This weekend Holy Ghost Lutheran Church is offering a free-will benefit program would like to invite all with a love for music and the history of Fredericksburg’s beloved churches.  The recital will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18 in its newly re-opened church sanctuary at 113 E San Antonio Street.

Admission is by donation toward the ongoing restoration of the church, one of our town’s treasures. The Holy Ghost congregation traces its origin from the first Protestant services held in Fredericksburg by the Rev Henry Basse in 1846 at the old Vereins Kirche.  The cornerstone was laid was laid at the current donated site in 1888, and the Roman -Gothic building designed by Mr. James Wahrenberger of San Antonio, the first professionally trained architect in Texas, was dedicated on Palm Sunday 1893.

Thirty-nine exquisite stained-glass windows adorn the sanctuary with the earliest dating back to 1919-20. The church is in undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion program for the first time in about 80 years. The first phase which is currently underway is focused on stabilizing the bell tower, installing a sprinkler system and a sound system in the main sanctuary, and renovating the basement area of the church for existing and future church programs.

Pastor Bobby Vitek has noted the importance of preserving the church building for future generations, “We don’t just see it as our church, we see it as the community’s church as well.”

Saturday’s program will feature soprano Jenna Rickerhauser and pianist Marc Sanders. Rickerhauser has been a Fredericksburg resident since the age of six and was confirmed in Holy Ghost Lutheran Church.

A recent summa cum laude graduate of Abilene Christian University, she received her Bachelor of Music with a focus in Vocal Music education in May 2024 and is currently pursuing her Masters of Education.

While growing up in Fredericksburg, Rickerhauser was a member of the Fredericksburg Theater Company’s youth program, FHS’s Varsity Choir, One Act Theater and the Red-Hotts Dance team. She was selected as a Small-School All-State Choir member through the Texas Music Educator’s Association during her senior year in 2020.

During her undergraduate studies, Rickerhauser performed with ACU Opera at the International Music Festival in Acqui Terme Italy in July 2023 and with the A Capella Choir at Carnegie Hall in March 2024. Her selections for the one hour performance will include works in Czech, English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese, including “The Lord’s Prayer” by Malotte and the well-loved “Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion” from Handel’s Messiah.

Rickerhauser said performing in her hometown is a way to give back to the community from which she has received so much love and support.

Marc Sanders is a highly accomplished pianist from Albany, Texas who currently serves as the Director of Collaborative Piano at Abilene Christian University.

Before his current appointment, Sanders held positions at staff pianist at both Hardin-Simmons and McMurry Universities where he maintained a prolific performance schedule. He is also an active church musician, having held positions as pianist or organist for over 25 years, most recently at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene since 2006.

Other musical endeavors have included work with Civic Orchestra of Abilene, the Abilene Philharmonic, the Church of the Heavenly Rest recital series, TMEA, North Central Texas College, KCACTF, the Point Theatre, Abilene Community Theatre, the Paramaount Theatre and Red River Lyric Opera.

Sanders will perform a solo piece by Rachmaninoff in addition to the collaborative works for voice and piano.

All are welcome to attend.