DUBOIS- Christ Lutheran Church in DuBois welcomed its newest musical voice to rave reviews during its three services on Sunday, August 17.
The newest voice was the $131,610 Allen Organ Three-Manual, 66-stop organ with Apex technology. Its purchase was approved at the congregation’s annual meeting in January and the new organ was installed in August.
“We are thrilled to introduce our new Allen DX 350a digital pipe organ, a significant upgrade from our old, small Möller pipe organ, which we had outgrown,” said Chris Luckinbill, organist and choir director for Christ Lutheran.
“This state-of-the-art instrument will enrich our worship, beautifully enhancing both our traditional and contemporary services with its versatile and vibrant sound. Beyond Sunday worship, the organ will serve as a valuable community resource, supporting concerts with our community band—where it can now hold its own—and collaborations with local choruses and choirs. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our congregation, whose generosity made this transformative addition possible.”
An initial step into the community experience is scheduled for Sunday, September 14, at 3 p.m. All are invited to attend the dedication of the organ and a concert featuring: guest organist Stephen Paul Toney; a Nick Kloszewski directed festive choir composed of Christ Church members and the Lakeshore Singers led by Stephanie Penvose; and the Community Band directed by Nancy Hills.
By agreeing to have church personnel run the speaker cable and allowing Allen Organ of Allentown, Pa., to show this first Apex installation in the area to local prospects the price was reduced to $114,110. The congregation has given all but $8,000 of the cost at the time of the installation.
“The congregation’s support and generosity is outstanding,” said Rev. John Miller, co-pastor with Rev. Amy Godshall-Miller for Christ Lutheran. “I couldn’t be more pleased.”
The organ custom designed for Christ Lutheran’s sanctuary includes: an oak finish deluxe mechanical moving drawknobs, Allen premium wood-core keyboards, velocity-sensitive keying for GeniSys Voices and MIDI, sustain switch, six suites (Classic Allen, English Cathedral, Cavaille-Coll, Schlicker, Arp, Schnitger, and Aeolian-Skinner), 10-channel custom audio system including two subwoofers, sub/super couplers, Zimbelstern, installation, organist indoctrination, and a 10-year limited parts warranty with a five-year labor warranty.
Exclusive features included: 21st Century Apex+ tone generation technology, GeniSys display advanced color touchscreen for console control, and acoustic portrait convolution reverb (not antiquated digital reverb).
The new organ has 66 stops compared to the five on the previous instrument. It can also produce hundreds of non-traditional sounds including keyboards, synthesizers, strings, band instruments, guitar, percussion and bells.
Eleven members of the congregation served as an organ committee. They learned organ basics and the history and condition of the current organ, made field trips to churches, stores and the Allen Organ factory in Allentown to see organ production and hear other instruments.
Allen Organ is one of the largest organ builders in the world and has installed more than 80,000 instruments in more than 70 countries on all seven continents. They make virtually all of their own parts and have employed generations of families at the factory.
Christ Lutheran’s congregation replaced its current organ which was built in 1966 for Lebanon Lutheran Church in DuBois. It was moved to Christ Lutheran in 1978, when Lebanon merged with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in DuBois to form Christ Lutheran.
While that organ was still in good condition, it was nearly 60 years old, had thousands of moving parts, and required more than $17,000 worth of repairs in the last ten years. It used analog technology and was not upgradeable. With only five stops (different sounds an organ can make), it supported congregation singing but left little room for expression or variety by an organist.
It was given a fitting farewell during services on August 10, with Luckenbill on organ and Edna Bloom on piano providing special music “Near the Cross”, “Abide With Me”, “How Firm A Foundation”, and “And Can It Be”.
