Dear friends—

We would like to invite you to join in an exciting musical event during the upcoming World Conference at Community of Christ headquarters!  

Many of you have sung in past Conference hymn festivals and you know how unforgettable the experience of singing in the Auditorium when its 5000+ seats are filled!  There is an energy that fills the air—and the hymnfest is a service that everyone eagerly anticipates.

This year’s hymn festival—on Friday night, April 16—will include a wide variety of musical elements, probably a wider variety than ever before.  Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Hymns and songs that span five centuries of Christian music, including a hymn written in 2001 inspired by the Temple and the church’s dedication to the pursuit of peace
• A celebration of RLDS/Community of Christ’s journey of faith through the last 150 years (since the Reorganization)
• High-energy drumming, dancing, handbell, and video elements
• The Emporia State Faculty Brass Quintet, piano, and organ will add to our voices in song
• President Steve Veazey will re-dedicate the Auditorium Organ on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its original dedication in Conference of 1960

 I’m especially excited this year to be collaborating with two very talented young adults in planning the hymnfest.  You won’t want to miss collaborating with them too!

• Joey Williams, a translator at headquarters who, as many of you know, is talented in so many areas, is coordinating an opening drumming sequence with black lights, a high-energy “Stomp”-style group, dramas with an Emma Smith character, and more.
• The hymnfest choir will be conducted by Ben Spalding, a 7th generation Community of Christ member who is founder and artistic director of Philadelphia’s professional choir Canticum Novum, professor of choral music at Rowan University, and director of music at Gloria Dei Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA.

Here are the details you’ll want to know about participation in the choir.

• The choir will be featured in:
  • Louez le Seigneur (Praise the Lord), an easy and exciting opening piece from Cameroon
  • I Love to tell the Story, a classic hymn in an anthem arrangement by Ben Spalding
  • Walk in the Light, a gospel anthem arranged by André Thomas
  • Selected verses of congregational hymns and songs, including the rousing The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning
• Choir music packets will be ready for you at the first rehearsal.  We ask a $3 donation to cover the cost of the packet.  We’ve borrowed some music, to keep your costs down, but you’ll be able to take much of the packet home with you if you’d like. 
• There are two mandatory rehearsals, both in the Auditorium:
  • Thursday night, April 15 – pick one of the following times:  6:30 to 7:15 p.m., 7:45 to 8:30 p.m., or 8:45 to 9:30 p.m.
  • Friday afternoon, April 16 – 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
• The hymn festival is Friday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.
• Dress:  because the service is being webcast, we recommend wearing bright colors.

To sign up:  send your voice part and contact information to Pam Robison, 816/833-1000 x2324.  

 Feel free to share this information with anyone else who might be interested!

 We look forward to sharing with you!

 Thanks –

Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist, Community of Christ Headquarters
1001 W Walnut St
Independence , MO 64050