HOLIDAY HANDBELL CONCERT AT PLEASANTVILLE’S EMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH TO BENEFIT HURRICANE VICTIMS

Free Concert Featuring More Than 100 Handbells and Chimes

Sunday, December 15, 2013, 4 p.m. in Pleasantville Open to All

PLEASANTVILLE, NY, Dec. 4, 2013 – The Emanuel Ringers of Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Katonah Celebration Ringers from the First Presbyterian Church of Katonah will team up to host their Annual Benefit Handbell Concert to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Irene. This will be the 26th concert the two choirs have done together to aid various organizations.

The combined Ringers will play Christmas holiday favorites to benefit the Schoharie Area Long Term (SALT). Hurricane Irene devastated Schoharie County in New York State’s capital region. Today, more than two years later, these communities are still rebuilding. Many members of the Emanuel Ringers went on a mission trip to Schoharie in July to witness the destruction first hand and help residents clean up and repair flood damaged homes.

“Please join the Emanuel Ringers to enjoy the beautiful, inspiring music of Christmas and to help the victims of Hurricane Irene,” said Eiko Cornelius, director of the Emanuel Ringers. “This event reminds us all that those who suffered from hurricanes Irene and Sandy, and the Philippines typhoon need our help when the storms hit and long after the storms are gone from the headlines.”

The two choirs will play a variety of Christmas tunes for the holiday including “Savior of the Nations Come,” “The First Noel” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” The choirs will sing with more than 100 handbells to produce a range from the high-pitched jingling of the small bells to the booming gongs of the lower octaves. A free-will offering will be collected as a donation to SALT, which needs monetary aid for equipment -- everything from crowbars to dust masks.

The first song begins at 4 p.m. The public is warmly welcomed.

Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 197 Manville Road, Pleasantville, New York. For more information about the church, please visit www.emanuelelc.org or call 914-769-1559.

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Media contact: Will Egensteiner | 914-299-9592 | will_egensteiner@mac.com