Fifth Annual United Methodist Bells Festival Photos

On Saturday, November  8, ten United Methodist Churches performed in the fifth annual United Methodist Handbell Concert at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church in Oakland, California. 

The participating churches were from Hillsdale UMC of San Mateo, Community UMC of Half Moon Bay, Foothills UMC of Rescue, St. Paul's UMC of Manteca, First UMC of Watsonville, Bethany UMC of San Francisco, Temple UMC of San Francisco, El Cerrito UMC, Davis UMC, and a Mendocino County ensemble sponsored by Ukiah UMC. 


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Ten UMCs participated in the fifth annual UM Handbell Concert at Oakland, Lake Merritt UMC. Dorothy Straks, deacon of the CA-NV Annual Conference (far right, second row) was the director. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
Dorothy Straks, director of the fifth annual CA-NV UM Handbell Concert (left) with Retired Bishop Leontine T.C. Kelly. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Director of the concert, Dorothy Straks is also a deacon in the CA-NV Annual Conference. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Larry Pasqua, a baritone soloist from San Francisco's Temple UMC, accompanied the San Francisco Bethany UMC Bell Appeal Choir in performing "The Prayer." Photo by Julie Vaquilar.

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San Francisco Bethany UMC's Bell Appeal Choir. Bruce Pettit, third from the left, administrative assistant for the Golden Gate District, was the logistics manager for the concert. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Larry Pasqua of San Francisco's Temple UMC, rehearsing before his performance. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Tim Stephenson of Half Moon Bay Community UMC. Photo by Bill Ballagh.

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Jay Holmes and Lora Parsons from Manteca St. Paul's UMC Mission Bells Choir. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Bells of Joy Choir from Half Moon Bay Community UMC. Photo by Bill Ballagh.
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Photo by Julie Vaquilar.
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Photo by Julie Vaquilar.

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Bell choir members from Cameron Park Foothills UMC of Rescue, California. Director Alice Blakemore is second from the left. Photo by Julie Vaquilar.
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Director Dorothy Straks at rehearsal. Photo by Julie Vaquilar.
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The Temple Hill Choir performing at the concert. Photo by Julie Vaquilar.
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Bells of Joy from Half Moon Bay Community UMC and the San Francisco State Handbell Choir. Photo by Julie Vaquilar.

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The bells and voice choirs take a break during rehearsal. Photo by Julie Vaquilar.