By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Wichita ensemble with a mission to spread a message of hope, peace, and good relations performed Saturday at Peabody’s St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to raise money for renovation of Sunflower Theatre.

Standing at the front of the church nave, the 26-member Arise Ensemble told stories of African-American’s experiences through slavery and the civil rights movement.

Each story led into a traditional spiritual.

The audience gathered in the pews clapped and whooped enthusiastically after each song and gave a standing ovation at the end of the performance.

Arise performed “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” “Wade in the Water,” “Cried and I Cried,” “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning,” “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round,” “We Shall Overcome,” “Hold On,” and “Ain’t Got Time To Die.”

Arise was founded in 1988 by civil rights leader and former Wichita school board member Jo Brown.