“Life in the City”

Come Celebrate Diversity with Life in the City on Sunday, May 27th, or as us church folks like to call this day, Pentecost.

The Gorzycki Middle School Steel Drum Band, which has delighted us for the past two years at our Easter Egg Hunt, will be playing at the service. The Djembabes and Drumsistas will be returning to teach us a South African hymn, and as usual, our Life in the City Band is going to lift your spirits!

Come and praise God as we lift up our hearts at Life in the City at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

LIFE IN THE CITY BAND

	Name: Alan Stephens, Singer How did I learn about Life in the City? From the Right Reverend Jen Stuart! Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I have been happily married to Tracey for 22 years, and have been a member of FUMC for that same 22 years. I have three wonderful children: Jenna who is 13 and a member of the UMYF program and also a recent confirmand, and the twins Kate and Connor who are 10. I am a software architect for a large multinational software company that nobody has ever heard of. OK, it's named "Amdocs"--see, I told you that you'd never heard of it. Musically, I learned that I loved singing when I joined the youth choir at my church in Houston. I am quite possibly the least formally trained singer in the group (unless you count seven years of middle and high school band--Thanks, Mr. Worosello!). However, being given the opportunity to perform in summer musicals only whetted my appetite--you should have seen my "star making" turn in the roles of "Potiphar" and the brother "Zebulun" in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", or performing as "Tevye" from "Fiddler on the Roof". (Oh, and the "nonsense" line in "If I Were a Rich Man" is, verbatim, "daidle deedle daidle digguh digguh deedle daidle dum"--trust me on this. Once you learn it, you'll never forget it. I can also still name every color in that darn coat, too.) I've been a singing fool ever since (emphasis on the "fool" part, please). Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. Singing, both congregationally and in choir, has always been tremendously important to me as part of my worship experience. I grew up at the knee of my grandfather hearing his wonderful bass harmonies when singing the hymns at First UMC in Shreveport, Louisiana. I've most often felt the presence of the holy spirit in worship while singing or listening to music. The type of music doesn't matter too much, either--great classical anthems, traditional hymns, spirituals, and campfire praise music accompanied by an out of tune guitar all have moved me. The singing in the Life in the City service and in the group is an opportunity for me to invite the presence of the spirit into my life, and hopefully in to yours, too.
	Name: Cathy Junell, How did I learn about Life in the City? From my friend, Lisa Radebaugh, a member of the church Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I am a native Austinite, and though I currently live in nearby Georgetown, I still feel strongly connected to the life of the city. My lifelong interest in the study of other cultures and fascination with the sound of drums led me to study African drumming with Sherry Gingras. Now I am grateful for any opportunity to share that passion with others. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I love playing with the band because I feel uplifted by the joyful energy of the Life in the City services and I feel blessed to be able to participate that ministry.
	Name: Clara Stuart, singer Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I am a 15 year old student at Austin High School. I take voice lessons with Sarajane and have been involved in choir for years. My mother is the pastor, and I love to sing! Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I love music because of the way it makes people feel. It's something truly magical to be a part of a band that explores many different genres and is a blast to be a part of!
	Name: Dan Wood, singer How did I learn about Life in the City? FUMC Administrative Board Meeting and via my FUMC employee wife, Marilyn Good. Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? Dan Wood graduated from UT Austin in 1967 with a BS in Radio-TV-Film. He worked for Austin Custom Records for several years and served as Executive Director of the Texas Choral Directors Association and the Texas Orchestra Directors Association from 1984 until retirement in 2010. He previously served as Executive Director of the Southwest Carpet Cleaners Association, Executive Assistant for the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association, and Director of Member Services and Public Relations for the Texas Association of Nurserymen. While at TCDA he was managing editor of Texas Sings!, the official publication of the Texas Choral Directors Association, and of TODA News, Texas Orchestra Directors Association newsletter. He has served as marketing director for two magazines, Leaf & Leisure, and Video Guide, and was a partner in the publishing company that created and published these magazines. He has also been a marketing columnist for How To Video, a national trade publication. Dan is active in community activities, having been on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Boys Choir, Chorus Austin, and River City Pops, and