading. The Dutter family will continue to sing as Eternal Praise and we would greatly appreciate your prayers as we continue to serve God through song.

Blessings to you all,

Gary, Rachel, and Kristen Dutter and Allison Jolliff

Dear Friends of Eternal Praise,

Over the past 15 years while serving in ministry through song, we have experienced God�s faithfulness. He has demonstrated to us that there is a remnant of His people everywhere praising Him for His unmerited grace. To personally experience this truth has been fulfilling and very rewarding.

The past couple of months God has spoken to us leading our lives in a new direction. We are confident of His calling by the peace we have experienced after making the decision to step down from this ministry. The memories of the past will never leave us!

In answering God�s call, it has directly impacted the others in Eternal Praise. We cannot express our appreciation enough for the Dutter and Wyatt family and their understanding. We know the transition will be difficult for a while. As well, we will greatly miss all of you as friends and supporters of the ministry.

Eternal Praise�s mission is to share Jesus Christ and His saving grace. We pray a blessing on Gary and his family for their continuation of this mission and anticipate a continued friendship and support of them. As well, ministering with Dorothy�s father, Dennis, has been something we cherish. We�ve all grown very close through the years and to think there won�t be weekly practices and regular opportunities to minister with them is difficult. Yet we know God is faithful in His direction for our lives.

Once again, we want to say thank-you to our family and to each of you who have encouraged us through the years. We believe God has a plan for all of us who have called on His name and look forward with anticipation to God�s guiding hand.

May God bless you!

Dale, Dorothy, and Cody Skiles

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Dear Friends,

After much prayer and consideration, I have decided with regrets to retire from the singing group "Eternal Praise". I have enjoyed my life-long dream of being able to sing with a group singing Southern gospel songs. It was such a pleasure to sing with my family as they were growing up and also after we joined with the Dutter family. What an awesome time it has been and I will miss it immensely! My family has decided to go in another direction and the age of life is creeping up on me, so I have made the decision to retire at the same time. I want to give my family my blessing and encourage them in whatever direction God has planned for them.

I want to thank my family and the Dutters for allowing me the privilege and blessing of singing with them and for being a part of their lives. We've had some very good and enjoyable times with them at the practices, the prayer times, the recording times, the ups and downs and also the encouraging times.

It has been wonderful watching the younger ones; Kristen, Allison and Cody mature in their singing abilities.

My wife Marilyn has been my support and encourager so I want to thank her for the part she has played. She would make sure the announcements were out and people notified when and where we were going to sing. She always attended the practices and our concerts and worked at the product table and was always there for Eternal Praise, I thank God for her.

I want to encourage the Dutter family and give them my blessing as they continue to praise our Lord in singing and spreading the gospel in song and encouraging others.

May God be praised and glorified by our years of singing!

In Christian Love,

Dennis Wyatt

Christmas concerts

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:09:38 PST

December 13, 2009

Merry Christmas to you!

I'm happy to tell you that Allison and Neil's wedding was absolutely wonderful! Thanks to a lot of help from our family and friends, everything came together just right. Allison looked beautiful and I've put a link on our website home page so you can see a few pictures!

Next weekend we'll be singing two Christmas concerts.

On Saturday, December 19th, we're singing at Lake Tulloch Bible Church in Copperopolis, CA. The church is located at 3566 Spangler Lane # 3 and the concert starts at 7:00pm. We're so excited to go back to this wonderful church.

On Sunday, December 20th at 6:00pm, we'll be at First Baptist Church in Escalon, CA. The address is 1511 Catherine Way. We always enjoy being with our friends there!

We hope you will join us for one of these Christmas concerts. We would really love to see you!

Kristen Dutter

Upcoming concert

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:09:12 PST

November 5, 2009

Hello Everyone!

I hope that all of you are enjoying the fall weather and these days leading up to Thanksgiving. I am especially enjoying these days, because they are leading up to my wedding on November 28^th!

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming concert � after this one, the next time you hear me, I'll be Mrs. Jolliff! : )

The California Gospel Jubilee will be held on Saturday, November 14^th, at 6:00pm in Merced. This year, eight groups of all different styles will be featured, including the California Melody Boys, Eternal Praise, Richland Trio, Riverboys, Ronnie Pack and Amazing Grace, Solid Ground, Sweet Everlasting, the Taylor Family, and Brian Cogburn.

