I stay very active in my community and especially my church. I was a member of Paintertown Evangelical Lutheran Church, Irwin, PA, from birth to 1999. I sang with the choir since I was 14 years old and continued that committment up to the day I moved to Maryland. I taught Bible School every summer since high school, and for the year I lived at home, taught Sunday School - Grades 2, 3 & 4. I had the largest class in the Sunday School, and easily the most, er..., enthusiastic bunch of kids. Despite the trials they put me through, it was very rewarding when the little runts actually learned something! For the year 1997, I served as the adult Confirmation sponsor for my younger cousin, Angela, and as such did many required and optional activities with her and the others in the confirmation class.

1996 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of my home church, and I was very active on the anniversary committee. I created and printed the anniversary commemmorative booklets, which I also researched and wrote myself. I wrote and distributed press releases to the local papers and got the celebration dinner advertised on local cable TV. I also served as emcee and DJ for the anniversary dinner. With Angela's assistance, I culled my own music collection and those of family and friends to feature music from each of the 5 decades the church existed. I also gathered photos and newspaper clippings from various congregation members to create a memory display for the celebration dinner that represented major events in the life of the church since its beginnings.

When I was away at college, I attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Carlisle, PA. While there, I sang with their choir and helped Pastor Sharon Kelly start the Lutheran Campus Ministry's Monthly Discussion Lunch. After attending a class at the American College Dance Festival on Sacred Dance, I began performing sacred and liturgical dance at St. Paul's. They welcomed the variation to the normal service, especially during the very moving Cry of the Whole Congregation liturgy performed on Palm Sunday. After dancing at St. Paul's, I was invited to perform sacred dance at the Susquehanna Synod's 1996 Winterfest youth retreat in Lancaster, PA. Despite having to drive through the Blizzard of `96, it was a wonderful experience for me and for the youth.

After moving home to Irwin, I continued to perform sacred dance. I presented lectures and examples of sacred dance for local groups and for Paintertown Church itself. In this capacity, I have helped with the Paintertown Youth Group's Mime Troupe which performs throughout their area. I also was able to work with a group of dancers from St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Irwin, PA, on an evening Sacred Dance concert entitled, "Agape," which was presented in February, 1997.

Since moving to Maryland, I have been going to Holy Spirit Lutheran Church faithfully (pun sort of intended!) In 1998, I sang at a community church "song-fest" with the Holy Spirit choir, and have been a member of their Adult Choir since early 1999. I also play the Bodhran [Irish frame drum] in "Sunday Dawn" - Holy Spirit's Contemporary Worship Band. [No, it was called "Sunday Dawn" way before I joined... *smirk*]

I have performed sacred dance at Holy Spirit on many occasions now, as well as serving as reader, a cantor and a soloist for various services. I became an official member of the church on Sunday, October 3, 1999. Recently, I've been serving on the Celebration (Music and Worship) committee and am a member of the Church Council until 2006. I was also the creator and first webmaster of the church's website, www.hslceldersburg.org - now being maintained by a committee of church volunteers.

Though I am very scientific and practical by nature as well as being open to all manner of alternative faiths and practices, I have a very strong traditional spiritual side and find solace and joy in my church activities. I don't feel, however, that a church building is the only place to feel close to God. I find spirituality many places and forms. I just personally enjoy the formalized ritual of going to church. I plan to remain active as long as I can.

Visit www.paintertownlc.org, the Paintertown Lutheran Church website.

Visit www.hslceldersburg.org, the Holy Spirit website.

Learn more about Sacred Dance.

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