St. Martin Lutheran Church’s cantor and composer in residence, Thomas Pavlechko, built a life-long friendship based on the organ.  The church is now building a unique organ at its downtown sanctuary with thousands of pipes that are finding a new home.

“[They’ve] traveled from one end of the country to the other, moved, packed and jostled, and it comes here and it finds its home again,” said Vic Marsilio, a master organ builder from Ohio.

Piece by piece, the pipes are passed from one church member to another as they are cleaned, counted and categorized. 

“It's a bit overwhelming at times,” said Pavlechko.

But, when it’s done, it will be one of the most unique instruments in central Texas.  The pipes have been collecting dust upstairs behind the altar.  Many of them are from the early 20th century and come from places all over the country.

“Consider it as an artist's palate,” said Marsilio.  “We're not making the organ any louder by adding to it, but we're giving the artist more colors in which to paint the sound.”

One piece, a wind pipe, is believed to be from the 1930’s.  When Marsilio put it in place, it fit perfectly.  Marsilio believes the odds of that happening may be because of a little divine intervention.

“When you move all this and you put it all together and you find some stray piece that was built way back when, it's all meant to come here, especially when it starts to fit,” he said.

Marsilio believes the project is bringing together friends and a community like the odds and ends of an organ are coming together to make perfect harmony.