from our

Director of Music

The scene could have been from a Norman Rockwell painting.

It was our second concert featuring the Schulmerich carillon, lovingly given by Kay Finnegan.  After worship on September 13 we moved the carillon keyboard outside to the Fourth Street steps.  Across the street on the Court Square lawn, many folks shared a box lunch around tables set under the trees.  Some families sat on  blankets, and other listeners, including several dozen from the community, arrived after lunch.  In all, 78 gathered to watch and listen as W. Robert Morrison’s hands wove musical magic.  Unlike our concert two years ago, the weather was picture perfect.  And once again the concert was marvelous!

As Mr. Morrison prepared to play, we collected hymn suggestions from the audience and took them to him.  He opened with “In the Good Old Summertime,” and then, without a scrap of music, he tackled the suggested hymns, improvising beautifully-crafted arrangements of each one!  Following the hymns he added a set of other songs.  I remember hearing “O Sole Mio,” “Funiculi, Funicula,” “Santa Lucia,” “The Sound of Music,” “Edelweiss,” “America, the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America,” ending with the familiar old hymn, “God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again.”

One driver stopped at the Fourth and Chestnut light, rolled down his window and stayed there for two songs!  A sheriff’s deputy rolled down his window to catch the sounds, and a motorcyclist also paused to listen.  John Smith heard the concert from his front steps, and my sister Cherie called to say she sat on her front porch, drinking tea and listening.

The sun was bright on the steps, so Dave Bown went home and came back with a large green patio umbrella which he steadied over Bob and the keyboard.  No one seemed to be in a hurry to leave after it was over.

What a beautiful gift to our community!                                                                       - CRS

And the Bells Rang Out

God blessed us with perfect weather for the wonderful outdoor carillon concert Sunday, September 13.  Nearly 80 people gathered on the Court Square to see and hear the artistry of W. Robert Morrison.  We heard selections from the Sound of Music, patriotic songs, other secular numbers, and familiar hymns.  We have no way of knowing how many people received the gift of music from our church as the sound of bells wafted from the tower and echoed across the valley.

Mr. Morrison also played the organ for us during morning worship.  It was a very special day.  Many people willingly gave time and energy to make sure that there truly was a sense of community in our time together.

Thanks to:

* Mr. Morrison for his youthful spirit, his positive outlook, his wonderful improvisations, and his great talent.

* Kay Finnegan for donating this wonderful instrument to our congregation in her husband’s memory.

* Rev. Jon Carlisle for planning the worship service, overseeing many details, and serving as photographer.

* Chuck Snyder for his advice on details, for his introduction of the artist, for supervising the moving of the carillon console and for making sure the carillon worked.

* Jan Myers for sharing her expertise in publicity.

* Erin Jobes for videotaping the service and concert.

* Tina Johnson for her extra work on the bulletin, printing all of the program notes for the music.

* Dawn Harvey for making sure the Carillon included information about the concert and for taking orders for the box lunches.

* Jennifer Farrar for supervising people to set up tables and chairs at the Court Square.

* Grace Millspaugh for preparing the fruit plate, purchasing supplies for the lunch, and forming a committee of Gene and Dee Lynn Grace and Jeff Sycks to pick up and serve the box lunches.

* Matt Downing, Steve Snyder, and Christ & Brice Yost who moved the carillon console to the front steps and Community Choir members who moved it back.

* All church members who carried chairs & tables back.

* Dave Bown for doing umbrella duty.

* The Coshocton Tribune and WTNS for their public service announcements.

* Coshocton Village Inn and Suites for giving us a free upgrade to a deluxe suite for Mr. Morrison.

                                                    God truly blessed us this day!!!                                                                                                                                   Alice Hoover