Concert for Relief raised funds for those in need halfway around the world – and here at home
A large contingent of Mountain Lake area musicians were on a musical mission on Sunday evening, April 12, in support of raising funds for those in need in Ukraine, halfway around the world – as well as right here at home for the Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf.
The Mountain Lake Area MCC Concert for Relief featured seven musical acts in a fundraiser sponsored by the Mountain Lake Relief Sale and held at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake.
An earlier ethnic supper fundraiser on Saturday, March 14, featuring varjnikje (cottage cheese pockets topped with cream gravy), pork sausage, moos, bread and applesaure raised $5,107.51.
The concert hoped to realize the remainder of the $15,000 goal.
Ninety percent of the funds raised will help Christian organizations in Ukraine that are partnering with MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) to provide urgent humanitarian aid, including food and medication. Hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine are being forced to flee their homes because of ongoing armed conflict.
Ten percent will go to the Mountain Lake Community Food Shelf – Loaves & Fishes.
Music ranged from a Russian hymn – sung in Russian, to contemporary Christian, to well-known hymns, to improvisational blues to old-time gospel numbers.
Welcoming the audience to the concert was Bethel’s pastor, Pastor Galen Kauffman.
Performing artists included:
* First Mennonite Mixed Choir.
* House of Heinrich.
* Nathan Janzen and Micah Siebert.
* Delft Christian Community.
* Lynn Stoneking.
* Art Ellingson.
* Mountain Lake Gospel Singers.
Also speaking were Elisabeth Harder Schrock, a native of Mountain Lake who spent time in the Ukraine 10 years ago, along with a Ukrainian native who has lived, worked and studied in the Mountain Lake area for the past four years, Oleksii Myronets.
Refreshments followed the concert.
Following is a photo gallery from the evening’s fundraiser:
A WIDE-ANGLE look at the Bethel Mennonite Church sanctuary as Elisabeth Harder Schrock presented a powerpoint presentation on difficulties of current life in the Ukraine.
PASTOR DAN KEEGAN of the Community Bible Church in Mountain Lake served as host, introducing each of the musical acts.
ELISABETH HARDER SCHROCK provided the context for the dire need for assistance in the Ukraine.
OLESKII MYRONETS BROUGHT relevant stories of the life struggles of Ukrainians, as his parents were among those affected. He comes from a city on the east part of the Ukraine, near the Russian boarder.
THE POWERPOINT SLIDE behind Myronets clearly lays out the living conditions of those fleeing attacks on the eastern and southeastern areas of the Ukraine. Of the 40,000 occupants of his hometown, 30,000 have fled.
THE FIRST MENNONITE Mixed Choir shared one of their two songs, the Russian hymn “Come to Repentance” by P. I. Tchaikovsky, in Russian. Front, from left, Jareya Harder, Elaine Kauffman, Donna Lepp and Natalie Saypativath. Middle, from left, Eva Harder, Joyce Bucklin, Laura Harder, Nadya Bucklin, Maryann Harder and Marjorie Baerg. Back, from left, Gordon Harder, David Harder, Nathan Harder, Daniel Harder, Ramont Harder Schrock, Arnold Harder and Jim Lepp. Directing is Elisabeth Harder Schrock.
FOUR OF THE First Mennonite Mixed Choir’s male voices. From left, Gordon Harder, David Harder, Nathan Harder and Daniel Harder.
THE SECOND SONG shared by the First Mennonite Choir was “I Know My Redeemer Lives.” Front, Marjorie Baerg. Back, Arnold Harder, left and Jim Lepp, right.
VOICES RAISED IN song. Front, from left, Jareya Harder, Elaine Kauffman and Donna Lepp. Back, from left, Eva Harder, Joyce Bucklin, Laura Harder and Nadya Bucklin.
THE HOUSE OF Heinrich quartet sang “Whispering Hope” and “Beautiful Savior.” From left, Grace Kratovil, Jane Goering, Maryann Harder and Joyce Bucklin.
FROM THE CORNERSTONE Bible Church in Mountain Lake, Youth Pastor Micah Siebert on guitar, left, and Pastor Nathan Janzen, right. The pair presented a duet on “Holy, Holy, Holy,” by Reginald Hebe.
FAMILIES OF THE Delft Christian Community provided the songs “Charity,” by Paul Raber and “Someone to Thank, ” by Geraldine Koehn. All ages of the two families that comprise the Delft Christian Community participated – right down to a four-week-old infant.
LEADER FOR THE Delft Christian Community was Peter Zook.
TWO GIRLS FROM the Delft Christian Community were eager to share their voices in song.
THIS YOUNG BOY gets an early start in the joy singing – while safe in the arms of his father.
LYNN STONEKING SHARED several numbers, including her own, “Lord You’ve Been Good.”
MOUNTAIN LAKE’S ART Ellingson, left, joined Delft’s Lynn Stoneking, right, on the selection, “What a Wonderful World,” providing some electric guitar blues back-up.
ELLINGSON ALSO PERFORMED a couple of numbers solo, including a guitar instrumental.
YOUNGSTERS FROM THE Delft Christian Community leaned forward in their pew in order to soak up every last note of the music being performed.
THE FINAL GROUP to perform was the Mountain Lake Gospel Singers, a bluegrass/gospel group. Front, from left, Judy Rempel, Frances Buckholtz and Larry Buckholtz. Back, from left, Stan Rempel, Kenna Gardiner, Cindy Gardiner, John Gardiner, Elisabeth Buckholtz, Barney Wall, Luke Buckholtz and Heath Buckholtz.
JUDY REMPEL SERVES the Mountain Lake Gospel Singers as vocalist and by providing guitar accompaniment.
ACROSS THE STAGE, Judy’s Brother, Larry Buckholtz, also performs vocals and guitar accompaniment.
THREE MEMBERS OF the Gardiner family participate with the Mountain Lake Gospel Singers. From left, daughter Kenna Gardiner, mom Cindy Gardiner and dad John Gardiner, accompanying the singing on the mandolin.
MORE ACCOMPANIMENT FOR the Mountain Lake Gospel Singers is presented by Barney Wall on the autoharp. Barney even had the opportunity for a vocal solo on one of the songs the group shared.
A large contingent of Mountain Lake area musicians were on a musical mission on Sunday evening, April 12, in support of raising funds for those in need in Ukraine, halfway around the world – as well as right here at home for the Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf.
