Upland church holding benefit to rebuild sister church in Chile

The First United Methodist Church in Upland will host a musical event on Aug. 20 to raise support and funds to help rebuild a sister church in Angol, Chile.

The church's sanctuary was destroyed during a 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010.

The concert, "Then Sings My Soul: Rebuilding Our Sister Church," is at 7:30 p.m. in the church's sanctuary, 262 N. Euclid Ave. in Upland, and will be followed by a reception in the Friendship Court.

Several choirs and groups will perform including the Westmont United Methodist Church Choir, a small ensemble for Claremont United Methodist Church; Angelchord from Cucamonga United Methodist Church; the a cappella ensemble Choralescence; the Tallis Study Group and special ensembles led by organist Mario Raven of the Upland church with local guest singers.

Esther Kim, concert violinist, who grew up in the Upland church, will play for the concert as well as the reception.

The reception will also include poetry by Claremont-based poet, Marcyn Del Clements, as well as other live music and refreshments.

The funds raised during the concert will all go to the reconstruction of the sanctuary of the Methodist Church in Chile.

Those wishing to make a contributions are to write checks to the First United Methodist Church Upland, and include the words "Angol Church Reconstruction."