Internationally-honored church musicians, Jim and Jean Strathdee will provide a free program of their songs on Sunday, October 11 at 6:00 pm, El Sobrante United Methodist Church, 670 Appian Way, El Sobrante. The evening’s presentation will be free, but there will be a free-will offering taken. Members of El Sobrante UMC will provide a reception following the program.

The Strathdees, who are based in Sacramento, have shared their music with the church at large in an international itinerant ministry for nearly forty years in the U S, Canada, Central America and India.

The program, “An Evening of Singing with Jim and Jean Strathdee,” is sponsored by the El Sobrante UMC and The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.

“We believe that congregational song has the power to transform individuals and communities,” said Eileen Johnson, music director at El Sobrante and coordinator for the event. “The purpose of this song festival is to draw together people from diverse backgrounds so that we can unite in singing the Strathdees’ inspirational songs. We hope that people from all over the East Bay will join us.”

Speaking on behalf of The Hymn Society, Joanne Reynolds commented that “We want The Hymn Society to be the first place people turn to for resources in congregational song—regardless of the type of music used by a particular congregation, and whether it’s for weekly worship purposes or in time of community crisis.

“This evening of song will help us spread the word by showcasing two of the Society’s talented members—Jim and Jean—and demonstrating our commitment to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song in its many forms.”

Ms. Reynolds, who is chair of the Society’s Financial Development Committee, explained that The Hymn Society is in the process of raising $2.2 million to endow The Center for Congregational Song. “Because the Center’s programs will both be on-line and locally based, this evening of music will be a great opportunity to demonstrate how it will function,” she said.

 For further info about this event, contact: Eileen Johnson, Music Director, El Sobrante United Methodist Church, 510.223.0790 / music@esumconline.org

 For additional information about The Hymn Society and The Center for Congregational Song, please visit www.thehymnsociety.org.