By Kendra Evensen For the Journal
Seven members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently volunteer to play the organ for the Pocatello Seventh-day Adventist Church’s worship services. Pictured are organists Emily Treasure, left, Heather Reece and Deon Martineau. Other volunteers include Lisa Huffaker, Alyssa Gardner, Kaitlyn Jewkes and Adam Merrill.Photo courtesy of Evon Martineau
POCATELLO — The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Pocatello once again has beautiful music for its worship services — thanks in part to members of another faith.
Over the past year, seven volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been taking turns playing the organ during the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s services.
“It’s been wonderful. The organ would be silent without them,” said Seventh-day Adventist Pastor Marvin Humbert.
The church had been struggling to find enough musicians after some of its older members passed away and others moved away from the college town that’s transitional in nature. It had only one pianist and no organists.
But church officials were eventually able to find an answer in an unexpected way.
Michael Dingman, community outreach leader for the church, said he has been attending the LDS church’s local Public Affairs Council (PAC) meetings for nearly two years.
“The source of information of community-wide multi-denominational projects, in addition to, the support of this team in serving the local community has been greatly appreciated in many aspects,” Dingman wrote in an email submitted to the Journal. “Due to the openness of this team, the relationship has been very healthy.”
During one of the meetings, PAC members asked Dingman how they could support the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He immediately mentioned the need for organists.
A short time later, one of the PAC members contacted Dingman and suggested that some Idaho State University students, who are also members of the LDS church, could help out. The details were soon arranged.
“Introductions were made, schedules were organized and the team of ISU students have been practicing and performing, sharing their talent with the local Seventh-day Adventist pianist,” Dingman wrote.
Five of the volunteers are currently ISU students and two others are members of the LDS church from the local community. More ISU students are expected to begin playing in the months ahead.
Heather Reece, music chairman for the Church of Jesus Christ’s Pocatello Young Single Adult 2nd Stake and an ISU graduate, is one of the organists who helps out.
She believes it’s important to do so.
“In Matthew 22:39, Jesus Christ said that the second great commandment is to ‘love thy neighbour as thyself’,” she wrote in an email response to the Journal. “Having churches be open to such service opportunities is one way to keep that commandment and feel that love for other children of God, even though beliefs may differ.”
Reece said the opportunity to play for the church has helped the organists to improve their skills, enabled them to build strong friendships, and given them opportunities to not only learn more about another church’s beliefs, but also a chance to share their own belief in Jesus Christ.
“Speaking for the rest of the organists and myself, I am so grateful for the love and support we feel from the Seventh-day Adventist congregation. They are always willing to let us know of the music for their services ahead of time so we can practice, they meet with us so we can practice together before the service, and encourage us to share our musical talents in special musical numbers,” she wrote. “They also consistently invite us to stay for a potluck lunch after their service.”
Humbert said it has been a blessing to have the organists participate in the worship services along with the Seventh-day Adventist pianist.
“I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “We’re just so thrilled to have them.”
Humbert also feels that it’s important for faiths to work together so they can learn from each other and build bridges rather than walls.
Dingman agrees.
“It is so imperative to recognize that God’s church is represented by all people and in this relationship, it is, and has been a beautiful experience for two different faiths working together,” he wrote. “God’s servants dedicated to serving our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
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