wfn.org | GALA Fest is Gala Occasion

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

15-June-1997 
GA97027 
 
                        GALA Fest is Gala Occasion 
 
                               by Nancy Rodman 
 
SYRACUSE--Under Sunday afternoon's  cloudless sky, the Presbyterians 
attending the 209th General Assembly were treated to Gala Fest, a 
multifaceted street festival and al fresco lunch. 
 
    General Assembly attendees sat under umbrellas and trees, on benches 
and grass, enjoying box lunches provided by the six-presbytery host 
committee while a piper played "Scotland The Brave" and children frolicked 
in the fountains of Community Plaza. 
 
    Events scheduled throughout the afternoon included music, storytelling, 
drama, and dance, the Moderator's Reception, and the Youth Advisory 
Delegates' tree planting. 
 
    Music events included The Bogle Band, a Christian rock band from 
Bo'ness Scotland, bagpipes with Charles Lewis, Schola Cantorum, a strolling 
concert of 16th century madrigals, a Symphonic Steel Band from Geneva 
Presbytery, and The Society of New Music presenting scenes from "The Fourth 
Wiseman." 
 
     For those who like to participate, there was an old fashioned hymn 
sing featuring such old favorites as "The Old Rugged Cross" and "I Love to 
Tell the Story."  The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was the site 
of a series of organ recitals featuring local organists Allison Evans 
Henry, Dennis David Triggs, Bonnie Beth Derby, and Duane Sutton playing the 
cathedral's century-old 3,000 pipe organ.  Bell choirs, all from the host 
presbyteries, included the Ringers of Praise, Whitelaw Church, Canastota, 
the Inspire'd Chimers, First Church, Binghamton, the Campanile Choir, Delhi 
Church, Delhi, and the United Presbyterian Church Bell Choir, Amsterdam. 
 
    Non-musical performances included Hmong Dancers, the Mission Drama 
Troupe, the Open Hand Theatre, and a variety of storytellers.  The Mission 
Drama Troupe used drama and music to tell stories of mission service.  The 
troupe is made up of mission personnel from the United States and abroad 
and is part of a pilot program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 
 
    The Open Hand Theatre used masks and puppets to present stories from 
five areas of the world.  Storytellers were Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan 
member of the Onondaga Nation who told stories illustrating the culture, 
beliefs, and history of the Iroquois people, Frances McMillan Parks of 
Syracuse University,  Barry Lentz whose stories explore the movement of 
spirit within human experience, and Dennis Dewey, a biblical storyteller. 
 
    An exhibit of art by professional artists offered a visual depiction of 
images of personal, spiritual, and religious experiences. 
 
    The Moderator's Reception, held in the Sculpture Court of the Everson 
Museum, offered General Assembly participants an opportunity to greet 
newly-elected Moderator Patricia G. Brown and the missionaries of the 209th 
General Assembly. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--