Among the nations of the world, Belarus is old – and yet young. With a history that dates back to the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Poland, Belarus emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union to become an independent republic.

A unique taste of the nation's historic European culture will be featured Thursday evening when the Belarus National Christian Choir will be in concert at Dexter’s First Baptist Church. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

The choir includes 28 vocalists and a string quartet and is in the middle of a concert tour throughout the south and mid-south. Rich Lee, minister of music at Dexter’s First Baptist Church, is travelling with the choir on its tour.

Lee says he first became acquainted with the musical group in 2007 when he was serving at a church near Kansas City. He has since made three trips to Belarus, gotten to know choir personnel, and is excited to bring the group to Dexter.

“It’s been an exciting trip,” Lee said in a telephone interview from Alabama on  Monday evening. He’s driving one of the tour busses, and his son Joshua, age 12, is along on the journey and helping his dad and the choir.

“There were no churches in Belarus except the Russian Orthodox Church during the Soviet days,” Lee said. He said following the emergence of Belarus as an independent country, church groups and denominations in America began to assist the fledgling Christian community in the country.

Thursday's concert will include a variety of selections, including a few hymns that the choir sings in English.

“The concert will be mostly in Russian with some religious and some (Belarus) folk music,” he said. The group is accompanied on several selections by a string quartet.

Lee said that earlier this fall, he taught the Dexter First Baptist Church choir two numbers in Russian, and they will join the Belarusian guests for two numbers in Thursday’s concert.

Formed in 1986, the choir has performed in Eastern Europe, France, Germany and Russia and is currently making its fifth tour to the United States. Nickolay Lamako, dean of music at Minsk Seminary, is the founder and conductor of the choir. An offering will be taken at the end of the performance.

Nickolay Lamako, dean of music at Minsk Seminary, is the founder and conductor of the choir.  Viktor Krutsko, President of the Evangelical Union of Belarus, is spokesperson and will introduce the musical selections. 

There is no admission charge.  An offering will be taken for the support of Belarusian pastors and their families who face daily struggles and oppression as they lead home churches throughout Belarus.

It’s the ‘granddaddy’ of community yard sales, and it will be opening bright and early Thursday morning with bargains, treasures and discoveries.

For over 20 years the United Methodist Men in Dexter have “the” yard sale. The yard sale has through the years evolved to a three-day bargain extravaganza that spills out of Wesley Hall and takes over a large portion of the churchyard and parking lot.

Bargains range from the tables and tables of clothing, to books, household items, and even toys inside First United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall. Outside there are couches, baby beds, lawn mowers and birdhouses outside and more.

The United Methodist Men are very quick to make it “abundantly clear” the group could not have a successful yard sale without the hard work and dedication of the women, and without the support of the church family.

Every day this week men and women have been on hand inside and out, sorting through donations, folding clothes, tagging and moving items for the sale.

“It all started from one little storage building and was held on the north side of the parking lot,” recalled Loretta Reid. “The yard sale has since paid for two church vans and their upkeep as well as other projects in the community.”

Reid said it might be a men’s project, but they get plenty of help along the way.

“Of course, the Methodist women keep them going,” she said.

Chairman this year is Charlie Rimel and his wife, Judy.

Larry Matthews first developed the yard sale project with assistance from his wife, Peggy. Following the Matthews as head of the sale were Larry and Loretta Reid, and Jerry and the late Betty Overfelt.

The First United Methodist Church is located at 501 South Walnut in Dexter.

Photos Above: Top Photo - Jerry Overfelt tags merchandise outside at the United Methodist Men's Yard Sale. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

The Belarus National Christian Choir will be performing in concert at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, at the First Baptist Church, on 11 West Castor, Dexter.

The 33-member choir and instrumental ensemble will perform a  program of Russian Classics and folk music along with the choral favorites Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, Majesty, and other American favorites.

Formed in 1986, the choir has performed in Eastern Europe, France, Germany and Russia, and is currently making its fifth tour in the United States.  Nickolay Lamako, dean of music at Minsk Seminary, is the founder and conductor of the choir.  Viktor Krutsko, President of the Evangelical Union of Belarus, is spokesperson and will introduce the musical selections.

There is no admission charge.  An offering will be taken for the support of Belarusian pastors and their families who face daily struggles and oppression as they lead home churches throughout Belarus.

Dexter’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be holding its Fourth Annual  Kettle Beef Dinner this Sunday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The dinner will be held in the Disciple Center at 224 E. Stoddard in Downtown Dexter.

Crews from the church will be preparing kettle beef in vintage cauldrons along with sides of mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, dessert and drink.  

Carry-outs are available on adult tickets only with the drive-thru between the church and the post office. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3.50 for children 10 or younger.

For advance tickets or information call 573-624-4341 or 573 421-0538. Tickets are also available at the door.

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Photo above: Christian Mens Fellowship members working on the kettle beef project include (from right): Bill Pippins Jr., Larry Thompson, Charles Pippins, Larry Speight, Zach Pope, Jim Russell, Tommy Horton (and standing) Jimmy Putnam and Gary Williams. (photo submitted by Dee Boesen)

 

The Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will hold a very special dinner this Sunday evening.

The CYF will hold a "50s Diner" beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, at the church's Disciple Center. The menu will feature hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chili, chili dogs and frito chili pies.