Greg Snider is director of the Heidelberg Handbell Choir, formed 37 years ago by Arlene Oswald. Snider is the fourth director over that period of time. The choir played for the prelude and the hymns during the May 3 Union celebration of the 275th anniversary of the church.

The bells have entertained many audiences in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding tri-state area with a repertoire of sacred and secular music. As Masteringers they played, among other places, in Washington, D.C., for the White House Christmas tours, Christkindlemarkt and at the historic Riverside Church in New York.

The choir has made promotional recordings for Shawnee Press and released two CDs. At present there are 11 members in the choir.

The prelude was a "Celebratory Fanfare."

"The Fantasy in Forest Green" was played as the response of thanksgiving.

There was focus on Psalm 23, which talks of "the valley of the shadow of death.

"First we must ask how many of the things in the valleys of the shadow of death are of human making ending with the destruction of part of our fragile earth home.

"Secondly, how may we experience God's leading and protecting as we venture through risky activities of justice and peacemaking."

Snider had "Danse Macabre" by Saint-Saens on the playlist and said he wondered how, even though it was one of Saint-Saens' best known pieces, he could justify playing it in church. Then he remembered it was written at a tragic time.

The festival finale was "All Creatures of Our God and King."