Covenant News

Oakland (CA) Choir Celebrates 100 Years

OAKLAND, CA (February 17, 2005) - The Sanctuary Choir of First Covenant Church recently celebrated one hundred years as a choral organization with an evening of music and reminiscence.

Director David Leestma welcomed to the podium former choir directors Tom Fettke, Ed Lindquist and Betty Jo MacPhee, who shared humorous and poignant memories and directed the 80-plus-member alumni choir. Accompanied by brass and handbell choirs, organ and piano, the music filled the sanctuary with what one guest summarized as "a bit of heaven on earth."

Former pastors John Notehelfer and Randy Roth and Pacific Southwest Conference Supt. Evelyn M.R. Johnson brought greetings from former pastor Stanley Henderson and Glenn Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church. A highlight of the presentation was the sharing of a hand-written note from former choir member Tom Hanks.

A centennial hymn, Shekinah Glory, was composed for the occasion by Pastor Emeritus Bryan Jeffery Leech and a video documentary highlighting the choir's history and current choir members (accompanying photo) was shown. The program concluded with an organ and brass performance of Widor's Toccata from his fifth symphony - a fitting climax to an inspiring evening of musical worship. A reception followed the program.

"The joyful heritage of music ministry is evident in today's Sanctuary Choir," says music secretary Grace Gunther, whose purpose still reflects the original constitutional statement of the Swedish Mission Church Choir of Oakland: "The fundamental purpose of this organization is to render sacred songs at public meetings, contributing to the edification of God's people and winning of souls for Christ; to work in harmony with the church."

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