Two Tuk Tuks picked us up at the retreat center's entrance. These tiny open-air taxis look like roller skates, making the ride fun. Three of us were crammed into the back of one, and two of us in the other. This adventure was outside our schedule, but someone got wind of a street market on Tuesday morning. When I found out, I was all in. Hanging with the locals brought me extraordinary joy—and their art! I chatted at length with several merchants. One man made beautiful jewelry out of thin wire. I asked, “Do you make all of this by hand?” He immediately said “yes,” went behind his table, grabbed a piece of wire and tools, and began to show me how he twisted the wire into beautiful designs. Then handed me a simple ring with three spirals atop each other. “Oh!,” I said. How much? He says, “It’s for you.” Then he said, “The first spiral is creation, the second is people, and the third is balance.” Whaaattt!? That’s so good, I thought. I wish I knew his name and story. So, I bought a necklace charm from him, for far more than I wanted. [Insert eye roll—I was probably suckered.] Also, how about the Holy Spirit = Balance? Later today, we practiced a long, spacious 90 minutes of Vinyasa. We started with our hands at our hearts in prayer—pressing our pinky fingers and thumbs together while allowing our three middle fingers to blossom like a lotus flower, meaning divine essence and rebirth. And, then we practiced balance. With eagle pose, half moon pose and dancer pose. To balance takes all of my presence, intention and strength. At the end of our practice, we put our hands together again, bringing them to our foreheads. The teacher calls this our third eye, meaning intuition and inner vision. I like to think of my third eye as the sacred search for self love, peace and harmony within. Then, we say namaste in unison, meaning honoring the divine in self and others. This week, the retreat has focused on healing. Often, we need to heal from a place of grief or loss. Yesterday, I transitioned to the book As Long As You Need, Permission to Grieve by J.S. Park. The author calls himself a grief catcher, and I love that image. He says, “Grief is the debt we pay to live and love and chase the stuff that gives us meaning.” I also got my kids three dream catchers from another merchant today. Some of them may call them grief catchers and that's okay. Sometimes grief needs to be held and heard and wondered about. It made me think of the three spirals on my new ring made by a Costa Rican man at a market. If you are paying attention, wisdom comes to you in the most unexpected places. Balance can allow room for that. Jesus’ story of loss and grief is so powerful that we can heal and rebirth from the ashes of his death. Out of that rebirth, the Holy Spirit moves among us like an energy force and invites us to so many possibilities of equilibrium. Egalitarianism? Equity? Fairness? Justice? Or, as the jewelry maker would say it, balance. Namaste, Marta *P.S. This July, we are going to do a worship and learning series and book study on the book As Long As You Need, Permission to Grieve by J.S. Park. Get your summer flyer in the Overview, or pick it up on Sunday.
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Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. - Exodus 20:8
A troop of monkeys gathered in the trees above our heads as we wandered the jungle sidewalks this morning. We were looking for a yoga studio where we could practice at 11 a.m. I said, “Hello, friends!” [to the monkeys] and thanked them for joining the community of saints this morning—all the critters that live among the varieties of palm trees, sweet-smelling flowers, and veiled in a heavy dew. I was so delighted to see these monkeys. They made the ride from Liberia, Costa Rica, to Nosara in a fifteen-passenger van on “developing” roads, worth every nauseous moment the day before. Last fall, I began planning this continuing education week a few months after I finished an academic program at Ilff. My postgraduate work spanned from 2010 to 2023, give or take a few years of break. I wanted a different type of education. I signed up for a yoga and meditation retreat in Costa Rica, not knowing anyone but knowing that my sacred body and mind needed this work to ground my ministry with the sacred bodies and souls of all of you. In the Fall of 2023, I learned that Plymouth’s personnel committee reviews a continuing education proposal from pastors before approving the time away. This is a great way to ensure accountability and a connection to the work. I decided to call the proposal Rest is Resistance. Soon after I decided on this excursion, Rev. Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, the pastor of First Congregational in Loveland, said she would like to join me. A few days later, her long-time friend Nikki [whom I met during that time period] also wanted to join us! A few months later, I met Allison at the yoga studio in Fort Collins, where she became my traveling companion. Her friend Meg joined us from Delaware. I practiced yoga at Yoga Pod in Fort Collins approximately four times a week and got to know the beautiful instructor, Joy, who is facilitating this retreat in Costa Rica. All of a sudden, it’s monkey business! And I feel like I am hanging in a monkey tree with a barrel of monkeys in the middle of a Costa Rica jungle. Perhaps this is a tiny miracle if you believe in those. I thought I was going alone, but I now have new friends. I knew what my body needed, I knew what my soul needed, and God knew what I needed. Here is what Thandiwe and I worked on together as our continuing education proposal: Rest and sabbath are foundational