A soup and salad supper will be available for purchase before the concert beginning at 4:30pm. The auditorium doors open at 5:00pm. Admission is $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

The church, Christian Life Center, is located at 650 E. Olive Ave in Merced.

Bring your friends and enjoy this wonderful evening with us! You can purchase tickets at www.californiagospeljubilee.com. For more information, call Ike at 209-756-6837.

We hope to see you there!

Allison Dutter

Summer Review

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:58:54 PST

September 1, 2009

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all having a wonderful summer!

Our summer has been busy! In July, Kristen, Cody, and I attended the Steve Hurst School of Music in Cleveland, Tennessee. This year it was held at Lee University. So much is packed in to one week - here is a rough idea of our schedule:

6:00     Wake up - not my favorite part of the day!!!
7:00     Breakfast - biscuits and honey were amazing
8:20     Chapel - great music and great message by Pastor Rick Curry
9:30     Private vocal lesson - just us three with a great instructor!
10:45   Practice - we found empty piano rooms and sang, sang, sang!
12:00   Lunch
1:15     Private vocal lesson - just us three with a great instructor!
2:30     Theory - I usually skipped and took a nap! : )
3:45     Group class - on things like breathing, placement, vowels.....
5:00     Dinner
6:00     Choir - we learned 4 great new songs!
7:00     Evening concert - with groups like the Talley Trio, Booth Brothers, Mark    Trammell Trio, Voices of Lee, and Tribute Quartet!
10:00   Hang out with friends - eating Chik-fil-a!!
12:00   Sleeeeeeep!

We had private vocal lessons with Aaron Unthank, Melissa Brady, Mike Donavon, Sherrie Forbes, Gary Casto, Dennis Dugger, Dustin Sweatman, John Darrin Rowsey, and Brian Alvey.

Such a great trip!

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The rest of the summer has been filled with camping trips, destruction derbies, showing sheep at the fair, wedding plans, fire season and strike teams, moving Garrett and Sarah to Sacramento, and so much more!

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In a few weeks, Kristen will be heading to Kentucky for the National Quartet Convention! She will fill her time listening to awesome music, hanging with lots of the friends we've made at Steve Hurst, and helping Melissa Brady with her product table in the exhibit hall. Pray for a safe trip for her - and let her know that you would love it if she would blog her experiences for all of us to read!

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This Sunday night, September 6th, Eternal Praise will be singing at the Turlock First Baptist Church at 6:00pm. We'll be joined by RSV - a men's quartet from Bakersfield, CA. This group is made up of 4 school teachers, and they know how to have a great time! We love hanging out with them, and we know you'll love them as well! Plan to come out and join us for a great evening of music! The church is located at 290 W. Olive Street, Turlock, CA.

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One more thing.....
Eternal Praise's new CD, Voice Of A Savior, can be yours for only $15, plus $3 for shipping. We had such a great time recording this CD with producer Wesley Pritchard. Songs include Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, Oh Say But I'm Glad, Stand By The River, and Voice Of A Savior. Call or email us today to get your copy!
Dutters - 209-545-0382
Skiles - 209-524-5364
Wyatts - 209-552-0110
eternalpraise@gmail.com

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I hope you are all having a wonderful week!
Allison Dutter

Weekend Concerts

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:47:12 PST

Hello!!

I hope everyone is having a great week! Thanks for all of the responses to my last email - you're sweet!

I wanted to let you know of some concerts coming up this weekend.

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On Sunday morning, May 24th, Eternal Praise will be singing at the Oak Avenue Free Methodist Church in Orangevale, CA (near Sacramento). The service starts at 9:30am. If you live up that way and want to come join us, we'd love it! The church is located at 8790 Oak Avenue, Orangevale, CA.

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Then on Monday, May 25th, we will be singing in the Memorial Day Gospel Fest! Also performing will be The Richland Trio, the River Boys, Sons of Light, Debt Free, the Chordsmen, The Roberts, The Dartts, and Brian Cogburn. The event will be held at the Turlock Community Auditorium (1574 E Canal Drive) in Turlock, CA. The concert will begin at 1:00pm and go until 5:30pm. There will be food available to purchase.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 12 and under are free.
Call us to purchase tickets:
Dennis and Marilyn Wyatt   209-552-0110
Dale and Dorothy Skiles   209-524-5364
Gary and Rachel Dutter   209-545-0382

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And don't forget:
Booth Brothers - June 25
Songfest - June 27

Happy Monday!
Allison Dutter
Eternal Praise

Good things

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:45:56 PST

Hello everyone!
I hope that you are all having a great week!

