Photo is from the final piece at the May 20 concert, which raised $714 for the Berea Leadership Experience!
Blessings from Blessing, Grace Upon Grace… Union Church Receives Bequest from Berea College Alumnus Bill Leach
Bill Leach was a longtime friend of the congregation, always making a point to visit services and concerts when he was in town for Alumni/ae weekends. He was a great admirer of former organist, John Courter, and enjoyed the wonderful sound of Union Church’s Steiner-Reck pipe organ on every visit.
In late April we received word from his daughter that Bill had passed away and had named Union Church as one of the beneficiaries of his estate. Unbeknownst to anyone, he felt so blessed by the work and music that he gave 10% of his life insurance policy in order th
at blessings from here might continue.
Per our ministry plan and policy, 20% of his $19,639 gift will be divided among 5 special funds for church use: our Leadership Development Fund, our Building Maintenance/Special Projects Fund, our Mission Fund, our Worship and Arts Fund, and our Community Life and Growth Special Projects Fund. Church Council voted to dedicate the remaining 80%, $15,711, to upcoming organ restoration costs in honor of and as a memorial to the music of the faith that moved him to such unexpected generosity.
Planned gifts from wills and estates can help ensure that the blessings you feel from the ministries of the congregation can continue to future generations. “Grace upon grace,” says the scripture, and so it is. We are deeply grateful for Mr. Leach and for all who have blessed us that we may continue to be a blessing in Christ’s service.
Sanctuary Piano Repairs
Throughout its 33 wonderful years, our sanctuary piano has served Union Church in many capacities; accompanying the choir, playing in our worship service, enhancing weddings, various concerts, etc. The time has come that the piano needs some extra love and care. We need to refurbish the action (insides) of the piano and we need your help!!
To help fundraise this project, we are giving the chance for you to “Buy a Key” to help go towards the refurbishment of our piano. Each of the 88 keys will cost $50. You will be buying a actual piano key that can be used as decoration or an ornament. If you wish to contribute more, you could endow one of the 33 years of the piano’s use by donating $130.00. We are calling on someone who might want to be a lead contributor to this project, as it needs to happen quick! Our piano will be out of commission for up to 8 weeks, and we need to get going fast! All donations, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated!
Use this link to check out Summer Music at Union Church! Summer Music Opportunities!
Union Church Chancel Choir Invited to Perform at Carnegie Hall With Composer Mark Hayes
Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) announced today that the Union Church Chancel Choir has been invited to participate in a performance of “The Music of Mark Hayes,” November 26th, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They will join other choristers to form a single ensemble led by renowned conductor and composer Mark Hayes, many of whose anthems we have sung for worship at Union Church.
Many choirs audition to achieve an invitation, but Union’s invitation was different. It was the result of an internet search and the wealth of material recorded and put on the web by our media team! In searching the internet for choirs who might have performed pieces by Mark Hayes, the Union Church YouTube channel came to the fore. After listening to several Sunday morning songs, the organizers of DCINY issued an invitation based on “the high quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers.”
“This is an incredible honor, and not one we even knew we were being considered for!” said, Gabriel Evans, Director of Music Ministries at Union Church. “To be recognized among all the thousands of choirs they must have listened to, really speaks highly of our members!”
Singers will spend 5 days and 4 nights in New York preparing and presenting the concert, spending 9-10 hours in rehearsals over that time. They will have some time for sightseeing, too, though, and we hope they will be Berea ambassadors while they are there. Ways we can pitch in will be forthcoming, as will further details about the trip!
Well done, choir members. That’s how you get to Carnegie Hall!!
Also in this newsletter…
- What Next, Union Church?!
- Stephen Ministry: Contemplative and Restorative
- James Everett Small Stokes Birth Announcement!
- Pentecost Church Family photo, Notes & Notices, Cowan Chapel Lectern, Birthdays & Anniversaries
- Union Church Completes its First Our Whole Lives program for Teens
- Take Back the Kitchen: Lessons from the Zapatistas
- Did You Know?
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