concepts in scripture. Our creation story includes a full day of rest -- and it’s God resting. If God needs rest, so do we! Jesus regularly retreats and rests. Gospel stories tell us of wilderness and mountain excursions; water turned into wine, and naps in boats. If I have learned nothing this past year, it is that rest and sabbath are necessary and life-sustaining spiritual practices. The practices of rest and sabbath stand in sharp contrast to our culture’s focus on productivity and doing, doing, doing. Occasionally, our “self-care” practices are escapes rather than rest -- watching television, scrolling through our social media feeds, or going on a shopping spree (just to name a few that I enjoy). Do these activities really rest our bodies, minds, and souls? I can’t speak for you, but for me, they don’t. If we are to take scripture seriously, rest is most often characterized by activities that engage our body, mind, and spirit:
More than just a beautiful place to escape, this is an opportunity to rediscover and renew my energy: mind, body, and spirit. It is an opportunity to explore the idea of rest as resistance -- not just as theory but as embodied practice. It is also an opportunity for me to invite our congregation to this mindset. Given my first year at Plymouth and what we know about ministry, this will be an opportunity that I can take to stave off burnout and ensure I am spiritually well as we continue our shared ministry. And, of course, this kind of “rest as resistance” learning must involve more than just a yoga retreat. I listed some books in the original proposal. But I was recently given some new books that feel more relevant to the church and me. My retreat reading will include:
In my original proposal, I suggested regularly journaling. Instead, I plan to write several blog posts about this time to share with all of you this week. Your connection to me and this work is important. Tricia Hersey writes about rest as a form of protest against production. She writes about her lived experience as a melanated person. She says, “Rest supports our grieving by allowing space, and with space, we can begin healing from the trauma of grind culture [or healing from the trauma of anything]. Grieving is a sacred act and one of the ways we can begin to reconnect with our bodies as we craft a rest practice.” What is your “rest practice” going to be this week? How do we transform grief into power? Lay and rest in these questions. ~ Marta It feels like it’s been more than just five days since Leadership Council announced the difficult decision recommended by the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC to place our senior minister, Hal Chorpenning, on paid administrative leave. In that time we’ve had the first of what will be many challenging but necessary discussions together. Thank you to those who attended one of the two congregational conversations, and to those who reached out in person or via email to share your perspectives, ask questions, or just offer support.
Amidst these important conversations, I also want to highlight that our work of mission and ministry continues! Plymouth’s staff is hard at work, and volunteers are organizing exciting programs every day. There are too many wonderful projects happening to name them all, so here are a few from this week: We had a beautiful and moving Confirmation Sunday service. The climate action ministry team is continuing their spring series “Resurrection in a Time of Climate Change.” And, perhaps most visibly, roof repairs are ongoing and should be wrapping up later this week (weather permitting). The roof repairs feel like an apt metaphor for where we are in this moment as a congregation. Fixing a leaky roof isn’t glamorous. It isn’t the reason anyone chooses to be involved in a church. In fact, it’s disruptive and uncomfortable. But it’s necessary work that makes worship, mission, fellowship, and Christian formation possible in this space. As a congregation we are moving through a difficult period, one that is disruptive and uncomfortable. Nonetheless, a theme that has come up again and again over the past week is how much people love Plymouth. My hope for our congregation is that we can come together, approaching differences of opinion with empathy and curiosity, united by the love we all have for our church. That way this difficult period can set the stage for vital ministry and community in the years to come. Adam Adam Redavid, Moderator "Resurrection in a Time of Climate Change" The Climate Action Team spring series is in progress! Here are some images from events that have already taken place. There's still more to come, through 5/12. Visit plymouthucc.org/climate to learn more and register for the film on 5/4. First photo is Doug Fox at the Forum on 4/14. The collage on the right comes from our Plymouth Online Connection Facebook group, where you don't have to wait until the end of the month to see great photos and videos of what is going on at church! Roof Repair Scheduled to finish at the end of this week. The first photo is day one. The second photo is from yesterday (4/22): They’re tearing off the existing roofing system layers of the north half of the roof over the Fellowship Hall. Memorial Services
Plymouth has had several memorial services already and another (Joyce DeVaney) happening this week. Remember, you can attend online (also later via recording) on our Memorial Service web page. This week, we are entering the third week of Resurrection in the Time of Climate Change, the Eastertide programming. The weeks have been rich with films and speakers, and we are excited about this Sunday’s Earth Fair during fellowship hour.
