Cynthia Ann EvansI grew up in Southwestern Kansas during the dust bowl days. I was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ulysses, Kansas. My mother died when I was 8. After my Mother died my senile Grandmother cared for my sister and me. I wanted to play the piano we had but my Grandmother kept it locked and would not unlock it so that I could play it. When I was in the 5th grade we had a music class. Each student had a cardboard keyboard. The teacher told my Grandmother that I should have piano lessons. My grandmother finally unlocked the piano and allowed me to take lessons.
When I was 13, I taught myself to play the pipe organ. I played at that church for a few years. Several years later I took organ lessons and have studied with several organists. I moved a lot and usually ended up playing for the church we went to: Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational. One time in addition to a regular 40 hour work week I played for a Christian Science church to make enough money to take organ lessons.
One summer I was asked to substitute at the Episcopal Cathedral in Laramie, Wyoming while the organist was on vacation. I fell in love with our liturgy. I was confirmed in 1966. I have been active in the Episcopal church ever since.
The last eight years before I retired I lived in Berkeley, California. I worked the night shift in the emergency room. I was the organist at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. I met many students and faculty at "C.D.S.P." -- Church Divinity School of the Pacific
When I retired two years ago I moved to Osakis. (What a culture shock that move was.) My sister and a cousin help me financially. I am a single woman. I have two children and one grandchild. My son and his family live in California. My daughter and granddaughter live in Kansas.
Part of the discernment to be called to the team included a scripture given to each of us. The one given to me, in part, was: Amos 7:12-17. "To Amos himself Amaziah said, ‘go away, seer take yourself off to Judah, earn your living there and there you will prophesy! But never again will you prophesy at Bethel for this is a royal sanctuary, a national temple.' ‘I am not a prophet,' Amos replied to Amaziah, ‘nor do I belong to a prophetic brotherhood. I am merely a herdsman and dresser of sycamore-figs. But Yahweh took me as I followed the flock, and Yahweh said to me, "Go and prophesy to my people Israel."
I feel that God has called me to be on this team at this time in my life and I will do my best.