MONROE — The Bible uses water to represent many things, including the Holy Spirit and the cleansing of the soul. And that’s what makes a local church’s effort to dig itself a new well especially poignant.
The Clarno United Methodist church, in partnership with Staver St. Peter’s United Methodist, is faced with a bit of a water crisis.
Literally.
Pastor, Sarah Mae Gabuyo lives in a church parsonage that is in danger of running out of water, as several local wells they have counted on for years are shut down.
To help to keep the water flowing, Gabuyo and the Rev. Claudia Lee Dorsch of Milwaukee — originally from Taiwan —have teamed up with the Monroe Arts Center for a professional level concert to raise money to build and dig a new well for the parsonage that, if all goes well, will serve many pastors to come. A new water tank also is planned for the parsonage.
Gabuyo, who came to Monroe in 2020 and grew up in the Philippines and Italy, plays the flute and Dorsch, the harp. The concert is set for 2 p.m. May 21 at Monroe Arts Center.
Their performance is called “The Living Water: A Flute and Harp Concert Celebrating the Wellspring of Life.”
According to organizers “the concert will feature two clergies with a professional music background. Through the power of wor.ds and music, you will be invited to journey towards the living water that Jesus provides, which is a source of true satisfaction that cannot be found in the physical world. This event is a unique opportunity to reflect on the deeper meaning of life and to connect with the community in a meaningful way.”
Gabuyo holds a Bachelor and Master of Art degrees in Flute Performance from the Conservatory of Music “A. Buzzolla” in Adria, Italy, and a diploma in Vocal Performance from the Claudio Abbado Civic Music School in Milan, Italy. Dorsch was the principal harpist for the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra between 1988-1998.
Gabuyo also hopes the concert will get people interested in faith communities. Covid hit churches especially hard, she said, and many have not been able to bounce back. That is what make such fundraising efforts especially vital for small-town churches.
“Covid didn’t help any church community or social gathering,” she said. “The more we can gather in person the more we can reclaim the church family.”
Tickets can be purchased in advance from the MAC online and all funds will go toward completing the well and water tank project. Tickets are $30 for prime seats, $25 for choice seating and just $10 for students.
“It’s something we want to resolve so we can focus on our ministry,” said Gabuyo.