As we delve into the concept of ecosystems, I am reminded of the diverse ecosystems we are a part of: our families, our church, and the vast ecosystem of our planet. I am also reflecting on the intersections of our communities and identities and the potential for us to unite and support each other across differences, divides, and equity. I believe that this unity can have a profound impact on our climate and our world. I have attached a link to another of Jesus Has Left the Building podcasts in our season called "Altered States" (here). In this episode called "Kin-dom Work with Queen and Princess," we invite Queen [who leads a radical Black group here in Fort Collins called New Eyes Village] and her activist friend Princess to share their work. Some of you know that New Eyes Village is nesting at Plymouth. Some of you met Queen and her community. If not, this is a way to get to know her by listening to the story. The podcast episode is not about environmental justice but of Queen and Princess’s experiences. Studies also tell us that environmental racism is most prevalent in disproportionately impacted communities. As you listen, consider all the intersections this week. Our planet. Impacted communities near and far. Marta A guiding mantra in programming music for Easter Sunday this year was "expressions of Easter joy." As a worship planner, having a thematic approach to each service is nothing unusual. It's in fact the default method for creating the tapestry of words, music, and liturgical action required for a cohesive hour of community worship. But on such a prominent day of the church year as Easter Sunday where the natural expectation would be "shades of forte" throughout the morning, I found it enlightening to ponder the question, "What is Easter joy?" What is it that we are celebrating and how can that be viscerally expressed through music and worship? The Three Joys quickly came to mind.
Joy. The baseline variety. An appreciation that all is well and feeling happiness and excitement in that moment. The Spirit shows us that life can never truly die. The hymn writer John Crum succinctly stated this joy in verse four of the Easter hymn "Now the Green Blade Rises": "When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, Christ's warm touch can call us back to life again...Love is come again like wheat that rises green." Ecstatic Joy. The enthusiastic intense sort. More of a burst of energy and motion — action — as words cannot adequately express this sublime restless feeling. The Good News becomes a reckless kind of hope in the reality that Love can never die. And that truth is quite exhilarating. And profound. A Quiet Joy. The contentment and assurance — a bold hope — that the Spirit's promise of unrelenting life in every moment, even in spite of hardship, is real. The worship services last Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, were intended as a way to immerse ourselves into this quiet joy. Inspired by the contemplative Catholic feast day Divine Mercy Sunday on Easter 2, we entered a peaceful space where the significance of the Resurrection could be meditated upon through Taizé chants of the Paschal season, the soothing tones of a string quartet, and moments of prayerful reflection. On Easter Sunday we experienced the expected "shades of forte" through triumphant trumpet calls and robust congregational singing of joyful Easter carols. The organ roared in its support and offered an explosive moment of ecstatic joy in a contemporary setting based on an ancient Gregorian Easter chant. The Plymouth Ringers shared a contemplative meditation on that quiet Easter morning long ago. The Chancel Choir sang a more personal and whimsical account of Jesus' return in the first person exclaiming "I'm back...Love brought me back!" presented in a gospel and musical theater influenced style. The hope is that diverse expressions from across time, space, and varied cultures and traditions can enhance our understanding of greater truths, such as the life-giving power of the Resurrection, and connect us more deeply with the community of Life Seekers both past and present. May it be so this joyful Eastertide. Paschal Blessings, Mark Ministry Highlights for March 2024 Lent Resurrection Gardens We started March with a service with four speakers from different generations, plus a cross-generational project between services. St. Patrick's Day The service was focused on Celtic Christianity and kids made Celtic knots. