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Music Made in Heaven is a unique handbell ensemble. Each of our bells has been donated in memory of a child who passed away and is inscribed in remembrance. The music played by the bells representing our children is unlike any other – it is a beautiful contribution the children are continuing to make to the world every time we ring. The message behind the music is one of faith, hope, joy and gratitude for our children's lives.
We call it Music Made in Heaven
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Highlights of Our Fall and Winter
We had the opportunity to share our music and message in several performances this fall and winter:
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On November 20, we played during the Holiday Service of Hope and Remembrance at First Baptist Church in Raleigh. This service provided space for those who have known loss to acknowledge their grief openly, to experience the encouragement of fellow believers, and to find comfort in the assurances of faith. Loved ones lost were remembered by speaking names and lighting candles. We also helped to create a warm and festive atmosphere by ringing for guest families during First Baptist's Toy Joy, an annual event that provides Christmas gifts for local families with financial need, on November 15.
| | - We presented our holiday concert, "Holiday Handbells," for an enthusiastic crowd at Searstone Retirement Community in Cary on December 15 (see video). We also performed holiday tunes in the halls of Duke Hospital in Durham on December 4. And we rang for a highly engaged audience at the Del Webb at Traditions community in Wake Forest on January 6, presenting "Holiday Hangover: January Jingles," a program rescheduled from December due to weather.
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In February, four of our members – (from left) Sterling Smith, Phil Herold, Ruth Stevens and Patricia Smith – participated in Distinctly Bronze East, a Handbell Musicians of America event for auditioned ringers to play advanced music in New Bern, NC. The group of 130 ringers presented a concert that is available for a limited time online.
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Upcoming Performances
We have several performances coming up this spring:
- We will present musical selections as part of the 11:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 26, at First Baptist Church in Raleigh. The church provides us with rehearsal space, and we are pleased to give back in this way.
- We will provide music for the annual memorial service honoring donors to Duke University School of Medicine's Silent Teachers Program on Sunday, May 3, at Duke Chapel in Durham. This private event recognizes donors who bequeath their bodies to the Anatomical Gifts Program for medical education.
- We will perform our annual concert, "The Gathering," at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, at First Baptist Church (see below). The program will include the premiere of "Down to the River," a piece arranged for MMIH by Kerry Johnston, director of Music Ministry at First Cary United Methodist Church.
- Due to scheduling challenges this spring, we will not be hosting the "Bull Ring," where we perform the national anthem at a Durham Bulls game. We plan to try again next year!
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Music Made in Heaven
cordially invites you to attend
“The Gathering"
Sunday, May 17, 2026
2:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
99 N. Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
Access surface parking lot from Hillsborough Street
Enter building through the double doors
This annual concert will feature several pieces performed
by our community handbell choir, along with the
traditional reading of inscriptions in our bells honoring
the children for whom they have been donated.
A reception will follow.
Free and open to all. Donation baskets available.
We hope to see you there!
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Meet an MMIH Member
Name: Ann Lowe Vodicka
Bell Experience: Ann Lowe has been ringing for 44 years, starting at Highland United Methodist Church in Raleigh, where the bells were donated in memory of her brother who died at age 17. She also has performed with The Raleigh Ringers.
What You Might Not Know About Ann Lowe: She is a huge sports fan, particularly NC State. She loves to walk in the woods and collect quartz rocks. She feeds donkeys almost every day. And she has four grandsons, who she adores.
Quote: “Out of every season of grief or suffering, when the hand of God seemed heavy or even unjust, new lessons for living were learned and new resources of courage were uncovered …”
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MMIH Board Welcomes New Members
Three new members have joined our Board of Directors as of January: Margaret Barham, John Rusher and Bonnie Woodruff. In addition, three members have completed their terms on the board: Libby Barnes, Ann Cobb and Sterling Smith. We thank all for their service to MMIH!
Margaret Barham is a clinical psychologist currently working for North Carolina Disability Determination Services. She is an officer of the Raleigh Civitan Club and enjoys teaching middle school Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Raleigh, where she is a life-long member. She has a son, David, who is in college. One of the MMIH bells was donated by her parents in memory of her older brother. She says the group means a great deal to her whole family.
John Rusher has worked in Wake County as a general pediatrician for 30 years. He recently retired from a career at Raleigh Pediatric Associates. He remains active with several nonprofit organizations in the community that focus on child and youth health and development. John and his wife, Mary Nash, have been members of First Baptist Church for more than 35 years. They are the parents of three grown children and their spouses, who have blessed them with seven healthy grandchildren. John is honored to join the MMIH board and be involved in its important mission.
Bonnie Woodruff is a retired registered nurse who has been actively involved in community outreach and service since moving to Raleigh in 1976. She is a former aerobics instructor and former co-owner of Marbon Art. She was active in the schools her children attended, serving as PTA president at all three. She also has served on various committees and was elected to the vestry twice at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. She and her husband, Leon Woodruff, are the parents of Molly Woodruff Painter (Michael), who has three daughters; and of Benjamin (Ben) Watson Woodruff, who died in 1996 and for whom they dedicated an MMIH bell. Bonnie was a proud ringer in MMIH for over 20 years (just retiring this past fall) and looks forward to serving on the board.
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Two New Ringers Join MMIH
Two new ringers have joined Music Made in Heaven this spring: Katherine Swain of Cary and TJ Settle of Apex. We welcome them to the group!
Two other members, Alice Stinebaugh and Hunter Brooks, are taking time off this spring.
If you read music and are interested in ringing with MMIH, please email us!
| | Donations in Memory of Our Children | |
Thanks to many donations, the handles of all of our handbells have been inscribed in memory of a child. We are now accepted gifts to inscribe our choir chimes.
For each chime, an inscription of up to three lines will be added. The child’s name will be listed on our website and, when the group performs, each child's name will be acknowledged in the program.
The suggested donation for each chime is $300. Please contact us for more information.
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We greatly appreciate all financial contributions made to Music Made in Heaven as they help offset costs for the purchase of music and auxiliary equipment, insurance on the bells, printing and communication, and upkeep of our website.
Music Made in Heaven is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
For more ways to donate, please visit our website and don’t forget to choose Music Made in Heaven as your donation recipient when shopping iGive.
As always, thank you for your support!
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