The first Sunday in October was a
day of both beautiful sun and beautiful music for a worthy cause.
The Musical Offering for World Hunger at Lincoln Christian Church
was the final fundraising event for the 42nd annual Harvest of
Talents for World Hunger before Harvest day on October 25, also at
Lincoln Christian Church. The Musical Offering was directed by Tim
Searby and featured local vocalists and musicians as well as former
Lincolnites who make the trip back to Lincoln to perform in this
annual event. The purpose of the concert is not only to bring
gorgeous live music to Lincoln, but also to raise donations for
famine and disaster relief around the world.
Dr. Richard Knopp
Linda Storm
This year’s concert
was a mix of sacred and secular with beautiful
renditions of beloved hymns, classical works, and a
tribute to Andrew Llyod Webber. After a prelude of a
medley of hymns, Dr. Richard Knopp welcomed the
audience and opened the event with prayer. The
concert began with Linda Storm at the organ
performing “Toccata in D Minor” by Johann Sebastian
Bach. A small ensemble then performed “Andrew Lloyd
Webber in Concert” featuring eight songs from some
of his most famous shows. Following the ensemble,
Laurin Hill, LCC worship minister, sang “His Eye is
on the Sparrow” beautifully interpreted in American
Sign Language by Bethany Henry and Angela Rogers.
Pianist Dinelle Frankland then performed a
complicated version of “Praise to the Lord, the
Almighty” arranged by Dan Forrest. Julie King
followed with a comic piece by Wilkie Bard entitled
“I Want to Sing in Opera” accompanied by Tim Searby.
A duet of “What About Love?” from the musical The
Color Purple was next performed by Debbie Kilgallin
and Brenda Popham.
Julie King
Debbie Kilgallin and Brenda
Popham
Linda Storm and
Jennifer Ramsey joined forces to present a four-hand
piano number by Claude Debussy: “Ballet from Petite
Suite”. The small ensemble then returned to the
stage to perform “‘Til I Hear You Sing” from Love
Never Dies, another musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The H.O.T ensemble then joined the small ensemble to
perform “Make a Joyful Noise,” the coronation hymn
written by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the Coronation of
Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla
at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
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The H.O.T ensemble
next sang "Medley from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat” also by Andrew Lloyd Webber and arranged by Roger
Emerson. A quartet of Diane Dietz, Austin Garriott, Brenda
Popham, and Tim Searby performed “Too Much in Love to Care” by
Andrew Lloyd Webber from the musical version of Sunset
Boulevard.
Harvest of Talents committee member
Angela Rogers gave the Offering Meditation while donations were
collected by the Harvest of Talents committee members. After the
offering, the H.O.T ensemble took the stage a final time to sing the
beloved hymn “How Great Thou Art” arranged by Dan Forrest and then
“America” arranged by Mary McDonald and accompanied by Dinelle
Frankland, Dennis Skaggs, and Linda Storm. At the conclusion of the
concert, Harvest of Talents co-director Natalie Morris announced the
funds that had been collected during the concert. The amount set a
new record at $15,511, which will equal 25,852 meals for hungry
people.
All money raised at the Musical Offering for World Hunger, the
Harvest of Talents for World Hunger (the fourth Saturday of October)
and other Harvest of Talents events throughout the year goes to
International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES), based in
Noblesville, Indiana whose five main Focus Areas are evangelism,
disaster response, hunger relief, community development, and medical
care. One hundred percent of the Harvest of Talents donations then
go to these priorities both in the United States and in countries
around the world. No money is kept by either group for
administrative expenses; All goes to help and support people in
crisis situations. The mission of both ministries is to meet
physical and spiritual needs and alleviate physical and spiritual
hunger throughout the world in Jesus’ name. This year the Harvest of
Talents for World Hunger is Saturday, October 25. Doors open at 7
a.m. with breakfast and the arts, crafts, and bake sale, followed by
lunch choices at 11 a.m., kids activities, and the auction at 2 p.m.
For more information, click
here.
[Stephanie Hall]
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