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday was a festive occasion, with palm waving, Kids Will Sing!, and a message from the book, Together We Rise: An Easter Story for All of Us, by Paul Raushenbush, illustrated by Jin Xia. Easter Sunday Easter was celebrated with joyful worship, as well as an egg hunt and traditional cinnamon rolls. Cascarones eggs (filled with confetti) are special blessings and good luck on Easter Sunday. This year our own Pastor Hal received the blessing as he turns the corner of retirement. Many more pictures on our Gallery page. Fellowship of the Grape The February FOG group enjoyed a lovely spread of food along with the expected wine. The next meeting is 4/26. Change and new life seem to be everywhere this time of year, as we celebrate Easter and as the long Colorado winter finally gives way to spring. Plymouth is also entering a period of transformation! Some of these changes involve our physical infrastructure. In the coming weeks, you’ll see crews at work installing a new sloped roof above the Fellowship Hall and Fireside Room. Leaks and standing water on our current flat roof have been a problem for decades, so I’m thrilled that we’re finally able to address this critical need. Your Leadership Council anticipates funding this project by drawing on our reserves, with no need to take out a loan. Over the coming weeks, a small team of members will also be working to identify other areas where our facility could better support our community—and embody our values—with the goal of launching a capital campaign later this year to fund priority improvements and replenish our reserves. Stay tuned! Accompanying these physical changes, ministry at Plymouth is also entering a period of transition, as Hal prepares to retire after 21 years as Plymouth’s senior minister. Like many others, I find myself experiencing a range of emotions, including sadness at the loss Hal’s departure will be for Plymouth, as well as hope for new beginnings in the years to come. Leadership Council’s first step in navigating this process will be to meet with acting Rocky Mountain Conference minister Erin Gilmore to learn about what other congregations in our region have been doing and what resources are available to us. I don’t yet know what this process will look like beyond that, but I do know that we are committed to being transparent and intentional, so expect to hear lots more as we move forward. I’m excited to see how Plymouth grows and changes in the months and years ahead! Adam Adam Redavid is not only our moderator, he’s also one of the coordinators for Plymouth Social Club, our Gen X/Millennial social group. A Colorado State University alum and staff member, Adam lives in Wellington with his husband Nic. Pronouns: he/him.
COVID has changed how we think about so much, including the church. In a post-COVID world, faith communities have been invited to think anew about their building and land. What is the role of the building and the land in the church’s mission to its surrounding community? What does the church and its land/building owe to the surrounding community, if anything?
Post-COVID, churches are invited to consider their land and buildings as shared assets of the community to maximize their mission. Even mature and thriving congregations have relatively low space usage. This reality is becoming more apparent. Some congregations are rethinking how they use their physical space. As you may know, I have a podcast with Reverend Doctor Mandy Todd called Jesus Has Left the Building. In this season of the podcast, we hear the stories of several local Fort Collins congregations that re-imagined how they live in relationship to their physical space and land. Many of you have already heard the story of Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (DOC) and how they shared their land to create affordable housing. They are getting brand new neighbors who eat, sleep, work, and live near the church, indeed on its land. Listen to this inspiring story by Pastor Melissa and Pastor Wendy. Season 8, Altered States, Episode 1 Faith is Built on Three Legs. Marta This past weekend, I got to spend time in Sunday School. We read a beautiful Easter story and then the kids practiced their parade for Palm Sunday. While we were talking about our wondering questions, one of our six-year-olds was wondering about the cross. And she said, “I think when Jesus died, God took everyone’s faithfulness and gathered it all up and Jesus came with love.” So I got to thinking about the cross – it was part of our Easter story, it was a focus in worship, and this six-year-old just gave one of the best sermons I’ve heard on it. And then I was reflecting on my own cross-generational approach to ministry. Cross-generational is a little different from our usual buzzwords like intergenerational or multi-generational. We can have different generations in the same room, which we do every Sunday, and call ourselves “intergenerational.” But are we reaching across the generations? Friends over 60, do you have friends who are 6? Or friends who are 16? Do you know their names? Research tells us that students who grow up with ten adults in church who know their name are exponentially more likely to stay in church when they become adults themselves. I also like using “cross-generational” because it throws in a little reminder of Jesus’ work - specifically the work of the cross. As we draw nearer to Easter, we have some special plans for cross-generational formation. Our