WTZQ AND SUNDAY MORNING HYMN TIME PRESENT
THE CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
Local and out of town announcements for special services and gospel concerts are listed – along with local church and club announcements for regular weekly or monthly events.
If you have something you would like listed on WTZQ’s Church Bulletin Board send it via email to wtzqchurchbulletins@gmail.com
Special Notice: If your church has special services or singings coming up that you would like to promote on the Sunday Morning Hymn Time Page of WTZQ.COM and to have announced on the Sunday Morning Hymn Time Radio Program –please send an e-mail to: wtzqchurchbulletins@gmail.com
Bullington Gardens Announces Exciting Lineup of Spring and Summer Classes
Bullington Gardens, a premier horticultural education center, is in full swing with a diverse selection of classes designed for gardeners of all skill levels.
This March, participants can explore topics such as starting seeds, eco-friendly landscape care, perennial and pollinator plantings, and a special series on growing your own vegetables. Additionally, an orchid care workshop will provide expert guidance on cultivating these exotic blooms.
In April, the focus shifts to hands-on gardening techniques with a class on dividing dahlias, an exploration of early spring ephemerals and mosses, and a creative workshop on crafting hypertufa containers.
June brings a class on rejuvenating old azaleas, perfect for those looking to restore and enhance their landscape.
For those interested in the restorative power of nature, Bullington Gardens will also offer horticultural therapy programs. In March, attendees can enjoy mindful walks through the garden paired with therapeutic horticulture activities, while May will feature a special session on using lavender for relaxation and restoration.
With such a rich variety of offerings, Bullington Gardens invites the community to learn, grow, and connect with nature. For more information and to register for classes, visit https://www.bullingtongardens.org/eventsandclasses or contact us at (828)698-6104.
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The seminar features video interviews with nationally recognized experts including counselors, grief experts, and widowed men and women. They offer helpful insights on:
- What to expect in the days to come
- How to deal with the loneliness
- What to do with your spouse’s belongings
- Why it won’t always hurt this much
- And other practical help for dealing with the challenges of widowhood
Everyone who attends will receive a booklet with over 30 short readings on how to live with grief and eventually rebuild your life. For more information or to register, call 828-595-4086 at Living Savior Lutheran Church or email GriefShare@LSavior.org.
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Learn about Flat Rock History: Tours for St. John in the Wilderness
Tours of the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock will resume on March 15. The guided tours of the church and churchyard (cemetery) are led by church docents. “One of the joys of attending a beautiful holy place like St. John in the Wilderness is sharing it with our visitors. Our history is intertwined not just with the history of Flat Rock, but with that of coastal South Carolina, the home of our founders and earliest congregants,” said lead docent Polly Morrice.
Held on the third Saturdays of the month from March through December, tours start inside the Carriage Door entrance of the Church promptly at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. Additional tours are held seasonally on the first Saturday of the month from June through September. There will be no rain dates and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes.
The tours are free but advance reservations must be made online through the church’s website, www.stjohnflatrock.org/tours. Space is limited for each tour.
The historically significant churchyard contains graves of distinguished political figures and local citizens as well as those of unnamed 19th-century enslaved persons. “As docents, we strive to communicate the sweep of what happened and how it shaped us, the good and the sometimes painful,” Morrice reflected. “We do like to remind visitors that St. John is not a museum, but a vibrant, welcoming church. We’re still moving forward, and welcome all who would like to make more history with us.”
The church is located at 1895 Greenville Highway. For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.
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National Day of Prayer
Music & Arts Series Present Thomas Keesecker, Pianist
Just in time for May flowers, Music & Arts Series of The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness presents a piano concert from composer and church musician Thomas Keesecker. The program features selections from Mr. Keesecker’s concert tour with performances taking place across the country.
The free concert in Flat Rock is set for Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2025 at four o’clock in the Parish Hall located at 1905 Greenville Highway across from the church.
Since 2017, Mr. Keesecker has given at least 100 music performances of his piano music in churches on the West Coast to the East Coast, and from Canada to Florida.
Mr. Keesecker is known for his sensitive, delightful, and meditative piano arrangements of hymns. At this concert, participants will be able to sing along to some of them together, as well as listen to his interpretations. The hymns will be interspersed with poetry by Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry, two of the most beloved and profound poets of the 20th and 21st centuries. His music may be listened to on Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
As a composer, his 12th piano collection will be published by MorningStar Music. “I am blessed that several books are best-sellers. I will be featuring music from my collection Easter Hope this spring,” said Mr. Keesecker.
Recent concerts in Florida prompted these comments:
“Your playing is truly inspirational, and I loved the format with the poetry readings intermingled with the commentary, the humor, and the phenomenal truly soul-stirring playing,” said the Director of Music, Joy Lutheran Church in Ocala, FL
Another person said, “I had an opportunity (and the delight) to be present for a Thomas Keesecker “informal piano concert” in Vero Beach, FL. Across 90-minutes, spirits were palpably salved and brightened by the intertwining mix of Tom’s music played, humor offered, poetry recited (Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Emily Dickinson, and one other poet-I missed their name), stories shared, all in a wondrous welcoming space. And, we got to sing his jazz chorded arrangement of “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.”
