|
|
|
|
DEDICATION OF PIANO IN FELLOWSHIP HALL
|
| |
|
Lowell Charles, Lowell & Alice Frye, and Elizabeth Deis
by the piano that belonged to Elizabeth's mother.
|
On Sunday, August 29, 2004, Pastor Marcy Orr and members of the College Church Choir formally received the gift of a Yamaha
piano from the family of Elizabeth Deis. Together, those who were assembled in the Fellowship Hall prior to the Sunday worship
service dedicated the piano to the memory of Elizabeth's mother, Marie Deis.
Dr. Orr read the following words, written by Elizabeth for the occasion:
"The words that best describe Marie Deis would be “vibrant,” “determined,” and “joyful”—perhaps “joyful” above all else. Though she
suffered more tragedies in her life than do most people—including falling victim to polio in her 20s and cancer (and its return) in her
50s and 60s—she continued to enjoy church, friends, family, community, beauty in nature and art right through the last moments of
her life, as she listened to Lowell Charles play violin and Alice play a little electronic keyboard in her hospital room."
"Marie’s love of life, love of music, and strong religious faith were essentially one and the same. She loved to sing hymns and played
for many years with the church handbell group. Her home church, St. John’s Episcopal in Hampton, VA, named its annual Shrove
Tuesday musicfest and pancake supper for her. If we at College Church use her piano to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” it will
be the most fitting memorial possible—the greatest and most appropriate tribute to her spirit."
|
|
|
Choir members read a hymn together; Pastor Marcy placed the plaque on the piano.
|
Those gathered read together the following verse from the hymn,
"When In Our Music God is Glorified" -
Let every instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing alway: Alleluia!
Dr. Orr affixed a plaque to the piano, which reads:
DONATED TO COLLEGE CHURCH
by the estate of
MARIE HULCHER DEIS
September 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
"I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Psalms 34:1-3
|
|