Incarnation United
Church of Christ, 124 West Main Street in
Emmitsburg, continues to celebrate the 235th
anniversary of its founding. October 19th,
2003 was a special Sunday to honor that
occasion. The service began with a piano and
organ prelude performing Sibelius' "Finlandia,"
with Janet Springer at the piano and Audrey
Glass at the organ. Former pastor, the Rev.
Margaret Dodds, brought greetings to the
congregation and congratulated them on their
235th birthday. Margaret and her husband Dick
will be moving to a community retirement home
in Penney, Florida in December.
Several members of the
Force Performance Company from the Oxford
School of Performing Arts, under the direction
of Dawn Glass, treated the congregation to a
celebration of dance.
The
Rev. Ted Haas told
worshippers how dance, music and the arts have
been used over many centuries to inspire
faith. King David of Israel danced before the
Lord. The psalms in the Old Testament call for
praising God with many musical instruments and
dance. Christian priests developed the drama
of the Mass at the center of worship. Churches
today are enriching traditional services with
new ways to praise the Lord and inspire God's
people.
|
Brittany
Swartz, dancing to "Tell Him" sung by Celine
Dion and Barbra Striesand |
Allyssa
Rommel performing a liturgical dance |
|
Ashley Betmarik, performing to the music of "I Cry" |
Dawn Glass,
performing to "I Surrender," sung by Celine
Dion and Barbra Sreisand |
|
Nicole Hemler, leading in the group for their finale
dance |
The Force performing
to "Love by Grace" |
The Rev.
Margaret Dodds greets her former congregation
