Mary Alessi - When Women Worship

By Peggy Oliver

Serving God is natural for Mary Alessi. Just ask her sister Martha Munizzi, as the sisters’ heart for adoration was planted early from strong and focused parents in the ministry. The Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas (the backdrop for Alessi’s last CD, More), once again hosts a special live recording night in conjunction with the companion book, When Women Worship by Amie Hayes Dockery and Alessi.

This live event was anchored by a vocally infectious team consisting of Alessi, Munizzi, Cindy Cruise-Ratcliff (worship leader from Lakewood Church in Houston, TX), Ingrid Rosario (Integrity Worship), Nicole Binion (Nicole & David Binion), and Da’Dru Crawford-Greathouse (Anointed) – all women who worship!

The Florida-born Alessi, who is also a worship leader/co-pastor, had a secure foundation with both parents passing on the tradition to raise children in the Lord. The Stallings sisters - Mary, Martha and Marveline - eventually formed a worship outfit while still teenagers. Even though life has been a blessing for the most part, including her marriage to Steve Alessi, co-pastor of Metro Life Worship Center, the previous decades saw challenges, such as infertility. As always, God manifested in the end, as the couple has four children.

Opening in elegant style, There Is A River, is accompanied only by string synthesizer, extenuating the river’s sweet undercurrent. One of two medleys, As The Deer Medley, illustrates our dependence on the Master beginning with Thirst For You, finally increasing the passion for More.

Dockery speaks to the congregation inspired by excerpts from the book. Summing up the topic, The King Is Enthralled With Your Beauty, that beauty should be inspired by our Creator, not by man here on earth. Always Welcome proves there’s no time frame or conditions in our daily relationship, as we gain acceptance “where You are, where You dwell.”

Now that “our past is forgiven”, we Come Boldly (co-written by multi-gifted Mark Lowry) into “the Holy of Holies”. A favorite hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour, provides appropriate finishing touches. Several selections are presented in English and Spanish (sung by Rosario), including a radio-accessible song, I Surrender All (All To Him I Owe).