Saint John’s-Newberry United Methodist Church supports many ministries, one of which serves local students and community members within the heart of Newberry, located just outside Williamsport, PA. The STJNUMC School of the Arts (SOTA) has been able to provide creative ways to allow students to continue pursuing the arts even in these tough times. Working closely with members of church council and Rev. Dr. Lenore Hosier, we developed a safety and security plan where students would be safe to follow their dreams and serve the Lord through this unique ministry built upon the arts.
All of our students are asked to fill out an online contact tracing form prior to arriving at the church facility for practices or lessons. This ensures that only students who are healthy and have not been exposed to the virus are able to attend. In addition, while our usual concert events have been postponed for fall 2020, we have been working hard to create new ways for our students to continue performing and serving.
Students at SOTA are able to develop musical skills or pursue a variety of distanced dance classes, ranging from beginner to advanced modern dance or ballet. Instrumental lessons include online voice instruction with our teacher Megan Havrilla, who has diligently honed the craft of teaching virtually. Our piano instructor Diane Havrilla, and our double bass/guitar instructor Tim Breon, are able to teach while masked and distanced from students who learn also while masked. Brass instructors, Philip Herfort and Rebecca Ciabattari have been able to utilize the large square footage of our terrific indoor facility or to move lessons outdoors to the center courtyard, taking every precaution. These students may have the opportunity to perform selections during the church services coming up this November or December.
Our dancers have been rehearsing weekly within 10’x10’ squares marked on the floor of the rehearsal hall. Theresa Kendall, our dance instructor, has been working extremely hard to choreograph dances which would allow students to never leave their boxes, thereby maintaining proper distance from one another. Most recently, Theresa and Pastor Hosier collaborated to allow our dancers to perform for the congregational services the first two weekends in October. One class was invited to dance during the indoor services while maintaining proper distancing from one another as well as from congregants. Several additional classes were able to perform outside in the church parking lot for family members and congregants, taking place either before or after church services. These events provided a goal for our students to learn and focus as well as it was a true blessing to those who observed our students dancing for Him!
Recently, our dancers were invited to perform outside one of our local nursing homes for residents to be able to watch out of their windows! We are so grateful for the opportunity to provide an outreach of ministry to residents in this nursing facility where a moment of joy may be a blessing like no other.
Our ministry reaches students, families, and our community in a unique, caring manner. We have had countless stories from our students who have grown to love the arts and the Lord through what has become a most special kind of community. While SOTA looks and feels much different in 2020, we are overjoyed to continue to work for our Creator in such a way during these trying, unprecedented times; and we look forward to the bright future we have waiting for us down the road!
sota@stjnumc.com • schoolofthearts.susumc.org • facebook.com/sotafriends