I wanted to let you know about a lot of fun things:

First of all, I'm getting married!! Neil Jolliff and I got engaged a few weeks ago! We are super excited to begin this new adventure!

Second, the BOOTH BROTHERS are coming to Stockton, CA! We are so excited to help promote this concert. We have become friends with Ronnie and Michael Booth and Jim Brady � they are amazing singers, and, more importantly, they are amazing men of God! The concert is on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton, CA. VIP tickets are completely sold out, but we do have General Admission tickets available for $16.00. You can call Kristen Dutter at 209-545-0382 or go in to Beardsley's Book and Bible Store in Modesto to get your tickets. You can also find them online at www.itickets.com. We would LOVE to see you there!

Third, save the date for SONGFEST 2009! This special evening is coming up on Saturday, June 27, 2009. This year we will be joined by Solid Ground, a trio based in Sacramento, CA. The grounds open at 4:30pm, a hamburger meal will be available to purchase after 5:00pm, and the concert starts at 6:00pm. Please remember to bring your own chair and a jacket, as this concert will be held outdoors. Also � if at all possible, please try to carpool with your friends, as parking is limited.

Last of all, Eternal Praise has recorded a new CD! �Voice of a Savior� will be available on Sunday, May 24, 2009. We are so excited to have new songs, including Let It Shine, Monuments, and Stand By The River!

Be watching for other emails filled with more good things! : )

Allison Dutter
Eternal Praise

Tribute Quartet concert

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:13:06 PST

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

We had quite a Christmas party with the Skiles family! They surprised us by picking us up in a ancient vintage motor-home (Big Abe) and taking us on a Progressive dinner. We had drinks at Taco Bell, salad at El Pollo Loco, dinner at the Chicken Barn and ice cream cones at McDonalds. We had so much fun driving around and trying to embarrass Dorothy! We even got one lady to ask Dorothy if we were all her children! Fun times!

I know it is last minute, but we want to let you know that Tribute Quartet will be in concert tonight at the North Modesto Church of God. At the 2008 Singing News Fan Awards, Tribute won the award for Horizon Group of the Year. We have been fortunate to learn from these guys at the Steve Hurst School of Music in Nashville, TN the past few years and we're excited they are coming to town!

Tribute will be at North Modesto Church of God

1918 Sherwood Avenue, Modesto, CA

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 7:00PM

We pray God's blessings to each of you this year and look forward to seeing you soon!

Kristen and Allison Dutter

Concert in Copperopolis

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:26:37 PST

Merry Christmas!

I love this time of year! The lights, the salvation army bells, the parties, the cheer! Yet most of all, I am thankful for the joy that comes from knowing Jesus.

We want to invite you all to our last Christmas concert of the year. We'll be singing at Lake Tulloch Bible Church in Copperopolis tomorrow night, December 19, 2008 at 7:00pm. We would love to see you there!

The address is:
3566 Spangler Lane #3
Copperopolis, CA, 95228

Thanks to all of you who came to our Christmas Dinner Concert! We so enjoyed spending an evening with you! Pictures from the evening are posted here.

In this season of gift-giving, remember that "every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

Blessings to you,

Kristen Dutter

Sunday Night Concert

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:47:42 PST

Good evening! Happy Wednesday, everyone! : )

I wanted to let you know about a concert this Sunday night.

On November 23, Eternal Praise will be singing at Sierra Baptist Church at 6:00pm. We have known Pastor Joe Fergason for many years, and it is always a joy to see him! We would love for you to come on out and join us!

The church is located at:
74 N Lee Ave.
Oakdale, CA

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I hope these next several days are good ones for you! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on the goodness of God. I am thankful for the Soul Provider!

Allison Dutter

Christmas Dinner Concert

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:43:28 PST

Hello!

Many of you remember our dinner concert two years ago, Joy In The Stable. It was an evening of great food, festive music, low temperatures, and a welcoming in of the Christmas Season.

Well............. it's back!!

