Many of our Presidents have been men of deep personal faith.  Others have been less religious.  Whatever their personal profession, religion has often been a significant issue in presidential elections and in the discussion of public issues.

David Holmes, Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at William and Mary will be making three presentations on this timely and engaging  topic in a visit to Winchester, September  15-17, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and Shenandoah University’s departments of religion and history and the Center for Public Service and Scholarship. Holmes is the author of The Faiths of the Founding Fathers and The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents.

The lectures are free of charge.

Lecture schedule:

Sun, Sept 15, 6:30 p.m. — First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall: From Truman to Clinton: The Faiths of Eight Postwar Presidents

Mon, Sept 16, 7:30 p.m. – Hester Auditorium, Shenandoah University:  No Religious Issue Whatsoever: Nixon, Kennedy, and the  Presidential Election of 1960

Tues, Sept 17, 7:30 p.m. – Hester Auditorium, Shenandoah University: Genuine Believers?  The Faiths of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Jeremiah Wright 

The Winchester Chapter of the American Guild of Organist will host the regional convention from Sunday July 7 thru Wednesday July 10.  Many have expressed an interest in attending some of the recitals.  There are many events to choose from but these are some I have highlighted.  For more information about these recitalists please see the website: http://2013agoreg3convention.com/schedule.  Suggested  donation for each event is $10.

Saturday July 6, 2013

10:00am Quimby Competition by college students from Region 3 at Market Street UMC

Sunday July 7, 2013

7:30pm  Convention Opening Hymn Festival with David and Susan Cherwien at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday July 8, 2013

9:00am or 1:30pm  Organ Recital with Karen Electra Christianson at First Baptist Church

11:15am  Recital with Paul Carroll—Market Street UMC

11.15am  6th Dimension Handbells at Christ Episcopal Church

1:30pm  Shape Note Singing with Dr. Kenneth Nafziger at Old Stone Presbyterian Church

3:30pm  St. Paul’s K Street Combined Choruses, Robert McCormick, Choir Master at Braddock Street UMC

7:30pm  Nathan Laube in Concert at Trinity Episcopal Church, Upperville, VA

Tuesday July 9, 2013

9:00am  Jeremy Filsell—Artist in Residence at National Cathedral at Braddock Street UMC

1:30pm  Recital with Julie Vidrick Evans at Braddock Street UMC

2:30pm  Recital by Paul Carroll at Market Street UMC

7:30pm  Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney at Market Street UMC —with Organ accompaniment by Paul Fleckenstein

Wednesday July 10, 2013

9:00am  Quimby Winners Recital—Market Street UMC

10:30am  Closing Worship Service—Jeremy Filsell Organist
Our Composers will conduct their Anthems with a select choir from Winchester, VA

3;00pm  Final Convention Concert: Ann Elise Smoot ,Goodson Chapel, Shenandoah University

Anyone interested in exploring the possibilities for a drama ministry at FPC is encouraged to meet on Wednesday evening, March 20, at 6:45 pm in Fellowship Hall (immediately following our last Wonderful Wednesday meal). The purpose of this meeting is to generate ideas for a drama ministry and to gauge potential support for a ministry designed to make contributions to the life of our church through short dramatic presentations as part of our Sunday morning worship and/or a major dramatic/musical production in the longer term.

For additional information, please contact Don Winstead.