Palm Sunday worship will feature moments our young friends lead us. And during the 10 o’clock hour, we will have a Stations of the Cross ritual waiting for you, so you can also reflect on Jesus’ work of the cross. Brooklyn **Cross-generational Formation: all ages are intentionally engaged in ways that are appropriate for their faith development and spiritual formation. The perspectives with the least amount of power – generally our youngest – are centered so that all perspectives are equal. Different things have shaped and informed our spiritual journeys as we walk through life. It’s unlikely that you are in exactly the same spiritual place that you were ten or twenty (or sixty…) years ago. Are there things that have brought freshness into your spiritual life along the way? A deep influence on my journey has been Celtic Christian spirituality. Back in 2007, I was given a Lilly Clergy Renewal grant that helped Plymouth support my sabbatical and also helped bring parts of my experience back to Plymouth. The Lilly grant helped fund the first visits of John Philip Newell and John Bell, Scottish ministers involved with the Iona Community, which provided the initial impetus for the Visiting Scholar program. There are other enduring reminders of Celtic spirituality at Plymouth that include our Living Celtic Christianity group that has been meeting for 16 years, the lovely Celtic cross in our memorial garden that mirrors a slab cross in Glendalough, Ireland. And I know that the influence of Celtic spirituality stays with those who traveled on pilgrimages with Jane Anne and me to Ireland and Scotland and with others as well. What drew me to Celtic spirituality was its authenticity and breadth. Concern for the created world and for humanity is an essential element of the tradition that carries over from the indigenous traditions of the early Celtic world. The inherent goodness of creation is seen through prayers that reflect everyday experience. You may hear that in the benediction I often use: “Deep peace of the running wave to you…” Here is a prayer I use each morning: Christ as a light, illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ over me, Christ under me, Christ beside me on my left and on my right. This day, be within and without me. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak And in the heart of each who speaks unto me Christ as a light, Christ as a shield, Christ beside me on my left and on my right. The inclusion of women in leadership, while not universal, is solidly within the tradition. St. Brigid of Kildare led a monastery that included both women and men. And her legacy continues in Kildare at Solas Bhride, a community of eco-feminist nuns we visited on our pilgrimage. There is obviously a lot more of the tradition to explore! Happily, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, and we will be celebrating on March 17 with worship in the Celtic style. I hope you’ll join us at Plymouth for worship. Blessings to you! P.S. Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time begins Saturday night: Spring Forward!
Ministry Highlights for Feb. 2024 Lent Starts The traditional soup supper and service on Ash Wednesday (2/14/24) started Lent this year. (More Ash Wed. photos in Gallery.) On most Sundays in Lent, folks in grade 4 and up have gathered between Sunday Services to Pray with Colors, using our Lenten Devotional linking the art of Henri Matisse to Lenten themes. Feb. 18 was green and Feb. 25 was blue. This Sunday we take a break for Resurrection Gardens (look for info in your Overview Thursday!) and return to Praying With Colors on March 10. Youth Visit Estes Our youth group had an outing to Estes Park with the youth of First Cong. Greeley. Marta Speaks at FC Council Meeting on Israel/Hamas War Rev. Marta was #54 out of 169 speakers at the Fort Collins City Council Meeting on 2/20 at which the council considered a ceasefire resolution. The previous Sunday, youth made hearts for Plymouth members to wear at the meeting. Plymouth Celebrates Verley Boulton's 90th Birthday There were candles and cake on Sunday, February 11 between services as our community celebrated Verley! ISAAC Love in Action Fundraiser Plymouth folks attended the Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition event featuring internationally-known speaker Father Greg Boyle, author and Hilton Humanitarian Prize recipient, with a message of radical kinship, exquisite mutuality and infectious hope. Annual Meeting 2/4/24
Festive worship at 10 a.m., followed by a potluck and the annual meeting. More photos in Gallery. Did you miss the Annual Ministry Highlights presentation? View it here. Dear Plymouth,