This year, Eternal Praise presents "An Angelic Evening" on December 6 at 6:30pm. It will include a catered dinner, a Christmas Concert, and a fresh look at the Christmas story.

The seating is limited, so call or email today to request your tickets ($40 per person).
Dutters   209-545-0382
Skiles    209-524-5364
Wyatts   209-552-0110
EternalPraise@gmail.com

We would love to spend an evening with you as we celebrate the birth of Christ!

Allison Dutter

November Concerts

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:43:19 PST

Good Morning!

We're finally seeing a change in the weather - it's feeling like fall! I hope this email finds you well!

Eternal Praise has been busy!
In early October, Kristen, Rachel, Dorothy, and Myra took a trip to Fayetteville, North Carolina to see our friends, the Pritchards, and to talk about new song ideas. They had a great time, and came home with lots of fun pictures and videos to show the rest of us.
Then, in mid October, Garrett proposed to his girlfriend, Sarah Davis! We're all excited and looking forward to a June wedding!
Last weekend, we spent a day in Ione, singing in two services at Cornerstone Church (where we had a great time with Pastor Tony and the other members) and then heading to the Preston Correctional Facility for an afternoon service. It was fun to see our friends, David Skaggs and Jacob Matchak! Pray for Jacob as he accepts a new chaplain position in Ventura, CA.

November is promising to be just as busy! Here is a list of the concerts we have scheduled. Come out and join us - we love to see familiar faces in the audience, as well as make new friends!

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First Southern Baptist Church, Denair, CA

November 02 2008 11:00AM

Eternal Praise will sing at First Southern Baptist Church in Denair, CA on November 2, 2008 at 11:00am for their morning service.

Location:
4528 N Gratton Rd
Denair, CA

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First Baptist Church, Escalon, CA

November 02 2008 06:00PM

Eternal Praise will be in concert at First Baptist Church in Escalon, CA on November 2, 2008 at 6:00pm. We always have such a great time at this church! We have many friends that we enjoy seeing, and they have a time of fellowship afterwards.

Location:
1511 Catherine Way
Escalon, CA

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Christian Life Center, Merced, CA

November 15 2008 06:00PM

On Saturday, November 15, 2008, the 3rd Annual California Gospel Jubilee will be presented at the Christian Life Center, 650 E. Olive Avenue in Merced.

Doors will open at 4:30pm, with a soup and salad supper available for $6. The program will begin at 6:00pm and feature gospel music talent from throughout central California, with groups coming from Tulare to Sacramento.

As a special treat this year, the event will feature one of the most well-known singer/songwriters in gospel music, Ronny Hinson of Nashville, Tennessee. Ronny and his siblings traveled for years as a singing group known as the Hinsons. They got their start in California in the late-sixties, and became a national sensation in the early-seventies after Ronny penned the song "The Lighthouse". The song has become a classic in Gospel music, and has been recorded and sung by hundreds of artists. Ronny continues to this day to be one of the most recorded songwriters in Gospel music.

California talent on the program this year includes the California Melody Boys, Debt Free, Eternal Praise, Herb Henry Family, Richland Trio, Roger Tripp & Christian Country and Solid Ground. As usual, the program will also feature the "All-Star Jubilee Band", a jam session with various musicians, and featuring two-time California State Fiddle Champion Brian Cogburn.

Admission is $10 for adults, with seniors (age 60 and up) $8. Children high-school aged and under will be admitted free.

For group rates, advance tickets, or more information contact Mack Reynolds at (209)201-6824.

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Sierra Baptist Church, Oakdale, CA

November 23 2008 06:00PM

Eternal Praise will be singing at Sierra Baptist Church on November 23, 2008 at 6:00pm. We've been friends with Pastor Joe Fergason for many years, and look forward to a great night!

Location:
74 N Lee Avenue
Oakdale, CA

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I'll be sending another email soon with information about our Christmas concerts!

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend! Don't eat too much candy corn (unless you bring some to share with me)!!
Allison Dutter

Modesto Gospel Mission Banquet

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:54:57 PST

Hello everyone!

I know it has been a long time since I've emailed! We've had a little break from singing. The guys always request that the September weekends be kept free for deer hunting. My brother, Garrett, got his first one this year! You'll have to ask him about it!

