in the 4100 block of Spring Hill Road. ing off his gun.

off his gun. When he went to grab a was on his cell phone prior to the shoot- uled t
The Augusta County Sheriff ’s Office cigarette, he said he set the gun down ing, and said afterward the elder Glenn He
said the News
Staunton teen was killed
Leader by a single gun-
- 10/13/2018 and it discharged, striking his son who called her mother, not 911. Page : A01 arm i

Musicians find spirit

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A Bluegrass Spirit Jam, headed by husband and wife Donald DePoy and Martha Hills, is held every Tuesday at the old Spec
USA
West View Methodist Church on Parkersburg Turnpike in Swoope. LAURA PETERS/THE NEWS LEADER

I
Diversity of talents, gifts Except this jam is a bit different.
Yes, it’s done in a church. But, there’s
Several people come up to play dur-
ing the service — anyone is invited to.
crim
con
are invited, encouraged not real set program and it’s done with the
bluegrass music. How it started 1961
Laura Peters “It’s a non-traditional church, it’s un- the
Staunton News Leader conventional,” Hills said. DePoy and Hills moved back to the the
USA TODAY NETWORK
It’s like reading scripture with the area and wanted to find a church to rob
pluck of a string. worship in. DePoy actually moved into sam
SWOOPE - Donald DePoy and his Through the Bluegrass Spirit Jam, his parent’s former house just down T
wife, Martha Hills, stand in the back of a the goal is to celebrate God’s presence, the street from the church — which at Pain
church off Parkersburg Turnpike. It’s communicate God’s love and to honor that time was West View United Meth- the
Tuesday, the sun is slowly setting and the rich music heritage of the Shenan- odist Church. pist
their instruments are up in the pulpit. doah Valley, Hills said. The two had expected to attend ser- the
They’re milling about looking at dif- “It is here diversity of talents and vices at the Methodist church only to $18,
ferent food that they and their friends gifts are not only invited but encour- find it had closed down. That was Sep- Mor
have brought for the weekly bluegrass aged through fellowship and bluegrass
jam. music,” Hills said. See CHURCH, Page 3A See
Copyright © 2018 Staunton News Leader 10/13/2018
October 15, 2018 8:58 am (GMT +4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
 Philippine President Rodrigo Du- cial said. 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to Power “It’s still not safe to return, particu-
terte’s war on drugs has left more than Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Outage.US. larly to Bay County, Florida,” Federal
4,800Staunton
suspects News
dead in clashes
Leader with
- 10/13/2018the state wasCopy
prepared and warned
Reduced to 79%mo- The final
from original to fiteffects of Michael were be-
letter page Emergency Management Page Agency
: A03 Di-
police, by his government’s account. torists about potential danger but add- ing felt across parts of Maryland, Dela- rector Brock Long told reporters.

Church
Continued from Page 1A

tember 2017.
Then the building sat vacant for
some time.
In following months, DePoy called
the Methodist dioceses and ask what
could be done.
They didn’t want it to be left empty,
so they came up with an idea and they
partnered with the Methodist church to
make it happen.
“We said, you know, we could have a
jam once a week to bring the community
in,” Hills said. “It’s not really like a
church, but we do something in our dai-
ly walk ... we find that our calling, what
fills us up, is providing music to people
who might not normally hear it.”
They’ve been holding the jams since
February.
The two tour around as the duo Me &
Martha, performing about 250 shows a
year. Many people after shows kept tell-
ing them to keep up with their “minis-
try.”
“People would comment, ‘We love
your spirit and hope you continue your
ministry,’” DePoy said. “Ministry? We A Bluegrass Spirit Jam is held every Tuesday at the old West View Methodist Church on Parkersburg Turnpike in Swoope.
were just being ourselves and playing PHOTOS BY LAURA PETERS/THE NEWS LEADER
music.
“We were not doing ministry. That’s
what preachers do.” those who are not yet part of any love and to love our neighbors.
The two never really thought their church, according to the organization’s ❚ Our presence together is a place to
music was close to gospel. website. feel safe and respected and affords each
“We never really thought about it as “It is here diversity of talents and of us the grace and peace of God’s love.
anything,” DePoy said. gifts are not only invited but encour- They’ve created a community, but
“We just thought it as being kind, aged through fellowship and bluegrass didn’t expect it to really catch on. They
good loving people.” music,” the two explained. have about a dozen people come to the
But, instead, they found their music spirit jams on the regular.
brought people together on common Creating a community “Up until recently we didn’t see what
ground. we did was out of the ordinary,” DePoy
“Anytime you gather people together Right now, DePoy, Hills and others said.
in fellowship, wherever, not necessarily are using the church space for free, but Hills said they came back to Swoope
in a building, that you’re in church,” he Musicians jam at the old West View expect to be charged something some- to make it home, and with that they’ve
added. “A church brings people togeth- Methodist Church on Parkersburg time. brought people together with their mu-
er.” Turnpike in Swoope. They are in the process of developing sic.
the West View Community Place. Now, “We can’t change the world, but we
Generations of bluegrass they hold a spirit jam every Tuesday at can change our backyard,” Hills said.
sions from Winchester down to Roa- 6:30 p.m. at the Old Country Church at “I think what we’re trying to do here
DePoy is a fifth generation bluegrass noke focusing on bluegrass, old-time 1529 Parkersburg Turnpike in Swoope. is bring people together in a way they
musician from the Shenandoah Valley. string band, blues, rural swing and clas- The mission of the community place can realize that the world can be a really
He’s been performing on stage since the sic country music. is to have twice monthly jam sessions hard place to deal with but you can come
age of 8 and he plays just about every- Both DePoy and Hills have a back- and a spring music concert series — but back here and it’s a nice, safe place
thing, but the fiddle. ground in education — DePoy as a col- all of that is in the works. The communi- where you can spend an evening togeth-
He even taught Hills how to play the lege professor of sociology and Hills an ty place also aims to hold music pro- er, enjoy each other’s company, listen to
upright bass. educator in a nonprofit. grams, workshops, festivals, meetings some good music and even have the op-
“I grew up in a musical family that The two like to expand people’s and more. portunity to play.”
goes back a long way,” he said. “It was knowledge not only on music, but other The Bluegrass Spirit Jam stands by
always there. It’s like a language, once teachings. these four things: Want to learn more?
it’s there you always have it. It’s just who “I’m always wanting people to think ❚ Everyone’s faith and spiritual walk
I am.” outside of their box,” DePoy said. with God is unique, private and to be re- Call 540-209-3540 for more informa-
The two started a nonprofit called the The two follow the Christian Fresh spected. tion or email depoyd@hotmail.com.
Shenandoah Music Trail, which maps Expression movement, which is a form ❚ Everyone’s conversations with God Follow Laura Peters @peterslaura
out different major venues, trail stops, of church for the changing culture, es- are unique, private and to be respected. and @peterpants. You can reach her at
historic locations, festivals and jam ses- tablished primarily for the benefit of ❚ We acknowledge our acceptance of lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125.

Copyright © 2018 Staunton News Leader 10/13/2018

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