What is the 151st?      
 
 
     
  The 151st is a group of deeply committed Christian musicians who chose to lift up the name of Jesus together and are committed to a ministry of building up (edification), and stirring up (exhortation), and binding up (comfort) the Church. We love God's people!  
         
  Where did you get that name?      
  The book of Psalms ends with Psalm 150. Yet, these musicians feel that the Song of the Lord goes on, so they add their praises to the ones of the last 3,000 years and call themselves the 151st (psalm).  
         
  Why do all of your CD covers have pictures of children on them?  
  Our first CD, "Caring and Sharing" features Violet Pratt and Matthew Wittkop. The photo for our second CD of wedding music, "For the Bride To Be" has not been taken yet, but we hope it will feature a young girl in front of a mirror in much too large wedding garments.

If you wish to offer us ideas for our Holy Days CD cover, please do. Mail ideas or photos to the church address in care of 151st. This CD will include both Christmas and Easter music. We still do not have an idea of how it will convey the message of both holidays AND include children. However, we'd like to employ children because not only did Jesus come to us as a child, and speak of us as "children," but Jesus had a special place in his heart for children and so should we. Our Lord spoke about them often:

"Suffer the little children to come unto me for such is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 19:14

"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings the Lord has perfected praise." - Matthew 21:16

The most valuable asset of this nation, AND the kingdom, is its children. I would like our CD covers to show that we, as a group and as a church, value children. We also want to aid parents and all who treasure these little ones in a small musical way to raise them for Jesus.

Whenever you see the CD covers, let them prompt you to pray for the children in your life and for those who minister to them. Also consider praying for struggling parents and single parents that they have the strength, resources, and the wisdom needed to live lives of Christian courage and raise god-centered children.

Pray for children without parents in foster care and shelters that God will be with them in a special way drawing them into His arms for strength, safety and comfort.
God sets the solitary in families -- Psalm 68: 6 . . . let us pray all make it to the family of God.

 
         
  Who are the members?      
  I'd like you to meet the people you'll hear from on the 151st CDs. They are committed Christians I have known most of my life. These are the people that give voice to my music. I can never thank them enough for their faithfulness to our Lord and their (and their families') sacrifice of time and talents for the CD projects. I know and love them, and I hope you will too! - Lora Crombez  
 

Diana Brown		  
Diana Brown (soprano) grew up in Ann Arbor, and has been a regular choir member since 5th grade. She has sung with various church and school choirs. Recently she was a member of the Women's Choral Society in Eugene through the University of Oregon. Now back in Michigan, she lives near Maybee with her husband, Jon, and teenage son, Dan. She is a valued member in the soprano section of the Dundee United Methodist Church choir.

Dan Brown (percussion) is a senior at Dundee High School. Band, drafting, and drama are classes he enjoys. He performs in marching band at the weekly football games and is currently in the play "Three doors To Death" along with a couple of one act plays to be performed November 18 & 19th. After school you can find him either rehearsing band pieces or rehearsing for the play, listening to music of every kind, or playing video games. Dan reports his favorite book as "Catcher In The Rye" and his favorite movie as "Repo Man." Although Dan enjoys music of all kinds, he lists his favorite band as "Greenday." Upon graduation he'd like to spend the summer traveling before embarking on his education to become a music industry recording engineer. As the youngest member of The 151st, he was asked what it was like "hanging out with all of us 'old people'?" (rehearsals, recording and performing) to which he actually replied, "It was fun!" He said we have a lot of knowledge and experience to share with him. We truly enjoy Dan - he keeps us young! We hope you too will appreciate the gifts he brings to the band.

  

Dan Brown

René & Lora Crombez
   René (tenor & classical guitar) and Lora Crombez (composer, soprano, & pianist) met in music school at Eastern Michigan University in 1986. René was studying classical guitar and Lora was studying vocal music education. They were married in 1989, and although living in Saline, decided to return to Dundee UMC, the family of faith in which Lora grew up. They are worship committee members, choir members and share special music whenever requested. Both are certified Lay Speakers and fill the pulpit when needed. René is a physicist that works on his grandmother's farm and manages a physics research lab at Eastern Michigan University. Lora is a certified State of Michigan teacher. Right now music, homemaking and her 10 cats occupy her time. She prays the economy in Michigan will pick up and she'll be back in the classroom again.
Louise Proctor (alto) was born and raised in Holland, Michigan. She met her husband, Ed, at Michigan State University on the Methodist Church bus. They were married in 1973 and moved to Dundee. They checked out the Dundee United Methodist Church and stayed. Louise has been a loyal choir member there except for the years when she had her two, now fully-grown, children. Lately she has been learning Spanish to work with the Hispanic community. Her claims to fame are her nativity collection and her job as a Public Health Nurse at the Monroe County Health Department as a Maternal/Infant Support Program nurse  

Louise Proctor

David Wittkop
   David Wittkop (bass) and his wife of thirty-one years, Joan, have been lifelong residents of this area. They have three children - two adult and Jonathan still at home. David and Joan are active members of the Dundee United Methodist Church and have served it in a variety of capacities. David has sung in church choirs since his early years and he played the trombone all through school. He has sung bass in the Dundee United Methodist Church choir for almost 20 years now, occasionally filling in for the director, and is also a certified lay speaker. David, a retired State of Michigan Information Technology Technician, now spends his time singing, baby-sitting his grandson Matthew, and running his company, Cyclone Computers. He is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
Dawn Wyse (alto, bass, flute) has been singing for as long as she can remember. She comes from a large musical family and has fond memories of singing with her family members. Dawn not only shares her musical talents with the congregation at Dundee, but works with the children's praise band. Dawn and her husband, Dan, live in Dundee. Their daughter Kim and her husband Jon reside in Marquette, with their son Benjamin. Dawn is a new and very proud grandma! Ms. Wyse owns and operates her own cleaning service.  

Dawn Wyse