Our busy season is just starting - it will go all the way through Christmas! : )

I wanted to let you know about a concert next week:

Eternal Praise has been asked to sing at the Modesto Gospel Mission Banquet on Thursday, October 16, 2008. The banquet will be held at the Modesto Centre Plaza (10th and K Streets). Dinner will be served at 6:30pm (seating at 6:00pm). The evening program will also include a special appearance of Jerry McAuley (founder of the first American mission), the Modesto Gospel Mission Choir, and stories of changed lives by the men and women in the New Life Program. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance by calling 529-8259. It is sure to be a fun evening - we'd love to see you there!

I hope you're all enjoying the cooler weather! We're celebrating the beginning of fall by eating candy corn!!

Have a great weekend!
Allison Dutter

Concert with RSV

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:26:33 PST

Hello Friends! Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

I've had a good Tuesday. This afternoon, I taught my first Music class of the year with students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. They were hilarious - especially the little guys who haven't figured out how to Look, Listen, and Learn! It was so fun to hear/watch them sing The Little Green Frog - ask me to show you sometime! (It's the only time they get to stick their tongue out at their teacher!!) : ) Actually, ask me this weekend - because there is a concert on Sunday night that you won't want to miss!

Here are the details:

On Sunday, August 31, Eternal Praise and RSV will be singing at the First Baptist Church in Turlock, CA. The concert begins at 6:00pm. We had the privilege of singing with RSV a year ago. These teachers from Bakersfield know how to have a wonderful time! Pastor Bob and his wife Mary are great hosts - we so appreciate all their work in putting this together!

The church is located at 290 W Olive Ave, Turlock, CA.

We'd love for you to end the weekend with us!

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On another note, mark your calendars for September 14. Eternal Praise will be singing in the 8:45am Worship Service at Big Valley Grace Community Church, located at 4040 Tully Road, Modesto, CA. It's so much fun to sing with a great choir - we love our time with them!!

Well, it's 11:20pm, and I must be out of the house tomorrow before 6am!! So I'm off to bed...
Hope this finds you well!

Allison Dutter

Concert In The Park

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:02:59 PST

Hello Friends!
I hope that your summer is going well. Time seems to be flying by - I start back to school in 2 weeks! I still haven't convinced my dad to put in a pool - maybe next summer!!!! : ) We've all been keeping busy since returning home from Nashville (which was wonderful!!).

I wanted to let you know about a couple of concerts coming up.

This Thursday night, August 7th, Eternal Praise will be singing at the Community Park in Salida, CA. The concert will start at 7:00pm. The weather has been great in the evenings - we would love for you to come on out, bring a chair or blanket, and enjoy an evening of gospel music! A group of churches in the community is hosting this event, and we're excited to be a part of it!

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Also, mark your calendars for August 31st! Eternal Praise will be in concert on Sunday, August 31, at 6:00pm with RSV at the First Baptist Church in Turlock, CA. It's always fun to be with our friends from Bakersfield, and you don't want to miss it!

So I'm off to work in my classroom. Have a great Wednesday!!! : )

Allison Dutter
Eternal Praise

The Last Day

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:40:56 PST

It's Friday night and I'm not looking at my watch. I don't want to know how late it is because I do NOT want this day to be over yet!

This morning we were able to do our practice hour in the auditorium so the sound school could get experience running sound for "unique" groups. With 7 of us here, we certainly present some unique challenges. :) Right after that we had a private lesson with Aaron Unthank. Aaron has become a good friend of ours and we looked forward to our lesson with him all week. He really thinks creatively and was able to give us some cool ideas for staging.

We had a couple seminars in the afternoon and then it was time for the Songwriter's Showcase. This is one of the best hours of the week. The students in the songwriting class actually write a song while they are here this week and we get to hear them. We were especially excited because several of our friends wrote songs this week. We sat on the front row and cheered like crazy for them! Kaitlyn Gerber, Trevor Gibbs, and Tiffany Ballinger. Remember those names. I predict their songs will go far.

Tonight was our graduation. Bitter-sweet! We are excited to get home and keep working together on what we have learned, but we will miss being with all these incredible musicians and friends SO much!

In the morning, we are going to the Pancake Pantry for breakfast. Hopefully we'll get there before the line wraps around the building! I still remember the Georgia Peach Pancakes I had there last year. Maybe if we're lucky we'll see a real star! :) Then it's back to the airport and we'll be winging our way back home!

Can't wait to see you all and tell you about everything in person!

