First Reformed UCC Arts Series
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First Reformed UCC’s Art Series began as a way to invite the community into our sanctuary to hear more than just sermons on a Sunday. It was a way help spread the musicianship of our city’s members.
The Organ/Music Recitals began in 2014. It included organists, pianists, and other musicians within our city to play in the sanctuary with its excellent acoustics. Our magnificent Casavant Pipe organ was played by some very talented church organists from the downtown churches. The recital occurred every two years until 2020 when Covid took its toll on our community, and we had to stop meeting in person. In all three of the recitals, our sanctuary was close to being filled. A love offering was taken at each performance and given to one of our city’s nonprofits that was chosen by the musicians.
Rev. Al Staggs give his one-man presentation on the life of Dietrich Bonhoffer, a German minister and theologian who was hung because of his anti-Nazi views during WWII. Rev. Staggs also played Clarence Jordan, a Southern Baptist minister who founded the interracial community of Koinonia in South Georgia.
Rev. Jordan also was the founder of Habitat for Humanity. Other offerings of the Art Series include Sheets Dance Academy performances,
Rowan Big Band Christmas performance, the Healing Force African Drum Band performance. There have been vocal performances by the Catawba Singers, area high school choruses and the Triad Chorus of the Sweet Adeline Society singers.
We were honored to have the last performance of the Friedburg Moravian Church’s Steel Drum Band during one of our worship services. We also had an art exhibit in which our church members were able to display a couple of their art pieces. This included paintings, pictures, as well as other talents.
We are saddened to have had to suspend our involvement in the arts and the community with the advent of Covid. We are looking forward to re-starting the series as soon as is feasible with the decline of Covid infections.
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