To introduce our new Rector, Canon Michael Rusk, to Emmanuel – more than 50 members and friends of Emmanuel Church showed up on Saturday evening, 4 February, for a unique event - a Sound of Music Sing-along.
The formula for the evening was simple: come to the church and watch the sing-along version of the movie together in the Grande Salle. The movie, projected on the large screen above the stage, included all the words for the songs. This made it easy for the crowd to enthusiastically sing along with classics such as Do Re Mi; My Favorite Things; So Long, Farewell; Climb Ev'ry Mountain; and the extra-popular-in-Switzerland Edelweiss.
The event was organized by Holly Smith Dinbergs and Shannon Keith, with plenty of help from Bill and Christina Bouldin, Christine Housel, and Elias and Gabriel Wittrup. At the heart of this core group was Rose Acheampong, who coordinated and provided a dinner of delicious meatballs and rice, supplemented by salads and desserts brought by guests.
Costumes were encouraged. Prizes for Best Costumes went to: Patty Solomon as Maria; a visiting family of mother and two girls all in white dresses with blue satin sashes; John Kennedy as the Lonely Goatherd; and dressed-to-the-nines Richard Cole as the Baron. We also had several nuns in the crowd, along with some Bavarian tourists and musical notes (e.g. Gabriel Wittrup was dressed completely in yellow as Re, A Drop of Golden Sun).
A goodwill offering was accepted from attendees. The event generated about CHF 850, which will be used for Inreach activities at Emmanuel Church.