Kristen Dutter

Thursday Update

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:53:17 PST

We are having such an incredible week! Our private lessons have been extremely helpful. Every teacher has unique suggestions and we can HEAR the difference in our blend when we actually apply what they are teaching. Now if only we can remember it all!

Last night we sang "Days of Elijah" in the group showcase. It is amazing how easily we revert back to our old habits. There is just no way to implement all that we've learned at once. We're going to set goals and try adding things one step at a time. In spite of forgetting to breathe correctly for most of the song, it went really well and we had FUN!

We've enjoyed private lessons with Mary Anne Oglesby, Brian Alvey, Jessica Harrison and John Rowsey. John added some very cool arrangements to "Bigger than Any Mountain". Can't wait to try it in a concert!

Tribute Quartet sang tonight. Brian Alvey is their new tenor singer and he is awesome! We had so much fun in our lesson with him and he cheered us on when we sang last night.

I just hate it that tomorrow is our last full day here. We're looking forward to getting some good sleep when we get home, but this escape from our "normal" life has been refreshing.

Oh, and one last thing. Cody would like me to inform you all that he actually WAS at Bible study the other night! He makes his mama proud!

Kristen Dutter

Tuesday Synopsis

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:22:37 PST

It's 10:15pm and Dale, Dorothy, Gary, Rachel, Myra, Allison and Kristen are sitting in the foyer of our dormatory suite. The concert with the Whisnants just got out and we're talking over everything we've learned so far.

Dorothy: I am really proud of Dale and Gary. They are really giving 100% and trying to do exactly what the teachers say. There is a little bit of resistance, but not much. As long as the promise of dinner is ahead, Gary will try anything and from the time Dale wakes up in his little twin bed, he is looking forward to crawling back in it!

Rachel: In our private lessons today, we learned that two of the biggest areas we need to work on are opening our mouths WIDE and learning to breathe correctly. When we were successful, we all were amazed at the difference it made in our blend and pitch.

Gary: In a management class today, Shelly Brown said "It is not your place to seek out a ministry but to prepare for one". This preparation is killing me! :)

Dale: Singing with braces is a special talent. It seems to greatly improve diction! :)

Myra: I really liked one of the Whisnants songs tonight. It says that God will always answer our prayers, and when the answer is no, there will always be a greater yes. I've had private lessons with Sherri Thrower and Lauren Talley. They have worked with me on placement and going between my head and chest voice.

Allison: My hand is perpetually glued to my lower abdomen, so I can watch it go out when I breathe correctly!

Kristen: We've had a great day! Dustin Sweatman worked with me a lot on singing stronger in my head voice. I had to try some crazy exercises while the rest of the group looked on. They thoroughly enjoyed learning at MY expense!

Stuart: In sound class we built a microphone cord! I also went to a theory class and learned about the scale, notes and timing.

Unfortunately, Justin and Cody are still hanging out with friends (we think these friends might be girls, although Dorothy is hoping that they are at a late night Bible study!) We'll get their thoughts on here later!

We're ready to get some sleep and start this all over again tomorrow!

A quick update

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:24:05 PST

Hello again! We are having a wonderful time here at the Steve Hurst School of Music! Our days are FILLED with lessons, classes, worship, concerts, and caffeteria food! (No squash yet, but I'm sure it's coming!)

Yesterday, we had private lessons with both Jim Brady of the Booth Brothers, as well as his wife, Melissa Brady. They are wonderful people and they gave us lots of good encouragement and tips. Last night the Booth Brothers were in concert. It was such a special evening for all of us! They are transparent, honest communicators. We laughed, cried and worshipped the incredible God that we sing for!

This morning we had a lesson with Debra Talley and she worked us good! It is awesome to get ideas and suggestions to improve or give more energy to a song! It is a stretching week for all of us. I can't wait to see what is next....

I'm late for my class, but I promise I'll write more soon!

Kristen Dutter

Nashville, TN

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:51:16 PST

We're here! : ) And if you could see our hair, you'd know we are in the muggy South!

We left Modesto yesterday at 6:30, about 30 minutes too late if you ask my Dad. He told us all we had to be in the truck at 5:55, and we ALMOST made it. We climbed in, and Mom's first words were: "I just want you all to know, I do not want ANY of the blame!" So we've been teasing her about it ever since!

