Texas singers share music in Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
He didn’t expect a miracle.
The Rev. J. Paul Bruhn, pastor of First UMC, Columbus, merely thought a trip last year to Germany—his homeland—would provide a unique ministry opportunity for the Columbus Community Choir, in which he is a vocalist.
He could never have guessed the effects one trip could have—on the singers, Columbus residents and those the choir visited in Germany. Those effects, Bruhn said, were amazing.
The process leading to the trip began a few years ago. Several singers from First UMC created the Methodist Chorale, led by the church’s music director, Merrill Luman, to prepare for Christmas and Easter cantatas.
The group became the Columbus Community Choir after it added vocalists from local Roman Catholic,
Baptist and Lutheran congregations.
About 40 members typically prepare for holiday specials, Luman said. But many had begun wondering about the possibility of taking the ministry overseas.
Bruhn suggested Germany.
Twenty-seven singers left in May for an 11-day trip. Travelers didn’t have to pay for anything but extra shopping.
“It was amazing how much money came in for this ministry,” said Ken Clarke, a member of the choir.
Bruhn said, “In our community choir setting, we have some who could afford the trip and some who could never go to Europe. We were able to have all the costs taken care of through fundraisers. It was a great blessing.”
The church sold antiques and baked goods, Bruhn said, among other typical fundraising methods.
The May itinerary included a stop at a U.S. military hospital, where wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan
are transported, Bruhn said.
Before leaving, Clarke said, members had asked the hospital what would be the best item they could bring that would bless the soldiers.
Hospital personnel said phone cards.
“The soldiers—they miss being able to have contact with their families,” Clarke said. “We knew this would be good for them.”
Bruhn said the group hoped to collect about 300 cards worth about $1,200. Amazingly, the singers ended up with 1,500
cards, worth more than $6,000.
Each traveler carried more than 50 cards in his or her baggage, Clarke added.
The choir visited four United Methodist congregations in Germany, including Bruhn’s home church in Berlin. The Texans also performed in a small church in Frankfurt—the home church of Bruhn’s wife.
Every performance began with a German rendition of “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and included more than a dozen memorized English songs, Luman said. All were religious.
Members performed in orange polo shirts and navy blue slacks, Clarke said.
Bruhn said the trip did much for members’ relationships.
“One of the most wonderful things was being together with people of different Christian backgrounds for two weeks,” he said. “It helped us have a spirit of unity. We found out how much we’re actually alike.”
Luman agreed.
“It made them a very cohesive group,” he said. “They worked extremely hard, and the spiritual aspect has been tremendous.”
Clarke said he believed the visit had a tremendous impact on the German people.
“I think it really spoke to them that we, Americans, took the time to come over and sing to them,” he said. “We took our music ministry to them. And we were wholeheartedly received every place we went.”
A couple of months ago, Bruhn discovered just how much of an effect the group’s visit really had.
He received a monthly newsletter from the church in Frankfurt, which had no active choir when the Columbus Community
Choir performed there.
“As a response to our concert, they decided to hire a music director,” Bruhn said, “and in the same newsletter where they had printed an article about our choir concert, there was also an article about the very first choir practice they had.
“It was major good news.”