Marion’s First Congregational Church held their annual “Ring in Spring” concert on Sunday, April 22, which Truman Terrell, Chairman of the First Congregational Church Music Committee said was all in preparation for the year’s big event.

“We hold this event annually as a way to raise funds for Cantata Sunday,” Terrell said.

Cantata Sunday is an event held during the Christmas season, which assembles a number of singers and instrumentalists from the area to perform a major choral liturgical composition.

“Cantata Sunday is a rather big affair,” said Terrell. “We pack the church. The Cantata is usually comprised of 65 singers and 17 musicians.”

Flutist Wendy Rolfe, soprano Patrice Tiedemann, and The Occasion Singers, performed Sunday evening alongside the church’s Meetinghouse Bells. Formed in 2010 to accompany Sunday services, the Meetinghouse Bells use a three-octave set of Schulmerich handbells on loan from Tabor Academy.

Cassandra Morgan, Margaret Wyman, and Michelle Gordon accompanied the performing artists.

Members of The Meetinghouse Bells include Carol Backus, Fred Danhauser, Lee Dougal, Ben Dunham, CJ Hebard, Sally Madison, Bev Peduzzi, Erin Spooner, Phyllis Washburn, Helen Westergard, Jamie Wikstein, and Jillian Zucco.