After getting in to Nashville, we all headed over to the Opryland Hotel for the evening. We had a great time walking around, eating dinner, and taking a boat ride. If you've never been to this hotel, it's quite an amazing place. The gardens are beautiful and there is so much to see and do!

This morning, we're hanging out at Bass Pro Shop and the Opry Mills Mall (guess who's going to which one!!). Then we'll head to the school later this afternoon. We're excited to be there, see all of our friends, and make new ones!

Keep checking back - we'll try to blog throughout the week!

Happy Sunday!
Allison

Singing this Sunday

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:44:11 PST

Hey everyone -

Well, Songfest 2008 is over. But what a great time! Every year, we have such fun planning and setting up. It's something we look forward to all year long - it's like a huge weekend party with all our family and friends! A huge thank you to all of you who attended. Email us with any feedback you might have - we're always looking for ways to make it better.

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Here's what is coming up this weekend for us:

On Sunday morning, June 22, we'll be singing in the first service at Big Valley Grace Community Church. Their worship pastor, Scott Butler, was part of our Songfest this year. He is truly one amazing singer, and does a great job leading the congregation in worship to our God. If you're not committed at another church, we'd love for you to join us! The service starts at 8:45am. The church is located at 4040 Tully Road in Modesto.

Later that same day, on Sunday evening, June 22, we'll be singing in a Gospel Music Concert at Ceres Christian Church. Gene Adams has asked us to be there, along with the Herb Henry Family, the Richland Trio, and Casting All Sins. The concert starts at 6:00pm, and the church is located at 3502 Roeding Road in Ceres. Come on out for a fun evening of music!

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Our next big event will be traveling to Nashville, TN in July to attend the Steve Hurst School of Music. Dale, Dorothy, Cody, Gary, Rachel, Kristen, and Allison will be attending the Group School. Stuart and Justin will be going to the Sound School, and Myra will be going to the Individual Vocal School. Dennis will not be able to go, because he and Marilyn will be on a trip to the Holy Lands. Please pray for us all - as we travel and learn and enjoy!

I hope that this finds you all well. Have a great week, and I hope to see you sometime this weekend!

Allison Dutter
Eternal Praise

Fan Fest Report

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:15:02 PST

Hello again!

Here it is a week later and I am finally making time to tell you about the rest of the Fan Fest! As I mentioned in the previous post, Fan Fest got off to a great start on Thursday evening. Having Wesley Pritchard there was totally unexpected. He had been in Chicago playing on a new DVD with Signature Sound that week and we had no idea he would fly from Chicago to Fresno. It was the best surprise we could have imagined!

Friday morning found me, Dad and Uncle Daryl at the Fig Garden Country Club playing golf. It was only my 2^nd time to play a course, and they were very patient with me. I didn’t do too badly, as long as we don’t talk about the score! Let me just say that I had a GREAT time and am excited to keep working on my game!

While we were golfing, the others were shopping! We met up around 1:00pm for lunch at Applebee’s and then hurried over to Save Mart Arena for the comedy hour with Jamey Ragle. He was really funny and Dad has already started quoting him! Next was “Sing, People, Sing” led by Gerald Wolfe of Greater Vision. When that many voices join together it makes for some great music! The evening concert kicked off at 6pm. This was the last night for the Booth Brothers to be there. We enjoyed having a chance to visit with Michael Booth and Jim Brady. After the concert, all of Eternal Praise (and Wesley) went back to the hotel for our annual “party”. We all bring snacks to one of our hotel rooms and have a great time talking about the weekend and relaxing until we can’t possibly stay awake another minute!

Saturday: It’s our turn to sing! We met in the parking lot of the Save Mart Center to sing through our songs. There was just a little apprehension because we were opening our set with a song that we had never performed yet, but overall we were excited and ready! Allison and I love to take pictures, so we got everyone together for some group shots. At 10:00am it was time for our sound check. Wesley was controlling our monitors and the sound system was amazing. I wish all of our sound checks went that smoothly! We listened to the other groups do their check and then it was time for “A Fresh Start” with the Pfiefers. The “Best of the West” was next and our set was right in the middle. It really was a ton of fun! The lights are blinding, and you can only see the people sitting really close to the stage. You just have to imagine that everyone there is your biggest fan and sing your heart out, even though you can’t make eye contact. We sang “Are You Washed in the Blood”, “Light From Heaven”, “A Wonderful Shepherd” and “Days of Elijah”. Later in the afternoon, Phil Cross led the Songwriter’s Showcase. It is always interesting to hear what inspired the writer to pen the words of a song. After the writer shares the story, the group sings that particular song.

