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| Wednesday, September 8, 2004 | ||
| Weather: After a night of rain, Wednesday dawned wet with gray skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Rain was felt during the morning but stopped by lunch time. The lake is swollen and residents in the area tell of basements completely full of water. Mud slides have been reported in area roads but all remains well at Lake Junaluska Assembly Schedule highlights: Second Bible study by Stephen Reid; greetings from the Church of the Brethren General Secretary; general session with guest speaker Deforia Lane; another afternoon of handcrafts and interest groups; afternoon entertainment with the Wonder Tones, a women's trio; evening celebration featuring guest speaker Tom Mullen; and the colleges ice cream socials. The main events: To welcome the morning's keynote speaker Deforia Lane to NOAC, Nancy Faus led a full auditorium to a rousing hymn of "I Am Weak But Thou Art Strong." As a music therapist working with Ireland Cancer Center and University Hospitals of Cleveland, Deforia shared stories of "God's awesome and unexplainable way of taking the simplicity of music and accomplishing the unimaginable." Though the profession of music therapy is just 55 years old, Deforia said, it is first recorded in the Bible, 1 Samuel 16:15-16, when David played the harp to heal Saul's spirit. She told stories from her professional and personal life, showed video of music therapists working with families and children and sung segments of hymns to bring home poignancy and power of music. NOAC's attendees were so moved by her stories, by her subtle witness to the healing affects of music that they gave her a standing ovation. What's more, her afternoon interest group had attendees sitting on the floor and in the hall. In the evening celebration, worship leader Willard Dulabaum spoke to a dummy -- Hilde, a beloved older adult puppet of Steve Engle's -- about God's gift of manna from heaven and the grace of thankfulness for all things. The theme was picked up by worship leader Tom Mullen as he delighted the congregation with humor and poignant stories about giving gratitude to God even during the difficult times. He encouraged participants to follow Paul's advice from 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 to give thanks in all circumstances. During the worship, Joyce Person of the Polo (Ill.) congregation gave her testimony to God's healing hand through the strife of illness and as she ministered to their former pastor when he developed a terminal disease and needed an advocate and friend. |
Above, from top: Deforia Lane captured the hearts and minds of the large NOAC audience with her songs and stories of using her God-given gift of music to bring about healing. After a long night of rain, the entire campus was soggy and the banks of the lake had overflowed slightly. Retired seminary professor Tom Mullen filled Wednesday's worship meditation with humor and heart-felt stories of commitment, faith and laughter. Attendees enjoy Mullen's insight such as how friends greet his wife, Nancy Faus, at NOAC - "five steps, kiss-kiss, five steps, kiss-kiss." (Photos: Mary Dulabaum, Nevin Dulabaum and Eddie Edmonds.) |
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Daily Coverage
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