Live from the Connellsville Church of the Brethren will be "Saturday Night Live," a special service of music and fellowship at 7 p.m. Saturday. The evening of musical performers was organized by church organist Dottie Davis.
"We have held these in the past but had not scheduled one in recent years. People kept asking me when we would have it again, so I called on my friends and many of them were available to be a part of the program. I'm going to start the evening with a joke that 'this is Saturday Night Live but I'm not Betty White,'" Davis said.
The multi-talented performers include Dr. Marvin Watson and his Merry Men who are well known in the area. Watson is a member of The Molinaro Band and marches with the group as often as possible, playing his trombone. Jimmy Peperak, a Connellsville Area High School senior, will be playing piano. Soloist Debbie Parker-McGee will be singing as will Connie Ruff and the Foggy Mountain Gang.
Many folks will also remember The Ross Sisters from Dunbar, who will be there. They previously sang on WCVI radio. Others who will be onstage throughout the evening include Don and Wanda Clark on audioharp and soloist Mike Stange, a Connellsville Area high school teacher.
The choir of Vanderbilt Methodist Church is also expected. Duet singers the Rev. Larry and Judy Walker are looking forward to the evening.
"We've participated in the Connellsville Church of the Brethren's 'singspiration' in the past. It's a small church with lots of enthusiasm. We always have a good time there," Larry Walker said. "Judy and I used to be on the road doing this full time for a lot of different denominations, both locally and out of the country. We perform traditional and southern gospel as well as old hymns of the church."
Walker is pastor at the Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren, which holds "singspirations" the second Saturday of each month and occasionally have "sundae night singspirations" featuring ice cream sundaes at the conclusion of the evening. There, too, parishioners enjoy old hymns of the church and will be including traditional Christmas selections starting this month. The church is located at 201 E. Washington St., Mt. Pleasant.
At the "Saturday Night Live" service, there will be a prelude as the evening begins, audience participation when singing "To God Be The Glory" and "Blest Be The Tie That Binds." There will not be a sermon.
At the conclusion of the program, a benediction will be held followed by light refreshments served in the dining room.
Davis planned the event to benefit Camp Harmony, a camp for any denomination to attend. There is a great need for repairs, refurbishing and updating of cabins so a free-will offering will be collected, she said. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Sunday morning during the regular 11 a.m. church service, retired local minister Larry Hellein will speak. The public is invited to attend to hear the message.
The Connellsville Church of the Brethren is located at the corner of Vine and Newmyer streets. For more information, call Davis at 724-628-5508.
