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Not long after Hurricane Helene, Christ Church parishioner Rachel Kamps Huffman sat on the beach admiring the beauty of the ocean while contemplating how scary it can be during a storm.
As a pianist, singer, and songwriter, Rachel plays and sings at church and hosts small private concerts at her home. She realized a deep need to help people in North Carolina impacted from the late September 2024 hurricane but had no idea how.
So, she asked God, “What can I do?”
“What do you do?” she heard him ask back.
“I’m a musician,” she answered. “I make music.”
Then she knew what she could do—organize a concert to raise money for people suffering from the devastation of recent storms. And with God’s help, it all came together. Christ Church offered a location. Local performing artists volunteered to perform for free. And funds raised from donations will go to the Episcopal Relief and Development Hurricane Relief Fund.
The benefit concert featuring music by Rachel and Friends will be held Saturday, January 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Contemporary Worship Space at Christ Church, 400 San Juan Dr., Ponte Vedra Beach.
Rachel’s performing friends will include cellist Brittany Maroney; flutist Anne McKennon; rhythm artist Jose Trinidad; violinist and vocalist Amy Trinidad; singer Sirlister Smiley; poet Tim Simpson; bass player Richard Wright; and guitarist Michael Huffman.
Music will be drawn from well known tunes and original songs, including a song Rachel wrote called “Long Haul Love.”
Rachel says she’s felt “the love of God” in the planning because everybody she asked to help said “yes.”
“People want to give, people want to make a difference,” she says.
She doesn’t know how much will be raised by donations at the free-to-attend concert, “but every little bit matters. I wanted to share my gift. God is asking us to get beyond ourselves to join with others. It’s about his presence.”
“It’s a wonderful idea. I know she was moved by the Holy Spirit,” says Bill Lee, Episcopal Relief and Development’s Ministry Partner for Christ Church. He plans to attend, as will Jim Murphy, ERD’s Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving.
“Clearly God was calling her,” says Mother Amy Slater. “We want to help her use her gifts and talents to glorify God and help other people. It will be beautiful because it’s holy.”
