BELTON â The 50th annual God and Country concert offered a patriotic tonic to a near-capacity crowd Sunday afternoon at the First Baptist Church of Belton.
Directed by Gary Bledsoe, the churchâs minister of music, the choir, with an orchestra, combined the worship choirs of the First Baptist Church in Belton, Taylorâs Valley Baptist Church in Temple, First Baptist Church in Temple and Eastside Baptist Church in Copperas Cove.
The choir opened with the âStar-Spangled Bannerâ and brought the crowd to its feet with its closing song, âBattle Hymn of the Republic.â In between those two songs, the choir performed seven numbers, which were interspersed with five patriotic videos.
First Baptist Church in Belton will continue its long-lasting Fourth of July tradition when it holds its 50th annual God and Country Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday â an event that also will feature worship choirs from Taylorâs Valley Baptist Church in Temple and Eastside Baptist Church in Copperas Cove.
Vocalists will be accompanied by First Baptist Churchâs orchestra.
Gary Bledsoe, executive pastor for worship, said he expects to have as many as 100 people in the choir and 16 in the orchestra for the one-hour concert.
He stressed how the eventâs golden anniversary, which is free to the public, is a great opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of patriotic music as area residents celebrate God and the United States.
BELTON â A new subdivision straddling the Bell County and Temple line is now cleared for further construction.
The Landing at Heritage Oaks â located south of Temple both inside and outside city limits â was unanimously approved by the Bell County Commissioners Court for its final plat Monday in a 5-0 decision. The 28-lot subdivision is 21.33 acres and will consist of single family homes, with six lots wholly or partially in Temple city limits.
The subdivision is on the southern side of FM 93, half a mile to the east of Taylorâs Valley Baptist Church, 2497 W. FM 93.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Russell Schneider, who represents a portion of the subdivision, voiced concern along with other commissioners about the siteâs drainage.
As Bell County coronavirus cases spike, a Temple non-profit is temporarily closing its doors immediately to prevent community spread.
St. Vincent de Paul of Greater Temple announced Friday the organization would temporarily close its downtown Temple thrift store, 106 W. Ave. D.
Caitlin West, executive director of the organization, said the groupâs board made the hard decision Friday to close the store until the new year starts.
The organizationâs next food bank will be pushed back to Jan. 7.
West said many of the volunteers who help the organization give away food each week, as well as the food bankâs clients, are older and the board didnât want to risk their safety during the ongoing coronavirus surge.