Popular worship service bids adieu to its organizer

By JOE ANGOLIA

Staff Writer

This year's Great American Brass Band Festival will mark the culmination of Rev. Norman Hagley's tenure as organizer of the brass band's worship service. The pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is set to retire this year, ending his involvement in the service he began in 1990.

The worship service has grown considerably from its humble beginnings, when Hagley's church made up the only participating congregation. This year's service, though, will include representative ministers from eight neighboring churches, one more than last year's service.

The newest addition to the festivities is Rev. Peter Bartuska from Grace Presbyterian. Bartuska will join reverends Bob Kirkpatrick of Trinity Episcopal, Tom Farmer of Danville Presbyterian, Tommy Valentine of Lexington Avenue Baptist, Ben Carter of Christ the Head Missionary, Joe Schueneman of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and Lt. Paul Gilliam of the Salvation Army in this year's service.

Church participation isn't the only thing that has grown over the years. Attendance has expanded from 1,200 people the first year to 3,500 people last year. Hagley expects no less than 3,500 people for this year's service.

As has become a tradition, Hagley will give the mass' sermon. The title is "Painting God with a soft stroke." The sermon will focus on how God can be revealed in the same gentle way Christ spread God's message.

"I'll be speaking about the gentleness of God," said Hagley. "With God you don't have to yell and scream, because he hears us when all we have to offer is a whisper."

This year's service begins with music at 9:15 a.m. Bands that will play are Olympia Brass Band, a crowd favorite and regular of the service since 1990, the Festival Brass, a Salvation Army band from England, and the Band of San Giorgio from Ragusa, Sicily. The worship service begins at 9:30 a.m.

The bands won't be the only source of musical harmony, as the community choir comprised of volunteers from local churches, will join in the service. This year's song, "Now thank we all are God" by John Rutter, will be directed by Dr. Ron Holz of Asbury College. Aside from being the head of the musical department at Asbury, Holz is a major in the Salvation Army. Anyone who is familiar with Rutter's arrangement of the anthem is welcome to sing in the choir. Rehearsal will be at 8:45 Sunday morning on the main stage.

"Ron has played a big part in the success of our services," said Hagley. "He always contacts the Salvation Army and gets them involved in what we are doing."

Though he has been the main force behind the service's success for the past 10 years, Hagley is ready to retire and enjoy the things life has to offer. Both he and his wife, Janet, who retired from teaching at Jennie Rogers Elementary School, are ready to move into the next stage of their lives.

"We really haven't been able to give enough time to our grandchildren's activities," said Hagley. "I'll use my retirement to do interim ministries, visit with relatives, and watch my grandchildren's activities."