Music is a powerful medium for moving us from a purely intellectual understanding of spirituality to a real, personal experience of the Divine. With that in mind, music is a vital aspect of our ministry here at Unity Center. You are welcome to get involved as a listener, music booster, ensemble singer, instrumentalist or soloist. We also welcome songwriters. Read further to learn more about who we are and how you can support and participate in this dynamic work.

Presenting the

Great Lakes Unity 2008 Music Conference

Soon Unity musicians from all over the Great Lakes Unity Regional Conference (GLURC) will converge here for the 2008 Music Conference. You are welcome to participate and/or volunteer to help. We also invite you to attend the concert on Saturday, May 17, and the May 18th Sunday service, when conferees will lead the service under Ginger Curry’s guidance. Here is a schedule of events (subject to change):

Thursday, May 15, 2008:
4 p.m. Check-in;
6 p.m. Light Supper;
7 p.m. Opening Celebration

Friday, May 16, 2008
7:30 a.m. Yoga;
8 a.m. Breakfast at Unity;
8:30 a.m. Morning Service
9 a.m. Getting to Know YOU;
10 a.m. Harmonies of Healing
Noon Meditation with Bob LeBeau;
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. Nature Walk;
2 p.m. Song Sharing and Music Read-thru
4 p.m. Choir Rehearsal;
5 p.m. Round Table Discussion;
6 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. A.W.E. Service with Dale Worley
9 p.m. Jams & Practice for Concert

Saturday, May 17, 2008
7:30 a.m. Yoga or Nature Walk;
8 a. m. Breakfast at Unity
8:30 a.m. Morning Service;
9 a.m. Exploring Our True Self
10 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Songwriting Lab with Jody Soland
OR
10 a.m. Embracing Our Divine Purpose & 11 a.m. Drum Workshop
12:30 p.m. Lunch;
1 p.m. 2009 Conf. Planning;
2 p.m. Laughter Yoga
3 p.m. Choir Rehearsal;
4 p.m. Sound Checks
5 p.m. Supper
7 p.m. Unity Rocks! GLURC Concert

Sunday, May 18, 2008
8 a.m. Breakfast;
8:30 a.m. Rehearsal;
10 a.m. Lead Sunday Service
11:30 a.m. Lunch and Fellowship and Conference Conclusion

Ginger Curry is our Music Minister, a position she has held since January, 2007. Prior to that, she directed our Ensemble. Ginger is a published singer/songwriter of Unity music, with compositions in the Unity Association publication "Holy Now" and "Seeds of Light.” One of her compositions was featured in the 2007 World Day of Prayer celebration at Unity Village. She has also produced two CDs that are available for sale in our Spiritual Growth Bookstore. Ginger has a music degree from the University of Louisville and previous experience as a high school choir director and as a praise team member. She has attended Unity of Bloomington for over 7 years and is studying to become a licensed Unity teacher.

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Marianne Ackerson is our Pianist, a position she has held since 1987, two years after she returned to the United States from Vienna, Austria, where she had studied and performed as a soloist and accompanist for 14 years. She is an accomplished classical pianist and a skilled jazz improvisationalist. Her music is the foundation of our Sunday services and she brings a deep, personal faith in Jesus Christ, as well as an uncommon spiritual sensitivity to her music ministry. She received her Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University’s Jacob's School of Music in 2000. After many years teaching in the Pre-College Piano program at IU, she now teaches piano privately in Bloomington.

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Each Sunday service features a musical highlight in addition to congregational singing. Different musicians provide this Musical Inspiration each week and include members of our commUnity as well as guest performers in a variety of configurations.

The Unity Ensemble provides Musical Inspiration once a month and rehearses on a similar schedule. Everyone is welcome to join this ever-changing group, which also includes instrumentalists on occasion.

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Are you interested in getting involved? Contact us at music(at)unityofbloomington.org.