cENTER OF eNLIGHTENMENT cHOIR

Rev. Kathleen Hellenberg

Rev. Kathleen is our choir director and has been with Center of Enlightenment for over seven years. Our choir meets the first and third Monday of each month. Rev. Kathleen is now accepting requests to join the choir. Come and meet her at our Sunday Services.
 

Interview with Rev. Kathleen Hellenberg
 

What brought you to CoE?
I met some of the ministers at a Mind, Body, Spirit Festival.    Rev. Monica Bishop and I had a conversation in which I told her I was   preparing to give a presentation about the Divine Feminine to a woman's group   I was in, and she invited me to be a guest speaker at the church.  I   accepted.  After I spoke, she told me she'd definitely invite me to   speak again.

What   brought you returning to CoE?
Rev. Monica did eventually invite me to speak again.  When   she started a drumming circle, I participated in that.  When Rev.   Barbara Yarnell took it over, I continued attending it.  Then Rev.   Barbara invited me to be the speaker, and later, so did Rev. Ken Nowaczewski,   followed by other ministers.  Rev. Barbara also invited me to perform a   song for a Sunday service with the members of the drumming circle, joined by   Richard Pinkham from the group, "Seven Rivers".  We drummed   and sang "Spirit of the Wind" with 3-part harmony.

You   are CoE’s Choir Director, what brought about that appointment?
After one Sunday when I was the guest speaker, Rev. Ken gave a   ride to Margaret Dwyer, my husband, Gregory Hellenberg, and I to a restaurant   a bunch of folks went to for a meal.  Margaret was so impressed with   "Spirit of the Wind" that she asked me if I'd become COE's Choir Director.    I was shocked and told her I didn't have any experience directing a   choir.  "But you have such a good ear, and you can tell if   something isn't right", she said.  The more I declined, the more   she pushed.  I didn't think she would ever give up, and before I knew   it, the words, "If you can't find anyone else, I'll do it" came out   of my mouth.  Then I thought, 'Uh oh, what did I get myself into?'    But I've really appreciated and enjoyed the work and the interaction   with the choir members.

How   have the members of CoE helped you?
The members have been very welcoming, supportive and loving,    I appreciate and enjoy having contact with them.  And it's nice to   have a place where I can share my talents and they are acknowledged and   appreciated.

How   have the ministers supported you?
Along with being invited to be a guest speaker, the ministers   have sent energy to me whenever I teared up while speaking; said prayers each   time when my husband, Gregory was hospitalized and when he passed away; some   of them occasionally phoned to check in with me to let me know they cared;   expressed their appreciation of the choir performances, and gave lots of   hugs.