Outside the days may be getting shorter and the nights may be getting colder, but inside All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakewood, NJ there is music being rehearsed that will warm your heart.

A newly formed sacred and spiritual choral group, The Charles Read Memorial Choir, is currently practicing for their upcoming concert.

Named in memory of Charles Read, longtime choral director at Ocean County College in Toms River, NJ and founder of Toms River’s Van Dyke Hospice Choir, this new vocal group will perform a free program entitled Peace, Healing, and Hope: A Spiritual Concert this Saturday, October 8, 2016 in Lakewood, NJ.

Under the direction of Jack Hudak, the Charles Read Memorial Choir consists of singers from millennials to members of America’s “greatest generation” who have come together to sing songs of comfort and healing. Although some of the members have been working together in various groups for decades and others have only recently become involved, all seem to agree the reason they joined this group is for the feeling of peace and hope they get from interpreting the inspirational music selected and conducted by Hudak and accompanied by pianist, Kristin DeLucci.

The historic All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakewood — paneled in warm wood and illuminated with light reflected in its Tiffany glass windows — is the perfect setting for the message of this music.

As Hudak explains, “Many of the words of our songs are taken from scripture or are inspired by scripture. The talented composers who wrote these songs know how to take inspiring words and put them to inspiring music. In addition, the program will include some traditional and gospel pieces, and it will also feature vocal soloists and guest musicians on flute, guitar, and cello.”

Hudak goes on to reveal, “I believe in this type of music and the effect it has on people. There are people who need to heal from something — they need to feel comforted in a loss or they feel hopeless and need to believe in something. This concert is for all people who want their spirits lifted.”

Peace, Healing and Hope: A Spiritual Concert will be presented by the Charles Read Memorial Choir on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 7:30 pm. The program will take place at All Saints Epsicopal Church, 213 Madison Avenue in Lakewood, NJ and is open to all.