Hickory – Join Unity Evangelical and Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Churches, as they celebrate the joy found in sharing the gifts of music and art, with a program to benefit Outreach Ministry, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry. In cooperation with Lenoir-Rhyne University, this free benefit event will feature a concert from students from the Lenoir-Rhyne Music Department.

48 Hours of Faith and the Arts begins Saturday, October 12th at 9 AM at Unity Lutheran Church, 3025 Falling Creek Road, NE in Hickory. The event is free and open to the public and brings together local emerging artists, the Church, and the community at large to share their gifts of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual expression. The intent of this free event on Saturday at 9 am, open to all, is to promote faith formation, peace, understanding, and well-being in the larger community.

The weekend will reach its pinnacle at 3pm with ensemble and soloist performances from Lenoir-Rhyne University’s music students, coordinated by Dr. Ryan Luhrs, Ph.D., Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music and Dr. Christopher Nigrelli, Professor of Music. The concert will include both soloists and instrumentalists and features performances by: Jenna Waters, organ, Nick Moshinski, marimba, Amelia Coger, trumpet, William Fisher, tuba, Edward Bland, baritone, Bailey Beam, soprano, Alexandria McNeely, soprano, and Bailey Beam, soprano. As part of the concert event, speakers from Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministries will share information about the work done here in the Hickory community.

Linda Gensheimer, Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator shares, “Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry is grateful to receive the goodwill offering that will be collected.  These funds will help in providing sustainability to our mission of Hope, Help, and Healing to the “neighbors” we serve, through the services we provide, whether it is helping with a utility disconnect notice, food, medical, dental, vision, pharmacy or providing Thrift Store vouchers.  Our goals are to continue expanding services and broaden our ability to partner with our neighbors in need to create a new lifestyle beyond poverty.”

Pastor Kate offers, “It’s so exciting to be part of this event that brings the community together to benefit our neighbors, experience the arts, and worship. Visitors will have the chance to participate in the creative process, and perhaps stir up something within themselves they didn’t know was there. The Holy Spirit loves to surprise us! Come and be surprised!”

Photo: Jenna Waters, LRU Junior, preparing for Oct. 14th. Jenna will be performing Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 65: Mvt. 1 — Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) and Toccata in D minor, BWV 565 — J.S. Bach (1685-1750) on the organ.