Iowa Presbyterian Church offers ‘No Strings attached’ education program

School-church partnership is music to the ears

September 7, 2017

When the Waterloo School District cut music programs a few years ago, members and leadership at Unity Presbyterian Church saw an opportunity to partner with Kittrell Elementary School to provide music education opportunities.

Christine Kaplunas instructs ‘No Strings Attached’ students. (Photo from Unity Presbyterian Church web site)

No Strings Attached is an after-school string education class for fourth- and fifth-graders that meets Wednesdays in Kittrell Elementary’s music room, art room and media center during the school year. Students learn violin, viola or cello, taught by Unity’s pastor, the Rev. Christine Kaplunas, and two to three assistant teachers.

The successful program is a collaboration of several organizations in the Cedar Valley area. The church, which came together in 2014 with the blending of Bethel Presbyterian Church and Immanuel Presbyterian Church, says its “dream is to live into our collective calling to nurture and sustain student leaders in the community through musical instruction.”

While music education is the goal, the church focuses on core messages of the Christian faith as well. Students receive reminders in every class that they are loved, they belong and they can do great things.

Instruments are provided free-of-charge by Waterloo Community Schools and funding for instrument repair — by House of Violins in Cedar Falls, Iowa — and assistant teachers is provided through a grant from the North Central Iowa Presbytery and a Presbyterian Mission Agency DREAM Grant.

“Thanks to this enormous support, and the dedicated volunteer hours from members of Unity Presbyterian Church, we are able to offer a full year of instruction for only $20 total, making music lessons affordable for many families,” the church announced.

In the spring of 2016, the program provided instruction to 43 student musicians. Enrollment in 2017 has reached what the church calls “a more sustainable level” of 32 students.

For more information, please see the story from the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

 Gregg Brekke, Presbyterian News Service

Today’s Focus:  ‘No Strings attached’ education program

Let us join in prayer for:

Unity Presbyterian Church, Waterloo, Iowa

Christine Kaplunas, pastor
Ken Tressler, music director
Melody Kosobucki, pianist
Trudy Stewart, administrative assistant
Judy Reisner, financial secretary

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Bill Moore, PMA
Jon Moore, PMA

Let us pray:

God, you called us before we knew our names; you walk beside us when our steps are uncertain; you whisper before we know the words to speak. Continue in your teaching, and help us to bear witness to your unfolding story among us. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 116; 147:12-20
First Reading 1 Kings 11:1-13
Second Reading James 3:13-4:12
Gospel Reading Mark 15:12-21
Evening Psalms 26; 130