'They had to wash that dirt right out of those chairs...' This work crew was one of many at Davidson United Methodist Church's Day of Service.

Whew!  Somehow it feels good to be leaving March behind today and settling in for what we hope is a bright and balmy April.  Last Saturday was the Methodists’ turn for a Great Day of Service and, like the Presbyterians two weeks earlier, the raindrops kept coming and forced some activities to cancel or move inside.  A group of hardy church members, however, did brave the elements to wash preschool chairs outside – with rinse water from the spigot as well as from above.

In addition to news of the Great Day of Service, we want you to meet DUMC’s Jeff and Julija Hassel.  You will also find results of Cynthia Lawing’s piano students at a competition earlier this month.

DUMC GREAT DAY OF SERVICE

Happy "DUMC elves" washing shelves at the Davidson Public Library were Raymond Holmberg (left) and Lewis Huff.

Great Day of Service volunteers with Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC) began to gather last Saturday for opening worship at 8:15 a.m. in the sanctuary.  Promptly at 9 a.m., groups, totaling more than 550 church members young and old, fanned out to undertake service projects near and far.  Some stayed right at the church cleaning and scrubbing; some traveled no farther than the Davidson Public Library or the Town Hall.  Still others journeyed to work sites in Charlotte or Troutman, including to the 5th Street Ministry and Barium Springs. Other out-of-town sites included the Raptor Center, Lydia’s Loft, the Mooresville Soup Kitchen and Cornelius Elementary School to name but a few.  A morning of volunteer labor from so many church members gives new meaning to “many hands make light work.”

Oh, YUM! Happy faces surrounding baked goods were (clockwise from left) Madelyn (4) and Georgia (2) with their mother, Torri Trexler, Gerri Sampson, Carol Holmes, Debbie Ross and Angela Adams.

The inclement weather canceled a few outdoor activities but most were not hampered by the slight drizzle.  And throughout the morning, those who needed a boost to their stamina could find a wonderful variety of home baked goods available in the Fellowship Hall for purchase.  The United Methodist Women know their way around a kitchen!  Thanks to co-chairs for coordinating the Great Day of Service, Ashley Nydish and Jeff Hassel.  Also many thanks to Angela Adams and Carol Holmes, co-chairs for the delicious bake sale.

MEET JEFF AND JULIJA HASSEL

We mentioned Jeff Hassel in the paragraph above but not his duties at Davidson United Methodist Church (DUMC).  Jeff is the new Senior Associate Pastor of DUMC.  He and his wife, Julija, came to DUMC from Gastonia (Ranlo) last June and live in the former Lefty Driesell house at the corner of Lorimer and Woodland.  Jeff’s main focus is in the areas of membership and missions – especially international mission work.  Just this past January he traveled to Nicaragua to learn more about the “Rainbow Network” which is working to provide housing, education and food to the poor in that country.  In February Jeff stayed closer to home and took a mission team to Asheville to work with the Step-by-Step Home Repair program there.

Julija and Jeff Hassel with rescue dogs, Auksis (l) and Chandler

Jeff, the son of a retired  Methodist minister, graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College and Duke Divinity School.  He traveled to Lithuania in 1999 and spent six years as a rotating preacher for small churches both in the capital city of Vilnius and smaller outlying towns.  During his time in Vilnius he met his future wife, Julija.  They were married in Lithuania in 2005 and once back in North Carolina, Julija completed her degree in International Studies at UNCC.

Track & field and tennis were favorite activities for Julija in Lithuania and now in Davidson she teaches children’s tennis at River Run Country Club and also runs at least 30 miles a week training for a half marathon next month in Charlotte.  Jeff enjoys gardening and still is passionate about motorcycle riding but has put that on hold for the moment since their BIG rescue dogs would hardly fit on the back.  Julija’s work with Great Dane Rescue in Huntersville has resulted in Chandler, a beautiful full-size black Great Dane and Auksis (Lithuanian for “Golden Boy”), a charming Golden Retriever.  (We hear there is a new Pomeranian-Chijuajua mix at their home since this picture was taken…another photo shoot is a must!)

Many in our town know that DUMC has a sister congregation, St. Luke’s UMC,  in Siauliai, Lithuania, which they have partnered with for the past 13 years.  (It is interesting to note that the current minister at St. Luke’s in Siauliai was a classmate of Julija’s in Vilnius and is also a graduate of Duke Divinity School.)  To further this partnership, Jeff and Julija will lead a relational and cultural mission trip in June to spend a week with the congregation in Siauliai.  Following the fellowship with their sister church, the group will travel to Vilnius to join in the celebration of Lithuania’s 1,000 anniversary.  They will also witness festivities as part of Vilnius’ selection as one of two European Capitals of Culture for 2009.  For more information on this June 26-July 9 travel, contact Jeff at jhassel@davidsonumc.org or call him at 704-892-8277.

Albeit somewhat belatedly, we welcome Jeff and Julija to our community.  Stop and say hello when you see them out walking Chandler.  You can’t miss them with probably the biggest dog in Davidson at the end of the leash!

MUSIC MAKERS

How nice to visit with Cynthia Lawing and hear about her piano students and also catch up on Lawing family news.  Cynthia has been teaching piano in Davidson for 30 years, although she took some time off during this period when her daughters were born.  Earlier this month, a number of Cynthia’s students competed in the March 7th North Carolina Music Teachers’ Association (NCMTA) 2009 Festival.  Each student had to memorize up to three pieces of music (from the 18th, 19th and 20th century) for the piano and play them in front of judges.

Hannah Gantz, pictured here with parents Ruth and Frank, earned a superior ranking.

The results were exciting for the students and their teacher.  Eva Clauss received a rating of VG (very good).  Receiving ratings of E (excellent) were Eric Zhu, Maxwell Clauss, Rachel Dyl, Kari Solmaz, and brothers Christopher, Cameron and Chase Folmar.  Superior ratings (scoring 94 or better) went to Clara Gerdes, Emily Zhu, Emma Zhang, Martha Gerdes, Shelby Dyl, Maegan Halbedl, Jennifer Goto, Nina Woodworth, Ziev Dalsheim-Kahane, Collin Griggs, Hannah Gantz, Ciara Conway, Kaysee Gass, Evyatar Hashmonay and Michael Muchane.  Kudos especially for Hannah, Ciara and Evyatar who were competing for the first time.

A number of Cynthia’s students qualified to compete in another piano competition on the state level on April 18 at Queens University in Charlotte.  Cynthia mentioned that she does not teach a specific area of piano music but rather teaches “musicianship” and then lets her students branch out as they wish. Good luck to all these musicians.

Catching up on the Lawings:  Cynthia’s husband, Bill, has been in the news recently for his work with the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra collaborating with the Theatre Department in the Broadway musical, “Company,” which continues its run at Duke Performance Hall on the college cmpus through next weekend. Bill is a Professor of Music at Davidson College.  Cynthia and Bill have three daughters who grew up in Davidson:  Mei is married and plans to enter medical school next fall in Florida or Virginia; Gloria is pursuing a Masters Degree in Latin-American Studies at UNCC and volunteering regularly at Ada Jenkins; and Chrissy will graduate in May from the University of Delaware and enter a Masters Program in Chinese Philosophy and Religion at Columbia this fall.  And one further note:  Cynthia and Shirley Gilpin will perform together in Tyler-Tallman Hall on Friday, April 17, at 12:30 p.m. as part of the college’s “Musical Interludes.”  What a lot of talent we have in our town!

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Have news for Brenda? Write to her at hbarger@bellsouth.net.