Handicapped accessibility and free parking are available; donations will be gladly accepted for Music & Arts Series. For more information please call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.
More Information about Thomas Keesecker on Social Media
YouTube playlist of Easter Hope:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHJod1jayydGbMBAI4be0TwxPmq_h_NjO&si=fDkSV5yy632Y97kh
A playlist of Peace Like a River, which was published last year:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHJod1jayydEGMUjX80g_tT7iBAF5Swv8&si=eDiYoZIDTNNKG9DV
Thomas Keesecker’s Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/Thomas.Keesecker.composer/
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St. James Episcopal Church presents the inaugural concert of the Linda Lassiter Hill Organ Recital Series
World-renowned organist David Higgs
St. James Episcopal Church in Downtown Hendersonville welcomes David Higgs as organist for this inaugural new series of annual recitals featuring nationally known organists on Thursday, May 15th at 7:00 p.m.
One of America’s leading concert organists, Mr. Higgs is the Minehan Family Professor of Organ and Chair of the Organ Department at the Eastman School of Music. He performs extensively throughout the United States and abroad and has inaugurated many important new instruments including Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, St. Albans Cathedral, England, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola New York City, and most recently, Christ Church Cathedral Cincinnati. For over twenty years he performed annual holiday organ concerts to capacity audiences at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco and at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. His performances with numerous ensembles include Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Orpheus Ensemble, Chanticleer, and Empire Brass.
Mr. Higgs appears at organ festivals and competitions around the world and often performs at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists. In 2010 he performed the inaugural St. Cecilia Recital, a series endowed by Marianne Webb that presents world-renowned concert organists in recital during the biennial National Conventions of the American Guild of Organists. In 2018 he performed several concerts in France, including a solo recital at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and as guest teacher at the Paris Conservatoire.
In addition to his significant performing career, Mr. Higgs has distinguished himself as a pedagogue. He was appointed to the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music upon graduation from that institution and has been a member of the faculty of the Eastman School of Music since 1992. His students have won prizes in prestigious international competitions and hold important positions in leading academic and religious institutions. He has recorded for Delos International, Pro Organo, Arsis, Loft, and Gothic Records.
This series is endowed by Linda Hill, a retired organist/choirmaster who is a member of the St. James Choir and one of the choir’s librarians. The series is dedicated in memory of Roy Lassiter, Jr., Linda’s father, who encouraged her to study organ; and in memory of William J. Hill, Linda’s late husband, for his unfailing support of her musical career.
The organ at St. James is a Harrison & Harrison from Durham, England, and was installed in 1999. Most recently, the organ was updated with new Walker digital sounds including harp, chimes, celesta, and four 32-foot pedal stops. Other additions include a new electrical system, sequencer, MIDI recording and playback, and single-person tuning capability. The organ console will be moved for Mr. Higg’s recital so that all may see him play.
No tickets are required; an elegant candlelight reception will follow in Stillwell Hall. St. James Episcopal Church is located at 766 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC.
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“Empty Bowls” Benefiting Flat Rock Backpack Program Scheduled for May 18, 2025
Still recovering from the aftermath of the devastating storm Helene, local ceramic artists will once again fire up their kilns for the eighth year to help hungry children in the greater Flat Rock area. On Sunday, May 18, 2025, “Empty Bowls,” a community meal benefiting the Flat Rock Backpack Program, will take place in the Parish Hall at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness.
Advance tickets are strongly recommended for the two seatings: 12:00pm-2:00pm and 4:00pm-6:00pm. Each ticket includes one hand-crafted bowl donated by area potters, a soup-based meal, with soups and breads donated by local restaurants and bakers, plus homemade cookies baked by church members. For those wishing to eat at home, take-away is an available option.
Tickets are $30 per person or $50 for a family of two adults and children under 12. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.stjohnflatrock.org/empty-bowls.
“Hurricane Helene dealt a major blow to our area. All of our support system—the potters, food vendors, and sponsors—were all impacted, as was MANNA FoodBank, our main source of food for the Flat Rock Backpack Program,” said Debby Staton, Flat Rock Backpack Program Coordinator. “Needless to say, the students we serve were also affected. We are deeply appreciative of our community who keep us on their radar, always willing to pitch in as we continue meeting the needs of those who are “food insecure.”
Please join us for this fun community event. Donations are gratefully accepted throughout the year. The Flat Rock Backpack Program has 501c-3 status. 100% of the money collected goes to feeding at least 150 children in eight schools every weekend.
The Parish Hall is located across the street from the church at 1905 Greenville Highway. For more information write to emptybowls@stjohnflatrock.org or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.
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Vacation Bible School
“Teaching Families about the Love of God”
June 16-20th 2025
Meal 5:30-6 pm
Classes 6-8 pm
FREE
Mount Gilead Baptist Church
56 Mount Gilead Church Rd, Mills River, NC 28759
A fun filled event with both indoor and outdoor activities. Register at the door the 1st night or mail information to the above address to secure a place on the roster.
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