Celebrating community and art: A look back at In the Sanctuary's amazing season
As the curtain falls on another remarkable season of "In the Sanctuary" at Rutgers Presbyterian Church, we're filled with gratitude for the incredible journey we've shared with our community. This season our sanctuary doors opened to welcome neighbors, artists, and art lovers for an eclectic mix of cultural programming that truly embodied our mission of building bridges through the arts. We sat down with In the Sanctuary’s organizers, Lesley Countryman and Peter Rinaldi, who reflected on the past six months and what the future holds.
A season of connection and discovery
"I'm really happy with what a wide variety we had this year," explains Lesley. "So many of our events come from personal connections, and everything is very organic in how we approach our season."
This organic approach yielded extraordinary results. The season kicked off with an informative session on new immigration policies, a free screening of Oscar-winning film “No Other Land,” and Katie Dwyer's family concert and fundraiser, "All You Need is Love" in February. March brought us the multimedia spectacle "A Night of Beauty" featuring live music synchronized with film. April's highlights included an April Fool's comedy night and Evan Shinners' illuminating Bach performance on piano and organ. In May, we returned to a staple of the series since its inception, Lynn Crimando’s timely event “Finding Calm in Turbulent Times.” The season concluded with Christine Arand's "Infinite Light, Eternal Voice" concert, the Press Start video game symphony orchestra, and Charles Chessler's photography exhibition "Agreeable Witness." Each event was carefully crafted to serve our community's diverse interests while staying true to our values of peace and social justice.
Standout moments that made a difference
Among the many highlights, several events stood out for their unique impact on our community. The Asylum Support Clinic information session on new immigration policy drew community members seeking both practical guidance and a sense of belonging. As Lesley noted, one attendee shared how meaningful it was "to find this place where I have my political and activist agenda supported, and then I can come to this incredible Bach concert in April and feel like it's both part of my identity and my community."
The "Night of Beauty" showcased our sanctuary's technological capabilities in stunning fashion, featuring live music synchronized with films projected on three screens simultaneously. This multimedia experience demonstrated the unique offerings that make Rutgers a special venue for artistic expression.
Another particularly moving moment was our partnership with Press Start, a unique Manhattan-based video game symphony orchestra. The performance sold out, and conductor Zach Nicely shared a touching story afterward about an attendee who heard music from a video game he used to play with his father, who had passed away just two weeks prior. "This is what live performance and live theater can do for people," Lesley observed.
Building community through art
Perhaps most importantly, this season marked a turning point in community engagement. "I felt like the neighborhood is becoming aware of us and they're coming and kind of trusting the programming," Peter shared. "People came back from going to an event and came back again and then said, 'This was completely different, but I loved it in a completely different way.'"
This trust allowed us to present programming that ranged from Evan Shinners' virtuosic and educational Bach performance to Charles Chessler's photography exhibit that raised funds for important community organizations.
Throughout the season, In the Sanctuary raised over $3,000 for various charitable organizations, including our church's food program, the Alzheimer's Association, and other worthy causes.
Looking ahead
As In the Sanctuary plans for the fall lineup beginning September 9th, they’ll carry forward important lessons from the past six months. "We found out that leaning toward quality of event rather than quantity of events was better all around," Peter explained. This focus on excellence over volume allows the production team to give each event the care and attention it deserves. Lesley and Peter’s hope for the future is simple but powerful: that word continues to spread about what happens at Rutgers on Tuesdays.
A space for everyone
What makes In the Sanctuary special isn't just the art—it's the radical welcome extended to all. "We are working to build a bridge through these cultural events and knit our community of artists together," Lesley explains. "Not in a proselytizing way, but with the aim of inviting everyone to feel welcome to make a connection on Tuesdays in a beautiful and uplifting space."
Whether you're a longtime congregant or someone who would never typically set foot in a church on Sunday, Tuesday nights at Rutgers offer something different: a chance to experience art, build community, and find sanctuary in the truest sense of the word.
As we rest this summer and prepare for another exciting season, Lesley and Peter are grateful for everyone who joined us on this journey. From the dedicated "boosters" who attend almost every event to first-time visitors discovering our community, each person contributes to the magic that happens when art, faith, and community intersect. See you in September—it's going to be another amazing season.
In the Sanctuary programming resumes after Labor Day and runs through early December. Follow our website and social media for announcements about upcoming events, and join us for what promises to be another season of exceptional programming that celebrates the arts and builds community.