Greenville Community Church

GREENVILLE Eltje Brunemeyer Jack Elliott Corazon Bisda Karie Brown Maureen Thoma Interim Minister Minister Emeritus Minister of Music Church Administrator Financial Secretary From The Pastoral Search Committee That Fifth Season The Pastoral Search Committee has completed The lengthening days draw the frost the first phase of its work, which involved the from the ground gathering of information about the And before we’re aware, there are congregation, its history, and the community robins around; around us. Kid’s sneakers turn brown as the walking gets soggy, We thank the members of congregation who When the ground that was frozen participated in the survey. gets suddenly boggy. There’s mud on the carpets, and This work will guide the Committee as it mud on the mats; searches for the right person to be the next And the hood of the car shows brown pastor of our church. The Committee also footprints of cats; produced a Church Profile to inform candidates As the last lump of snow leaves the about the Greenville Community Church. eaves with a thud- Twixt winter and spring comes the The Search Committee is now meeting on a season called “mud”! weekly basis as it moves into the search phase. By Bill Thoma So far we have received 11 profiles with more on the way. The committee hopes to conduct telephone interviews with candidates during the week of April 27.

We are pleased to report that the list of candidates so far has included a number of highly qualified candidates. It is our hope that we can find the right person in time to have him or her called by the end of the summer, but we will not let that goal override the objective of finding the right person.

Please keep the Pastoral Search Committee and its mission in your prayers.

Rolf Wulfsberg, Chair Eltje Brunemeyer, Interim Minister.

SUNDAY WORSHIP IN MAY MAY 3 (COMMUNION} “GOOD SHEPHERD” Scripture: Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10: 11-18

1 Sermon: “The Door”

MAY 10 MOTHER’S DAY & FESTIVAL OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21 John 15: 1-8 Sermon: “The Vine”

MAY 17 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTERTIDE Scripture: 1 John 5: 1-6 John 15: 9-17 Sermon: “The King”

MAY 24 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTERTIDE Scripture: 1 John 5: 9-13 John 15:9-17 Sermon “The Guardian”

MAY 31 PENTECOST WORSHIP (with Korean & Taiwanese Congregations ) Scripture: Acts 2: 1-21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Church Committees @ Work GROWTH

Church Website: A revamped website is up and running. At the conclusion of Phase 1 of this project, there will be some addition to the music page and the Book Shelf.

The webmaster, together with the vice-president of consistory, will supervise and review all items before posting.

Email List: The updated list of members’ email addresses is completed. The list will be used especially for mass mailings.

CHURCH FACILITIES

CLEAN-UP DAY: The Committee will be coordinating a special project, “Clean-up outside manse” day on May 16th . The “Clean-up” will start at 8: 30 a.m. All are invited!

WALK THROUGH: A walk through inside and outside of church to review needed maintenance will take place on May 16th.

FELLOWSHIP & MISSION

PROGRESSIVE DINNER: The Committee planned and successfully organized the annual Progressive Dinner.

SUNDAY PICNIC is in the works.

CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

TAKING CARE OF GOD’S WORLD: We are looking for volunteers to help with the Children’s Garden. The garden will be part of the summer Sunday School Curriculum 2 “Taking Care of God’s World”. No experience is necessary, just a desire to get your hands dirty and make a difference in the lives of our young people. Please contact the Church Office.

SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMITTEE

BIBLE REVIEW, MUSIC, & WORSHIP WORKSHOP: The Committee successfully organized a Workshop on Bible Review and Music. Guest Speakers were Eltje Brunemeyer (On relation between Old and New Testament), Gloria Norton (Traditional Music), and Whitfield Coppin (Gospel).

International Coffee Hour: For the remainder of 2009, the Committee will host two more “International Coffee Hour” sessions on August 23rd and December 13th.

CHURCH RECITAL SERIES The Greenville Community Reformed Church announces the 7th recital in its 2008-2009 Recital series, innovative music held in the sanctuary of the Greenville Community Reformed Church. Dr. Corazon Bisda, the church’s music and choir director, is Artistic Director of the series.

On Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 4:30 PM, the Recital Series will present Franz Joseph Haydn’s The Creation. This oratorio, considered by many to be Haydn’s masterpiece, celebrates the creation of the world as described in the biblical book of Genesis.

The distinguished soloists will be Jeanai Ratcliffe as Angel Gabriel, Manami Hattori as Eve, David Bailey as Angel Uriel, and Giuseppe Spoletini as Angel Raphael and Adam.

The Greenville Community Reformed Church Choir and guest singers from area choral organizations will form the chorus. Corazon Bisda will accompany at the piano.

There is no required charge for admission; however, a good will offering of $20 or any amount in support of the church’s Recital Series would be gratefully accepted.

Note: From Press Release submitted by Judith Wartels.

DISTINGUISHED SOLOISTS

Jeanai Ratcliffe is a lyric coloratura soprano who has performed with such opera companies as New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Providence and in the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Jeanai is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music.

Soprano Manami Hattori has sung many concerts and recitals throughout Japan, the United States, and Europe. On the operatic stage, Ms. Hattori has sung the roles of Suor Angelica, Musetta, Micaela, Cherubino, Susanna, Drabella, Rosina, Berta, Papagena …

David Bailey, tenor, recently appeared as a resident artist with Skylight Opera. He has performed as Tamino in Die Zauberflote with the Charlemagne Orchestra in Brugge, Belgium. A graduate of Manhattan School of Music, he performed l’Aumoner in Dialogues des Carmelites. 3 Canadian baritone Giuseppe Spoletini has performed widely on the American and Canadian opera and concert stage in such roles as the title role in Gianni Schicci, Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro, Figaro in Il barbiere di Seviglia, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Escamillo in Carmen, Sulpice in The Daughter of the Regiment.

Corazon Bisda received her BM in piano and composition, with honors, from Santa Isabel College; her MM of Music in piano from Mannes College of Music and her DMA in piano from Manhattan School of Music. Cora has been featured as a distinguished pianist, a chamber musician, accompanist, arranger and composer.