Lynn Hildebrand serves many functions within the First Congregational Church in Corona. She teaches Sunday School and often leads the children’s choir. In addition, she has served as a member of the Mission Board and the Christian Education Board at the First Congregational Church. The church, which offers a Sunday worship service, has a choir that is co-directed by Lynn Hildebrand and that is accompanied by a real pipe organ. The Robert Morton organ, which was purchased at a cost of $4,225 and installed in 1928, was the first of its kind in the area. It was played for the first time in 1929 by Sibley G. Pease, a composer from Los Angeles, at its Dedicatory Recital. Since that time, the organ was refurbished in 1990 by Ron Kraft, and fully restored in 2010 by R. M. Ballantyne Pipe Organs. The church has a history that is as rich as that of the organ. The First Congregational Church of Corona was established in 1887, and was the first church in Corona, California.
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For more than 25 years, Lynn Hildebrand has worked as a humane education teacher for the Humane Society of San Bernardino in California. Lynn Hildebrand has attended the First Congregational Church (FCC) of Corona for more than 50 years. During that time, she has taught Sunday school, helped lead the children’s choir, and sat on the Christian Education and Mission Boards. The city’s first church, FCC of Corona was established in 1887. One of the highlights of the church is its music program, which includes singing from the choir and notes performed by the organist. The organ, which is the first pipe organ in the city, features a variety of pipe sizes, with some as small as a pencil while others standing several feet in length. In 2007, the church’s organ and roof became damaged due to heavy rain storms. These storms caused so much damage that the organ was unusable for church services. The church voted in January 2010 to fully restore the organ and garnered donations from members to assist with the approximately $44,000 restoration cost, along with an additional $7,000 to address the roof. On June 12, 2011, longtime church organist and musical director Dr. Jeanette Wong performed compositions in the organ’s inaugural restorative performance. For more than 125 years, the First Congregational Church of Corona has offered members of the Riverside County, California community a traditional church sanctuary for Christian worship, teaching, fellowship, and more. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ and founded in 1887, it was not only the first Congregational church but also the first church of any denomination to open its doors in Corona. Today, the church maintains its historic traditions with beautiful stained glass windows and harmonious organ pipes while providing ministry services and outreach programs for people of all ages. Music remains an integral part of the worship service at First Congregational Church of Corona, and the deep and resonating sounds of organ music can be heard and experienced at each Sunday service. In 1929, the first organ was installed in the church by the Robert Morton Company of Southern California. From that time forward, organ music has played an important role in the music ministry of the church, with Jeanette Wong serving as the church’s organist today. The church is located at 809 S. Ramona Avenue in the center of downtown Corona’s historic district. It extends a warm and inviting welcome to members and guests with services held each Sunday at 10 a.m. About the Author: Lynn Hildebrand is a long-standing member of First Congregational Church of Corona. She has taught Sunday school, led the children’s choir, and participated in various church boards, including the Mission Board and the Christian Education Board. |
AuthorIn addition to her work with the HSSBV, Lynn Hildebrand maintains an active involvement with the First Congregational Church of Corona, California. As a member of the congregation for over 50 years, she has taught Sunday school, led the children’s choir, and served on the Christian Education and Mission Boards. Archives
February 2018
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