We hope you have heard of the appointment of the Organ Renovation Committee by our church. A list of members is at the bottom of this article. A brief pipe organ background might be helpful.
In 1928 Mr. Felton Little gave our church a pipe organ in honor of his parents. That instrument served us well for 49 years until its replacement by the current Memorial Pipe Organ in 1977. This organ was not the gift of a single individual but rather many, if not most, of the active church members at that time who contributed to the instrument. Even youth and children participated. Some pipes from the 1928 instrument are used in the Memorial Organ. Now, 49 years later, we are planning some major repairs to the Memorial Organ that we believe will keep it effectively leading us in worship for another 49 years. The repairs are in two areas: the console (think the cockpit of a plane) and the metal pipes, some of which are drooping due to “metal fatigue.”
Have you reflected on how often the Memorial Organ has brought you comfort in time of loss? Joy in times of celebration? Directed our thoughts as we worshipped quietly on Good Friday? Lifted us to worship beyond words on Christmas Eve as we sang, O Come, All Ye Faithful or on Easter Sunday when with full organ we united our voices singing Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! Each of us could list occasions when organ music “spoke to us!” We, at Auburn First Baptist, have valued the role of the organ music in our worship experiences. We hope you will consider its importance to you, both individually, and as a member of the congregation.
In the coming months you will hear more from the Organ Renovation Committee as we continue to do our research and planning.
Sincerely,
Cathy Summers, Dale Peterson-Co-chairs
Members: Carolyn Crandell, Clay Rittenbaugh, and Mike McClanahan
Ex officio: Morris Driggers, Seth Fuller, and Tripp Martin
-Dale Peterson & Cathy Summers