“United We Sing,” Interfaith Choir Concert

“United We Sing,” Interfaith Choir Concert by Provo Community United Church of Christ, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, LDS YSA 19th Stake, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 175 N. University Ave., 7:00 pm

Music in the Valley:

Provo Community United Church of Christ

Dave Lewis started playing the organ when he was thirteen and several years later studied with Parley Belnap, whom he met while singing in a choir that Parley accompanied. Dave served as organist in his LDS mission, ward, and stake. Eventually he found his way to Provo Community United Church of Christ (PCC). Last year he was asked to play for Easter services at the last minute and continued filling in on Sundays.  Eventually PCC offered Dave the job as organist.

Initially Dave did not want to take on the responsibility of directing the choir, but he helped the choir perform at Christmas and Easter. The PCC choir likes to sing hymn-based music, but Dave was not familiar with all of their favorite hymns, so they have shared and learned music together. This year, financial challenges and uncertainties about the future of PCC fueled renewed participation in the choir. They increased practicing from a half an hour a week to one hour, and now they practice twice a week. Dave compares the choir’s growing energy and enthusiasm to Whoopi Goldberg’s choir in the movie Sister Act. It’s wonderful,” he says.

On June 18, they joined the choirs of the LDS YSA 19th Stake and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for an interfaith concert. Two weeks later, the interfaith choir performed a patriotic concert as a fundraiser for the PCC redevelopment project.

These concerts were so well received that they are planning another interfaith concert: “United We Sing” on Thursday, November 6th at 7 p.m. with St. Mary’s, LDS YSA 19th Stake, and St. Francis of Assisi. The PCC choir is having a blast rehearsing “I Will Follow Him” from Sister Act for the November concert. Dave says that the song has “a great message and is lots of fun.”

On December 14th, PCC invites the community to their 36th annual Carols by Candlelight concert. There will be an interfaith choir, bell ringers, a children’s choir, soloists, and an organ solo.

In addition to playing the organ and directing the choir, Dave has been involved with the PCC redevelopment project. In January, PCC had to let their pastor go because of budget cuts, and the congregation was not sure if they would have to shut their church’s doors. Dave was voted to be the chairperson of the committee formed to investigate options. The committee met with the Provo mayor and property developers. They soon discovered that the people of Provo wanted PCC to stay. The city was excited about the possibility of having a community gathering place and performance venue to fill the void of the Tabernacle, and so PCC has decided to restore their iconic A-frame sanctuary built in the 1950s and install a pipe organ with approximately forty ranks. The rest of the church property will be developed into new space for the church, upper-end housing and office space. Construction will start early next year. Dave now serves as the liaison between PCC, the developer, architect and community; he is optimistic about the future of music at PCC as he and the choir “Follow Him wherever He may go.”