connect with the students through music and to share encouragement in that way . Not only that , but as we sang , we were able to minister to the teachers and faculty , who were engaged in the music ,” said Phillips .
Among other venues , the students sang for a crowd at The Shops at Canal
As for their recent week-long getaway , the students readily described the highlight of their venture to New Orleans as their service at a local elementary school . While heralded as one of the country ’ s most culturally-rich destinations , the port city also is beset with poverty , blight , and chalform at the ever-popular Break it Down Boston 2017 .
This year ’ s concert on April 1 inside John Knowles Paine Concert Hall featured music from 19 Christian a cappella choirs hailing from universities , including Columbia , Cornell , Dartmouth , University of Pennsylvania , Princeton , and Yale .
For members of Under Construction , the recent spring ventures serve as cornerstone phases of the eternal projects they are undertaking on behalf of Christ ’ s Gospel . The students readily point to the inspiration and confidence found in Philippians 1:6 . The verse assures “ he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus .” | cu
Members of Under Construction , Harvard University ’ s Christian a cappella group , spent their spring break touring and performing in New Orleans .
lenges with educational attainment .
On March 16 , the students delivered backpacks with school supplies to 650 students at a local elementary school on behalf of the Kids in Need Foundation . The youngsters , grades pre-K to eight , are attending classes in a temporary facility after a massive tornado devastated the school and part of the surrounding neighborhood .
During an assembly , school administrators surprised pupils with the backpacks , which were loaded with pencils , notebooks , glue sticks , and other supplies . “ The kids were so excited , and it was such a touching moment ,” said Phillips .
After delivering the backpacks , Under Construction vocalists visited individual classrooms , where they also performed for the children and staff .
“ It was so awesome to be able to
Place , an upscale shopping mecca on the edge of the historic French Quarter . They also appeared at churches and at Camp Restore , a nonprofit organization that supports volunteer efforts to restore properties damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita .
The students took advantage of an opportunity to meet up with a group of fellow Harvard students who spent their break laboring for Habitat for Humanity .
In addition , the Harvard songbirds took a break to tour some of the Crescent City ’ s most-celebrated destinations , including the French Quarter , the National World War II Museum , and the Audubon Nature Institute .
However , after returning to Massachusetts from their whirlwind tour of New Orleans , they barely caught their breath before preparing to per-
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h a r v a r d n e w s - i n - b r i e f
R . R . Niebuhr Dies at 90
Richard Reinhold Niebuhr ( Harvard ’ 43 , Yale Ph . D . ’ 55 ), a longtime Harvard Divinity School professor , died on February 26 at 90 .
The renowned theologian , scholar , and ordained minister began teaching at Harvard University in 1956 . A 2006 gift established a professorship to honor R . R . Niebuhr , who was part of a family teaching legacy . He was the son of H . Richard Niebuhr ( Yale 1923 , Ph . D . 1924 ) and nephew of Reinhold Niebuhr ( Yale 1914 , M . A . 1915 ), who was considered one of the most influential American theologians of the 20 th century and the likely author of the Serenity Prayer . s p r i n g 2 0 1 7 : : c h r i s t i a n u n i o n . o r g
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