It’s good to be entering the season of Lent with all of you. I consider this season a time of curiosity. I am in awe of the beauty of our separate and shared lives. I am glad to be journeying with you and this congregation this year. I love joining you in homes, breaking bread together, sharing our lives, taking ourselves and our values into the public square, and engaging in important local issues. It’s fun to share stories about our personal lives- our favorite T.V. shows, what makes our professions important, and talking about what Jesus means to you! Who is Jesus to you and how does he show up in your faith? I think about this a lot. Jesus often invites and calls me into community. Sometimes, it is a familiar community and sometimes an unrecognizable one- but it is always community. INVITATIONS for you into Community this Lent: The Immigration Ministry Team invites you to join the Fort Collins community at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 20. We will be rallying for peace and love and asking for a Cease Fire Resolution to be passed so that our city can join the list of other cities in the U.S. asking for the same thing. We will meet in the parking lot at 5:40 pm at the City Hall [the patio outside the main door of the City Council Chambers, 300 Laporte Ave]. I have signed up to talk at the Rally. The youth group will be making us large red hearts to wear around our necks as a sign of solidarity as we all witness the horror that is happening in the West Bank–Palestine–Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and others - our vision must be to protect and love and call for peace here and around the world. The Interfaith Council of Fort Collins invites you to join a suicide prevention event on Thursday, March 7, 9-10:30 am at Plymouth! I also invite you to reach out to me if you want to have coffee or sit together and explore your faith during this time of Lent, this time of deepening. I am easy to find. My email is marta@plymouthucc.org and my cell phone is: 719-306-4037 If you have any questions about these events don’t hesitate to contact me. Love and Peace this Lenten Journey, Marta A couple of weeks ago, I shared a few thoughts with the Chancel Choir about our music ministry at Plymouth. It is helpful to step back and reflect on one's role in the greater mission of the church. The result is often one of rejuvenation, a healthy recalibration and a more profound appreciation of music's healing and life-giving power. This time was no exception. Allow me to share with you then the fruits of this reflection.
I view our midweek rehearsals as so much more than a time to just "get things done." It is a midweek communal oasis in our often busy lives and one path to put faith into practice by giving back to the church in such a purposeful, beautiful and uplifting way. It is inherently a spiritual experience combining beautiful music thoughtfully selected to illuminate the message of our worship services. And it certainly is also a space to grow musically and vocally as choral singers as well. The progress we make together in our weekly explorations and practice allows for quality and inspired anthems to grace Plymouth's worship life. It is a gift of service we can offer to the church. And as choristers know all too well – for ourselves. These thoughts apply to all of Plymouth's music ensembles as well of course. It is clear to me that the intention behind our service is well understood by the Chancel Choir, the Plymouth Ringers and the 9:00 a.m. service musicians. There is joy in our music-making and time together! We have a happy and selfless group of volunteers who generously give their time and talents to Plymouth's music ministry. And I invite you to join us as well in whatever capacity you have available to you! There is never an all-or-nothing commitment. If you enjoy singing, consider sitting in with the Chancel Choir for the Third Sunday "Pick-Up Choir" dates including this Sunday, February 18! Rehearsal is at 10:10 a.m. The music will be very accessible and we'd love for you to join us. The Plymouth Ringers meet on Wednesdays from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. in the Forum Room. No prior musical experience required. All you need is a desire to have fun and perhaps even to ring! From the youth, Kids Will Sing!, led by Liz McGrew, bring their offerings to worship on occasion with much fervor and joy. Expect a visit from them on Sunday, February 25 at the 11:00 a.m. service! Also coming this spring will be a restoration of a youth hand chime choir. More opportunities abound for youth participation in Plymouth's music ministry! Stay tuned. I have greatly appreciated the value Plymouth places on music in worship over the years in all its wondrous diversity. The universe speaks in mysterious ways whether it be in the grandeur of an organ postlude on a familiar hymn tune, the beauty of an expressive choral anthem, the esoteric sounds of bells in our hallowed space, or the universal message of peace and love in a classic song by The Beatles. With a little help from our friends, we can can ensure a lasting presence of intentional joyful service in Plymouth's music ministry for years to come. Mark Mark Heiskanen, Dir. of Music/Organist |
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