FAITH

Internationally acclaimed organist to perform Sunday at First Presbyterian Church

Phil Anderson
Isabelle Demers

First Presbyterian Church, 817 S.W. Harrison, will present a concert featuring internationally acclaimed organist Isabelle Demers at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.

A native of Québec and a graduate of the Julliard School, Demers is organ professor and head of the organ program at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She is in continual demand by her colleagues and has numerous invitations to perform at conventions by the American Guild of Organists and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She has performed concerts coast to coast in the United States and throughout Europe and in China.

Demers has been described as playing with “bracing virtuosity” by the Chicago Classical Review and as being “fearless and extraordinary” by the Amarillo-Globe News.

She has been called a “diminutive dynamo” who makes the organ sing with masterful, colorful registration as she entertains and delights the audience. Besides all her musicianship and flying fingers and feet, she endears the audience with witty and intelligent spoken program notes.

Demers has a gift for arranging and transcribing, and her program will feature some of that talent, as she makes the “King of Instruments” sing. Her program will include classical selections by Widor, Bach, Alkan and Thalben-Ball, plus her arrangements of John Williams’ “Harry Potter Suite” and Mendelssohn’s “Reformation Symphony.”

This concert will mark the third time Demers has performed on First Presbyterian’s four-manual Möller organ. The Arts @First team will sponsor a reception following the program.

In other religion news:

— LifeWay Christian Bookstore, 2121 S.W. Fairlawn Plaza Drive, will have a Veterans Day book fair from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, featuring the writings of Steve and Rosie Williams, of Topeka, who serve as state coordinators of Point Man Ministries of Kansas. Refreshments will be served and military-themed books will be available for purchase, as will “Forgiven” dog tags.

Books featured at the event will include “Faith Deployed … Again,” “Military Families Bible” and “Military Wives New Testament With Psalms and Proverbs,” all of which had contributions from Rosie Williams. “Repurposed Faith: Breathing New Life into Your Quiet Times” by Rosie Williams also will be available, as will “Battlefields &Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the Vietnam War,” to which Steve Williams contributed.

— Grantville United Methodist Church, 3724 South St. in Grantville, is having a Second Hand Treasures Sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Food will be served during the day. For more information, call the church office at (785) 246-3621.

— Gage Park Baptist Church, 3601 S.W. 10th, will have a holiday bazaar featuring food and craft items from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Lunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu will include homemade chili and chicken noodle soup. A drawing will be held for a “Starburst” quilt.

— The Elmont Opry will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Elmont United Methodist Church, 6635 N.W. Church Lane. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance by calling (785) 246-0156.

— Valley Falls United Methodist Church, 410 Frazier in Valley Falls, will have its 69th annual harvest dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. The meal will include ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, salads and homemade desserts. The cost is $7 for adults. Children 12 and under eat free. For free delivery, call (785) 945-3344 by 1 p.m. the day of the dinner.

— “Choose the Right” is the theme of the Primary children’s annual sacrament program at 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at the Lake Shawnee Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which meets in the LDS meetinghouse, 3611 S.W. Jewell.

— A program titled “Jews in the Midwest” will take place from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in the Hancock Ballroom of the Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread in Lawrence.

The one-day symposium, which is open to the public, will celebrate 19th- and early 20th-century Jewish settlers in the heartland of America, along with an encyclopedia project under the direction of David Katzman, emeritus professor of American History at The University of Kansas.

Four scholars of international reputation will speak about early Jewish settlers in the American Midwest: Tobias Brinkmann, Pennsylvania State University; Hasia Diner, New York University, Ava Kahn independent scholar; and Lee Shai Weissbach, University of Louisville. Katzman will deliver the keynote address describing his project.

For more information, visit: http://jewishstudies.ku.edu/2017-symposium

The host for the event is the Jewish Studies Program at The University of Kansas. Questions can be directed to jewishstudies@ku.edu or by calling (785) 864-4664.

— Several locations in the Topeka area will serve as drop-off sites this coming week for Operation Christmas Child, a project sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

During the project’s National Collection Week, Nov. 13 to 20, Topeka residents can fill shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and toys for children around the world who are affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine.

This year, Topeka-area residents hope to contribute more than 10,500 shoebox gifts toward the 2017 global goal of reaching 12 million children.

“We are honored to join the nationwide effort to collect gift-filled shoeboxes for children who may have never experienced the true meaning of Christmas,” said Topeka volunteer Martha Springer, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for more than five years. “Through these simple gifts and a message of hope, children learn that God loves them and has not forgotten them.”

Among Topeka-area collection sites are: First Southern Baptist Church, 1912 S.W. Gage; Journey Church, 1329 S.W. 37th; Southwest Topeka Bible Church, 4141 S.W. 53rd.; Northland Christian Church, 3102 N.W. Topeka Blvd.; Rolling Hills Christian Church, 4530 N.W. Hiawatha Place; and First Baptist Church, 414 Juniper Drive in Holton.

For more information on where to drop off shoeboxes by Zip code, or for more information on Operation Christmas Child, call (816) 622-8327 or visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

— The Supportive Adults Inspiring Lives — or SAIL — group will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Kanza Café, 2701 S.W. East Circle. The menu will include country fried steak, mashed potatoes, peas, cup of pineapple and a yeast roll. Other choices are available. Sherri Stone will be speaking about the Kanza Cafe and its participation in Meals on Wheels, the CHAMPS program, and the cafe’s relationship with Topeka Unified School District 501. To sign up, go to http://www.swumc.org/sail-sign-up.html or call Susanna Wesley church at (785) 478-3697.

— Mother Teresa Catholic Church , 2014 N.W. 46th, will have its 10th annual fall craft and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, and Friday, Nov. 17. Homemade cinnamon rolls and soup will be available.

— Oakland United Methodist Church, 801 N.E. Chester, will have a craft and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Crafts and baked goods made by church members will be available. Cinnamon rolls, coffee, hot dogs and chips also will be available for purchase.

Outside vendors and crafters can purchase 6-foot tables for $25, with a second table costing $20. Outside individuals won’t be allowed to sell baked goods. For more information or to reserve tables call (785) 969-9804 or (785) 231-4601.

— University United Methodist Church, 1621 S.W. College, will have its annual holiday bazaar from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. The event will feature cookies available by the pound; homemade candies, fudge and jelly; handmade gifts and decorations; Rada cutlery; a drawing for a handmade quilt; and a silent auction.

A homemade chicken-and-noodle dinner will be served from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $9 for a full portion and $5.50 for a half portion. Gluten-free noodles will be available.

— New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, 1018 S.E. 8th, will have its annual Usher’s Day service at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. on November 19th. Special guests will be the Rev. E. Bernard Hurd Jr. and members of Calvary Baptist Church.

— The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, 2420 S.E. Bellview, will celebrate Family and Friends Day during the 11:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Nov. 19.

— Interfaith of Topeka will have its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 3916 S.W. 17th.

“For the Children” is the theme of the service, which will feature several children’s choirs, other music, poetry and prayers from representatives of various faith groups in Topeka. Donations will be taken for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka, Let’s Help and Topeka Arab Shrine. Refreshments and displays about different faith groups will be available after the service. For information, call (785) 554-8068.

— A joint Thanksgiving service sponsored by Lutheran churches in Topeka will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 731 S.W. Buchanan.

— The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, 2420 S.E. Bellview, will have a Thanksgiving service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23.

Concert organist Tandy Reussner and Friends will present their 21st annual Christmas organ Vespers concert at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont in downtown Lawrence. Doors open at 2:45 p.m. Admission is free, with donations accepted for local organizations that serve the Lawrence community.