Worship service continues great tradition

By JERMAINE JOHNSON
Staff Writer

Over 3,000 people sit in lawn chairs or on blankets on "bluegrass" surrounding a bandstand, while three bands send sound resonating through treetops. Voices travel in unison, and kids sing at the top of their lungs.

No this is not an outdoor concert full of loud teen-agers. The bands are not the Grateful Dead, Dave Mathews Band or REM.

This is the scene at the Community Worship Service of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, where men, women and children of all ages experience the tradition of the Bluegrass with three legendary brass bands.

On June 17, the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ will wind down the Great American Brass Band Festival with its worship service.

The service will include performances from the Olympia Brass Band of New Orleans, London Citadel, a Salvation Army band from Canada, and the Band of the Air Force Reserve.

At 9:15 a.m. the bands will start with preliminary music. Morning service begins at 9:30 a.m.

Those who enjoy worshiping through song will have a chance to sing five popular hymns with the three bands and a 60-member choir.

This year will be the first year the festival's worship service will proceed without its founder, organizer and sermon leader, Rev. Norman Hagley. His retirement caused the organization of the event to fall into new hands.

Caroline Bloomfield, associate minister of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, will be the head organizer for this year's service.

Bloomfield is no newcomer.

In the past she assumed one of the hardest jobs of the event. She coordinated communion, which she says, is no easy task. Think communion gets messy at your church, try serving 3,500 people. Imagine. No cupholders for anxious kids or unsteady hands.

"Coordinating communion took all my energy," said Bloomfield. "We borrow communion-wear from all over town."

However, Bloomfield does not mind the tedious task. She strongly believes in the significance of communion.

"Communion is a center of our belief. We have it every Sunday. We didn't think about not having it."

Greg Russell, interim senior minister, will preach the sermon during this year's service. Russell lives in Lexington and will experience the festival and worship service for the first time.

"These are some of the best brass bands in the world," said Russell, expressing his excitement.

Representative ministers from seven other churches will be on hand. The churches include, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lexington Avenue Baptist, Danville Presbyterian, Grace Presbyterian, Trinity Episcopal, Christ the Head Missionary and the Salvation Army.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Bloomfield sees the service as a chance to "put away all the things that separate us on Sunday morning and come together as one."