The Old Rugged Cross Foundation (ORCF) has booked a newly formed vocal trio for its August “Third Sunday at Three”

concert, and will bring back a well-received Canadian country gospel vocal duo for a third visit, at the ORCF’s September concert.
The concerts support restoration of The Original Old Rugged Cross Church in Pokagon, and take place in that historic church.
For the Aug. 21 concert, Molly Shaffer, ORCF treasurer, of Dowagiac, and Bertie Morgan of Edwardsburg, will team up with Gini Heller, associate pastor at Portage Chapel Hill United Methodist Church near Kalamazoo, in a new trio called “We Three.”
Individually, they have decades of vocal performance experience, and recently began singing as a trio. They will perform Gospel music and Christian hymns, including “You Raise Me Up,” and “How Long Has It Been.”
Heller previously was the pastor at Silvercreek and Keeler United Methodist churches in Cass County.
The Sept. 18 concert will feature Deb and Jesse Garrett of Ontario, Canada, who performed at ORCF events in 2007 and 2008.
“We are thrilled to have the Garretts with us again,” Shaffer said. “Their testimony about God’s impact in their lives, and their vocal talents will be a blessing to everyone who attends.”
The duo will sing selections from their latest CD, “Tools of the Trade,” and perform both original and “everyone’s favorite” gospel selections.
The couple began performing together in 1995. They volunteer to help the ill and elderly, enriching lives through testimony and music. They performed the gospel portion of the Havelock Jamboree, the fifth largest jamboree in Canada. They opened for Ricky Skaggs and sang their original gospel songs on the 25th Annual Country Music Awards Show. They also shared their music at the Cowboy Church in Nashville, Tenn., with Joanne Cash, in a live satellite broadcast to 120 countries.
The “Third Sunday at Three” concerts at the ORC Church begin at 3 p.m. the third Sunday of each month through November. The church doors open at 2 p.m.
The ORCF also is continuing its monthly Community Hymn Sings on the first Sunday of each month through December at the church. The next one will be on Sept. 4. Hymn Sings begin at 6 p.m.
Hymn Sings focus on congregational singing of traditional Christian hymns, chosen by those attending.
The concerts and Hymn Sings are open to the public without charge.
The first two of the church’s eight replica stenciled, leaded glass windows were installed in early August.
Other recent restoration work included insulating the former kitchen and the sanctuary attic, completing the electrical, heating and air conditioning systems and installing dry wall in the former kitchen/future museum space, said Robert Shaffer, ORCF president.
For more information, contact the ORCF at 683-4540; P.O. Box 41, Niles, MI 49120; orcf@aol.com; or www.the-oldruggedcross.org.