served as President of the Austin Boys Choir Board for two years. He was a performing member of Austin show choir River City Pops for 13 years and has been a member of the Paramount Producers, participating in Texas Toast. He was also an actor with a local theatrical troupe for several years. Dan has served on the Music Peer Panel and the Austin 150 Review Panel for the City of Austin Arts Commission, and served on several arts committees in that capacity. He serves on the Administrative Board of First United Methodist Church and for many years sang in the FUMC Sanctuary Choir, and is now singing with the Chapel Choir. He also served on several committees in Texas Society of Association Executives and International Association of Exhibition Managers. He is married to Marilyn Good, FUMC Facilities Agent. They have four children and seven grandchildren. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I have sung in choirs and choruses since the sixth grade and will continue as long as audiences don't rebel. Then I'll probably take it to the shower! As my resume details I have been associated with music and theater arts for most of my life. Life in the City allows me to continue to sing, and to be a part of a new service and mission for FUMC that we hope will allow us to grow and serve a new downtown congregation. To quote from a song from our first LC service, "Greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city . . . ."
	Name: Jennifer Kendrick, singer How did I learn about Life in the City? SaraJane Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I live in Round Rock with my awesome husband, David, and our also awesome son, Ryan. I'm currently a stay-at-home mom and job hunting. I have been a church volunteer with middle and high school youth for the past 18 years. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. My earliest recording was me singing on a cassette tape at the age of four! I have loved singing and music my whole life. I started singing in church choirs while in junior high, and in recent years switched to contemporary praise band. Music is one of the main ways I connect to God. He often uses music to "speak" to me as well. And it is a blessing to serve Him by having the opportunity to participate in worship!
	Name: John Gibson, Pianist How did I learn about Life in the City? Sarajane Bay Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I am a native Texan who studied classical piano and organ at Baylor University for two years while getting a B.B.A. in Accounting with a minor in Economics. I am a retired state of Texas employee after 34 years working in the accounting and finance departments of several large state agencies. I have played piano and organ for several churches in Waco,Texas; and the Austin area for over 45 years. Most recently I was the pianist for the contemporary services for over 11 years at Bethany UMC, currently the pianist for the Bethany UMC orchestra and the pianist for the “Life in the City” service at First UMC. I also serve as the Director of the Bethany Fine Arts Academy. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. Music is my passion which gives my life purpose. I love most styles of music but sacred is my favorite as shown by my playing for churches for over 45 years. I was so excited to be asked to be part of the "Life in the City" Band since I have worked with Sarajane before and knew from that experience that it would be the best, presented with professionalism, and a diversified, well blended service of different genres of music.
	Name: John White, bass player How did I learn about Life in the City? From Sara Jane Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I'm a self trained musician and I've been playing the guitar for over 50 years. Also I play the bass and some mandolin and banjo. For the last 20 years I've played and sang in churches. One night in my youth I played as Kenneth Theadgill danced a gig at the old Split Rail. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I'm blown-away that God is not through with me yet as a musician
	Name: Kayla Greene How did I learn about Life in the City? Sarajane Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I am a varsity cheerleader at Leander High School. I am junior and I love being an active member of the church. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I love performing and being able to show God's love to other people through music.
	Name: Lisa Radebaugh, drummer How did I learn about Life in the City? Through my church, FUMC Stuff I want you to know about me that will go on the website. Bio/training/family or something else - what do you do for a living? I am married to Bob Radebaugh and we have 2 wonderful daughters, Sara 16 years and Grace 14 years. I have worked for a clinical research firm, PPD, as a Director of Resourcing for over 20 years. My passion is African drumming. I've taken lessons at Drumz in Austin for the past three years and am a member of the Drumsistas, a women's drumming ensemble. Why I love music and/or why I love being a part of this band. I love being part of a band like the Life in the City Band to see all the joy and connection that this beautiful music brings to people!! It fills their hearts with inspiration and brings them close to God. I've always said that singing a beautiful, meaningful song is a sermon in itself!