Worship service requires many helping hands

By BRENDA S. EDWARDS
Staff Writer

Norman Hagley enjoys the ecumenical church service on Sunday morning of the Great American Brass Band festival as much or more than anyone.

``It's a fun service,'' he said during a recent interview. ``It's so relaxed.''

That's why Hagley has been featured speaker at the service since the birth of the festival in 1990. He got the job after volunteering his congregation at First Christian Church to take over the service held on the Centre College campus.

``The congregation is very enthusiastic about it. I would be disappointed if we didn't do the service,'' said Hagley. The majority of his congregation at First Christian church joins seven others in the program.

``It's so ecumenical that no one church is focused,'' Hagley said. Besides First Christian, the Salvation Army, Presbyterian Church, Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, and The Christ the Head Missionary Church (an African American congregation that meets in the Christian Church chapel) help with the service.

In preparing his sermon, Hagley tries to preach on something upbeat - something to give encouragement for people to enjoy and live life as full as possible.

``I normally don't preach about the evils of life,'' he said. ``I try to celebrate the goodness of people.''

You would not believe that with this year's topic: ``Getting Even.'' Hagley said most people think of that topic in a negative term. ``But why not do something good for someone who did a good deed for you? That will be good for us.''

Hagley said the whole service is upbeat. Even the music is different from the usual Sunday morning church service.

``The Olympia Brass Band of New Orleans adds such a flavor to the worship service. Many people come just to hear them play,'' said Hagley.

One of his hopes for the service this year is to have more African Americans to join in. ``It's needed at the festival. We're all brothers and sisters.''

Hagley and the volunteers work hundreds of hours on the program, which appears quiet simple. It takes a lot of work making contacts, coordinating music and rounding up enough communion ware to accommodate between 2,500 and 2,700 people.

``My staff is wonderful to put in extra work. Other churches help with bulletins. It takes a lot of hours to get ready. And it's all worthwhile.''

The rewards come from near and far.

``I get letters from people from all over the country who come to see the festival. They write about the good cooperation and work that goes into providing the service.''

This year, Hagley is trying to get choir members to help sing the ``Battle Hymn of Republic.'' ``We want to have a big choir for this dramatic song.''

Anyone familiar with the music who wants to sing should be at First Christian Church for rehearsal on Wednesday. The choir must be at the festival by 8:45 a.m. to rehearse with the band.

``This arrangement is one that will give you goose bumps,'' Hagley said.

If it rains, the service will be held in Norton Center for the Arts' Newlin Hall.

The offering taken during the service helps defray costs, a portion goes to the Band Festival committee and the rest goes to the churches. People can bring their church offering envelopes and the money will go direct to their church.

``It's the most rewarding service I have all year long,'' said Hagley, admitting it does take extra work. ``The idea is that is everybody is worshiping together,'' he said.

``Here we are Christ's children worshipping and have a great experience in church.''