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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shirley Freyer
Concordia Lutheran Ministries
Tel: 1-724-352-1571 x8266
sfreyer@concordialm.org

Concordia Lutheran Ministries Residents Present Cantata

Cabot, PA – Four years ago, residents of Concordia Haven Apartments, three retirement dwellings on Marwood Road and part of the continuum of services provided by Concordia Lutheran Ministries, formed a 35-voice choir under the leadership of Alma Wilson, former director of children and adult church choirs, a pianist and organist. 

Concordia Havens Chorale will present a Christmas musical titled “The Gift Goes On” including favorite carols such as “How Great Our Joy”, “Oh How Joyfully,” “Joy To The World” and “O Come Let Us Adore Him.”  Several performances are scheduled for this season: Monday, November 28 at 7 p.m. at Haven I Dining Room; Tuesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. in the Haven III Dining Room; Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. in the Haven II Chapel and the final performances on Monday, December 5 at 10 a.m. in the chapels at Lund Care Center and at 2:30 p.m. at Oertel Care Center.

Originally from Philadelphia, Alma Wilson and her late husband, Rev. Alex Wilson, a Presbyterian minister, served at East Main Presbyterian Church in Grove City before coming to Concordia Haven.  His first call was to the Sudan where they spent ten years.  When they came back to the States, they found themselves at home in smaller churches in the Buffalo area and she currently enjoys membership in a similar environment at the neighboring Jefferson Center Presbyterian Church.

“We do have some depth in this group,” she says and credits three people who have been instrumental, “Rev. Dick Bartmas, who sings bass, is a retired Christian Missionary Alliance pastor who plays the violin; Leanne Kennedy taught music in the Fox Chapel Area School District and Hazel Meier, is piano accompanist whose late husband was a Christian Missionary Alliance pastor.  Assistant Director is Mary Elizabeth Saxion.  Soloists are Esther Shook and Bob Stark.

 “They are faithful and committed,” notes Mrs. Wilson.  “Our narrator, also a former schoolteacher, Nancy Black and her husband, Woody, purchased an extra microphone and he arranged the sound system to enhance the volume.” 

The choir includes six couples, all living in Concordia Haven III –Nita and Bob King; Peg and Bob Stark, Harriet and Dick Bartmas, Bob and Marlene Weissert, Jack and Betty Jenny and Mick and Doris Patterson.  The choir added another new member this year, Loretta Lesniak.