Valley United Methodist Launches Music Ministry
Spokane Valley United Methodist Church is kicking off a new tradition - musical recitals ranging in styles from baroque to jazz.
“Our congregation likes all different kinds of things,” said David Johnson, the church’s music director. “They’re really a big group of music lovers. But it has to be done well, that’s the one prerequisite.”
The first recital is Sunday at 7 p.m. at the church, 10422 E. Main. Johnson will perform along with Dori Neilsen, church member and Madison Elementary music teacher; and Katharine Lamphere, a church member with a degree in music education.
The trio will perform works by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Pergelsi and Mozart on flute and harpsichord. Lamphere’s vocals will be featured during the Handel and Mozart selections.
Johnson hopes to offer at least four or five recitals each year. For the Christmas season, he hopes to treat folks to jazz holiday music.
“As long as I’ve been in the business of music ministry, the more successful programs I’ve seen … they all offer a concert series,” he said.
It not only sharpens music skills, Johnson said, but gives Valley residents another option for a night out.
“We want to make (performances) a little more accessible for the people out here who like great music,” he said.
The music department there is also working on a recording, fittingly called “Music of Spokane Valley, Vol. 1.” It should be finished this fall.
Dedication ceremony
Cornerstone Pentecostal Church is holding a dedication this weekend at the site of the storefront it rents at 14214 E. Sprague.
Events are scheduled today and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the church, which is located at Regency Square, near Sta-Fit.
Usually, the church’s denomination - United Pentecostal Church International - holds dedication ceremonies only when a new church building has been built.
But its pastor, the Rev. Rick Mayo, thinks that Cornerstone has come a long way in the two years since it started. “We’re actually overdue (for a dedication),” he said.
Today’s service begins with a dedicatory prayer by the Rev. Richard Denny, district superintendent of the district of Washington of the UPCI denomination.
The message on both days will be delivered by the Rev. Nathaniel Wilson, pastor of the Rock Church in Sacramento, Calif.
Evangelist speaks next week
The Rev. Jerry Walker, a travelling evangelist, will speak and hold a healing service at Abundant Life Church, 16607 E. Broadway next weekend.
Walker will speak Sunday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The Rev. Don McKinney, pastor of Abundant Life Church, said this is Walker’s first visit to Washington. But McKinney has hosted Walker before, when McKinney was a pastor in Little Rock, Ark.
, DataTimes