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Church reschedules hymn festival for March 7
By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
This article was published February 28, 2010 at 2:51 a.m.
CONWAY — A hymn festival that was postponed in late January because of inclement weather has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 7, in the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church in Conway.
The festival will be led by Dr. John Ferguson, organist and director of the Cantorei Choir at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
A hymn festival is basically a worship service in which most of the liturgy is music, and congregational hymns make up a large percentage of that. There is typically a theme for the service, and allthe hymns and music are selected to develop and explore that theme.
The theme for this festival is “Through the Church, the Song Goes On.”
“The title of our hymn festival speaks volumes,” said Janet Gingerich, director of music at First United Methodist Church.
“The song, the story, the message and the Good News of Jesus Christ are spread through song as much as by any other means. For many, the combined power of music and words can speak louder than any other single voice.”
Ferguson’s skills as an improviser and leader of congregational song have won him national acclaim.
At St. Olaf College, his responsibilities include directing the church music-organ program, teaching organ and conducting the St. Olaf Cantorei. “We are blessed and honored to have Dr. Ferguson lead our festival,” Gingerich said. “He is very well known for his fervor for leading congregations in worship through music and will lead our choirs, instrumentalists and those attending this afternoon of truly passionate worship.” The event will also serve as a celebration of the recentcompletion of the sanctuary renovation and re-leathering of the church organ. The hymn festival will be co-hosted by FUMC’s adult, children’s and youth choirs and instrumentalists.
The hymn festival is free and open to the public. The church is at 1610 Prince St. For more information, visit the church Web site at www.conwayfumc.
org or call the church office at (501) 329-3801.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 142 on 02/28/2010
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