Sunday-evening hymn sing a ‘peak’ experience

Jim Bishop

Column by Jim Bishop MINERAL COUNTY, W.Va. – The phone call from Uncle Phil Dayton, my mom’s youngest brother, came weeks before the event, a personal invitation, and I thought, yes, why not? We pass this way but once. I’m glad we decided to make the two-and-a-half-hour trip to suburban Short Gap. It was an…

Creation, Christ and the classroom focus of EMU conference

AFP

Story by Chris Edwards At the fourth annual conference of Mennonite higher-education faculty – held this year for the first time at Eastern Mennonite University – two keynote speakers approached the theme, “Creation, Christ and the Classroom,” from opposite perspectives, theological and temporal. They spoke Aug. 8-9 to about 45 faculty, plus several graduate students,…

The purveyor of second chances

Chris Graham

Story by Edward Tutwiler “I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.” – George Eliot Looking backwards on missed opportunities…

Music classes at EMU

Jim Bishop

Item by Jim Bishop “Musikgarten” at Eastern Mennonite University is now holding registration for its fall classes. Age-appropriate classes are designed to develop children’s musical skills – rhythm, singing, listening, playing instruments, movement – while fostering their natural love of music. Classes, taught by early childhood music specialist Martha Hills, begin the week of Sept….

Summer movies: The best of the rest

Carl Larsen

Carly at the Movies column by Carl Larsen Now that the summer blockbusters have begun falling about our ears (some with surprising accuracy), let us quickly retreat to our bomb shelter and plan our forthcoming Cineplex excursions with care. In other words: Now that Indy Jones has landed, is there anything left to see besides…

Ah, Bach!

Jim Bishop

Item by Jim Bishop Among the gifts offered to those attending the 16th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival were visible enthusiasm among participating musicians as they re-created and interpreted selections by some of the world’s most beloved composers. Guest guitar artist Michael Partington stated: “I’m able to play what I want to play, and I…