We had a really quick break before the evening concert, so Wesley, Stuart, Cody, Myra, Allison, and I hurried across the street to the Dog House Grill for dinner. We hadn’t eaten much all day and we were starving. I had a tri-tip sandwich. Delicious and messy…so I ate it with a fork! Then it was time to head back for the concert. We learn so much by listening and watching these talented singers communicate with their audience. When the final note had been sung, we headed back to our booth, where Dale and Dorothy had everything all packed up and ready to be carried out. We chatted in the parking lot a while and then Dale, Dorothy and Myra headed for home. Once again, we stayed up late talking with Wesley and laughing at his funny stories.

On Sunday morning, we picked Wes up at his hotel and went to Starbucks before taking him to the airport. The lack of sleep was really catching up with us, so by 11:15am we started for home, where I took a three hour nap!

It's hard to believe that Fan Fest 2008 has come and gone. I'm already looking forward to next year! I hope you will make plans to come experience this great weekend for yourself!

Kristen Dutter

Thursday at Fan Fest

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:44:11 PST

Hello!

Fan Fest is officially underway! It's been a great first day. Allison and I arrived in Fresno around 4:30pm. We quickly checked into our hotel and then headed to Save Mart Arena. One of the best parts of the day was discovering that Wesley Pritchard is here running the sound! It is so good to see him again and we are all resting a bit easier knowing he'll be at the controls when we sing on Saturday. The concert tonight was great and we're looking forward to a full weekend of singing!

This weekend is like a Music Reunion! We get to see many of the gospel singers we've come to love as well as folks who love this music as much as we do. Over the years, we've become friends with so many great people at the Fan Fest and it is fun to reconnect.

Tomorrow, I am getting up crazy-early to go golfing with Dad and Uncle Daryl. I admit I'm a bit nervous to play with them, but I did a bit of practicing this morning. I'll let you know how it goes...I just may not post the scores! :)

It's late and time for me to sign off for the night! More later...

Kristen Dutter

Fan Fest This Weekend

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:28:25 PST

Hey everyone - Happy Monday! : )

This day is like the calm before the storm - because FAN FEST is this weekend!!!! (May 1-3, 2008) So tomorrow night, we have singing practice, where we will attempt to put all our finishing touches on our songs (AND watch American Idol in the middle of it?!?!?!?!?!?) - and then we head down to Fresno on Thursday.

For those of you who don't know, Fan Fest is an amazing weekend of gospel music. It's held at the Bulldogs Stadium at Fresno State. Here's a rundown of the schedule:

Thursday night starts the concert off with groups like the Booth Brothers, RSV, the Hoppers, Legacy Five, and many more! After the concert, there is a Pizza Panic for everyone to enjoy.

Friday morning will find Gary and Kristen on the golf course, while Mom, Dorothy, and I find our way to the nearest MALL!!
At the Stadium, Connie Hopper will hold a morning devotion at 11:30, then the Best of the West showcase, then a Comedy Show, and followed up with a sing-a-long with Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision). The evening concert will feature groups like Poet Voices, Dixie Melody Boys, the Pfeifers, and others. After the concert will be an Ice Cream Social.

Saturday morning, we'll all be a bundle of nerves as we go to our sound check! : ) The morning starts with a devotion with John Pfeifer, then Best of the West (Eternal Praise sings!!), and a showcase with Phil Cross called "They Write The Songs". The evening concert will feature groups like the Hoppers, Beene Family, Greater Vision, Liberty, Herb Henry Family, and so many more!

Sunday morning will find me SLEEPING IN!!! We always stay up waaaaaay too late, so I'm sure I'll need a little extra zzzzzzz's! : )

We would LOVE to see you down there! At this point, the easiest way to get tickets will be to get them at the door. Single-day tickets are approximately $30.00. Visit the Fan Fest website for more info!

It's a wonderful time for everyone. I especially love eating at the Dog House across the street and talking to people at our booth. Stop by and say hello!

If we get a spare minute, we'll try to blog on our website, so check back and see what's up!

Hope to see you there!
Allison Dutter