25
THE ABINGTON s
t en
c
The Voice of The AbingTons
Around Town
School News
What’s going on with your favorite student Page 8
Sports
Trail junior demonstrates his skills Page 11
Times-shamrock communiTy newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 348-9185 Fax: (570) 207-3448
November 19, 2015
www.abingtonsuburban.com
Gathering Together
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 3
SUBURBAN
Concert Series presents ‘all-church recital’ by Cathleen Lathrop
SPECIAL TO THE ABINGTON SUBURBAN
The Arts at the First Presbyterian Concert Series began in 2001 as an opportunity for church members to invite the community to artistic events. Years later, the series continues to welcome people to experience local performances.The second event of the 2015-2016 series will be an All-Church Recital on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 300 School St., Clarks Summit. The program is organized by Frank Jones, director of music at the First Presbyterian Church. Jones will direct the adult choir, and will be assisted by Richard Cochrane, who leads the hand bell choir, and by Kay Ten Eyck, who is the church organist, director of the children’s choir and the accompanist for the choirs. The concert will be the debut church event for Scranton-native Jones, who was hired in September. Though the recital is a large function, he happily received assistance to plan it. “I’ve had so many people who have been more than willing to help me,” he said. “We have a great music and worship committee, a wonderful congregation and a musical pastor. Pastor Bill Carter is a jazz pianist and it’s fantastic having so many people on my side when trying to plan this.” Though Jones is new to the church, music has always been a part of his life. He enjoyed singing when he was young, graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor of music education and is working on a masters’ degree in higher education and administration at Marywood University. He is a music teacher in the Scranton School District and the director of children’s and youth programs of the Choral Society of NEPA. Jones is thankful to have found a church community that is supportive and active when it comes to concerts.
The bell choir participants are, from left: Clare Baruffaldi, Laura Schillinger, Shirley McLaughlin, Marie Cochrane, Bill Keller, Connie Weiss, Nancy Owens, Beverly Bright, Judy Cutler, Diane Scheuer and Richard Cochrane.
“There aren’t too many churches in the area that do concert series, and I think it’s good that we can provide that,” he said. “The concert reaches out to the members of the community and it gives the musicians in the church their opportunity to be performers. As a music teacher, that’s a great feeling that I have support from my church community because they’re great musicians who are willing to help.” The recital will feature performances by the adult, hand bell and children’s choirs of the church, as well as vocal and instrumental soloists. Performers include Jeff Leas, trumpet; the AshJones-Weiss Quartet; and the piano-organ duo of Beverly Bright and Kay Ten Eyck. The event is open to the public and admission is free, but a free-will offering will be taken to help defray costs. The series is supported in part by a Lackawanna County Arts and Cultural Grant, a program of the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Lackawanna County Council on
BLACK FRIDAY STARTS NOW! TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 11/18/15
10:31 | CORNELLCHR
Arts, Culture and Education; and also by a Pennsylvania in the Arts grant, which is administered by the Pocono Arts Council; and by gifts from individual donors. Jones is hoping that attendees come to the concert to not only enjoy the music, but also witness the other events and services the First Presbyterian church offers. “I want people attending the concert to see that there’s more than just attending service and furthering your Christian education,” he said. “There’s a bigger view on what we do in our church. Our church does a lot of good. We have service trips for people to help other areas of the world, and groups who help the local community. I think music is a great way for our church to be in the public eye and to see that it is different and does a variety of things.” For more information or directions, call the church at 570-586-6306 or visit its website at fpccs.org.