TRINITY’S VIRTUAL CHOIR GETS BY WIH ‘LITTLE HELP FROM FRIENDS’

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Looking for a little hope, peace and love these days?

Head over to the Trinity United Church’s YouTube channel for an uplifting look at their just released new YouTube video called “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

Nearly two dozen performers (children, adults and seniors) are featured in this upbeat Beatles cover song emphasizing unity through friendship, says the amazing maestro Dan McCoy who is working on the final edit while recuperating in Barrie after a bad auto accident this winter.

Colourfully showcasing various community groups throughout the video, the Gravenhurst Virtual Choir embodies the online resilience of the small-town church during extraordinary times, says McCoy, the church’s music director.

The music video can be found on their YouTube Channel: Trinity United Gravenhurst.

McCoy released this short 15-second teaser from their Facebook page today, in anticipation of the June 1 première.

Maestro Dan McCoy and the church urge you on June 1 click the subscribe button on their YouTube channel, or give a like or thumbs up to the video.

Like many churches, Trinity is trying to finding new ways to keep its doors open, its ministry alive and its existence relevant.

Particularly during the pandemic and as it transitions in search of a new pastor after its popular pulpit preacher Allan Lynk moved to Nova Scotia.

In his honour and for helping revitalize and invigorate the membership with new initiatives, church projects and user groups they renamed their almost $100,000 renovated kitchen after him.

The church has a strong tradition of giving birth to important community initiatives, a few of which are featured in the new virtual choir performance online.

The Gravenhurst Virtual Choir project embodies the fun-loving, free-spirited, experimental musical body of the Beatles: peace, love, happiness, hope and help.

Each verse of the Beatles song highlights a different group that has been birthed or founded by the church in recent years.

Verse 1 showcases the members of the Church, Verse 2 features members of the Muskoka Ukulele Society and the Muskoka Youth Choir, and Verse 3’s lyrics have been re-written to describe the activities of Gravenhurst Against Poverty.

The video was conceived by Michael Church and produced, arranged and edited by McCoy. The project, a year in the making, began with videoing last June as the pandemic was ramping up.

The church would appreciate you clicking the ‘subscribe’ button on their YouTube Channel.

Or leave a thumbs up, like or a comment below the video.

Just before the pandemic hit in 2020, the Church had found its calling by opening up its doors to upwards of 20 service groups including the Gravenhurst Women’s Centre, the Gravenhurst Rotary Club, The Elderberries Choir, Circles, Getting Ahead, etc., turning the Church into a veritable hub of do-good activities. An “affirming” church, which means ALL are welcome including those traditionally excluded from church based on race, creed, orientation and economic status, Trinity has been vocal in its “creed” of radical hospitality: a strong and compassionate society cares for its “weakest.”

It’s a family affair at Trinity United Church these days with some 20 user groups turning the church in to a real Gravenhurst community centre.

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