At 11 AM Sunday morning, October 18, 2015 the Austinville Union Church will dedicate a new Allen CF-15DK (Pull Stop) Organ into the Service of “Our Lord, Jesus Christ.” In April, the 40-year-old Baldwin organ at the Austinville Church died. She went down courageously playing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” They were proud of her years of service. However, she was manufactured with Bakelite circuit boards that had deteriorated and her company went out of business for the last time in 1992 after struggling along for years in chapter eleven –no parts. On Sunday, April 19th the board of directors voted to purchase a new Allen organ in honor of Gloria Marple. Gloria has played church organ faithfully since she was age 14! In just one week, with no campaign, they had $27,920! One gentleman came up immediately on the first “no organ week” promising a thousand dollars saying, “I can’t have a church with no organ!” |
The new organ is completely paid-for. Including $10,000 of additional up-grades made available by Allen Organ for $4,000 (due to a Cancellation!), along with the fact that Robert Sides covered a 10% Allen factory price Increase, the church purchased the $61,000 organ for $50,000. An additional $4,500 was raised to extend the warranty to 2035.
Picking up where they left off in April, the first hymn played on the new organ was “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, A Bulwark Never Failing.” “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He- Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same. And He must win the battle.” The hymn has been Pastor Ken’s mantra since college days!
Gloria Marple has served as a pastor’s wife since 1966. She and her husband, Ken have three children: Glorianne, a registered nurse, dietitian and teacher at Mansfield University; Connie, an artist and teacher; and Dan, a public school science teacher. She has played church organs from age 14. She has been a constant alto (or whatever is needed) in the church choir. As a high school student she could be found singing for events, such as: the dedication of the new Mansfield High School or as the soloist for High School graduation. She has been a champion of music in the church, with her children and grandchildren serving Christ through the gift of music.
She designed and planted the extensive prayer gardens at the Austinville Union Church, Troy, PA. The winding cobble paths within the gardens lead from one botanical wonder to the next. Of course, her fond hope is that folk will take time to sit on one of the garden benches in the peaceful presence of the Supreme Illustrator and marvel at the ever- changing, full-color paintings which are always in progressive process and surround us in all four seasons. Kids, plants and the earth have been her life. Her service to Christ is defined by these most wonderful of all things. She has always taken seriously her special commission to look after the earth and its children. She is the author of two books, “God’s Flower Children,” and “The Lonely Oak Tree.
The All-music program will feature guest organist Phil Maue. Phil Maue received his degrees from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey, where he majored in organ under Eugene Roan and Joan Lippincott. While there he was the accompanist and manager of the Westminster Choir under Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt. Phil has been the accompanist under the batons of Maestros Leonard Bernstein, Joseph Flummerfelt, Christopher Keene, William Steinberg and Thomas Schippers playing the piano and organ for large choral works and operas. He also worked and performed at the Festival del due Mondi, Spoleto, Italy, for three seasons as an accompanist, orchestral librarian and manager of the Spoleto Festival Orchestra.
He has been the organist and director of music for several churches throughout his career and has served as an organ consultant for many new digital and pipe organ installations. He is currently the organist for the Welsh United Church of Christ in Shamokin.
The celebration will bring back many classic Austinville musicians and musical pieces including: Kim Chaapel with “From a Distance,” Gloria Dziuba with “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” Connie Sickler with “El Shadi,” Susan Saxton, Dallas Dziuba, Fran Gardner/Brenda Brewer, instrumental duet, Austinville/Covert Churches Combined Choir, and much more. A luncheon will follow in the church hall; all are invited.