An Update from Heather, 1/10/2012

While the material aspects of our Music Department were destroyed by fire, our hearts are full of gratitude for the many, many kindnesses we have been shown. In particular, I would like to thank:

• Green's Farms Congregational Church and JoAnne LaBella, their Office Manager, for assisting in making copies of anthems for our choir to use
• Eileen Hunt, Edward Thompson and members of the Fairfield West County, American Guild of Organists, for their continued support in too many ways to list
• First Church of Christ Congregational, UCC of West Hartford and their Music Director, James Boratko, for loaning us hymnals and choir robes
• The Unitarian Church in Westport for the use of their Meetinghouse for chancel choir rehearsals
• Saint James Music Press for use of their database of more than 20,000 anthems, solos, piano and organ works
• Austin Organs and Steinway & Sons for coming within 72 hours to evaluate our instruments
• Music Directors from all over who provided me with databases of their anthems and free reign as needed to the music in their libraries:
  • Caesar Storlazzi, United Church on the Green, New Haven
  • Craig Scott Symons, The First Congregational Church of Greenwich
  • Eileen Hunt, Green’s Farms Congregational Church, Westport
  • EdWard Thompson, Unitarian Church in Westport
  • John Abdenouer, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield
  • John Michniewicz, United Congregational Church of Bridgeport
• And other friends who are music directors, ministers/priests and staff from the following:
  • First Church Congregational, United Church of Christ, Fairfield
  • Norfolk Church of Christ Congregational
  • St. Thomas More Church, Darien
  • Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church
  • St. James the Less Episcopal Church, Scarsdale, NY
  • Congregational Church of Easton
  • Wilton Congregational Church
  • Norfield Congregational Church, Weston
  • St. Matthews UMC, Sandown, NH
  • The Rockingham Church, Plaistow, NH
• And others I am sure I have forgotten!

An update from Heather, 11/25/2011:

Good news — the handbells have been salvaged from the wreckage of the fire; the holders were destroyed but the bells are okay. And while most of the music was water damaged, I did manage to save a few pieces — I hope to incorporate a couple of the anthems into the Advent/Christmas season!

Any questions, (don't use the "@saugatuckchurch.org" address).