MUSIC AT FIRST CHURCH
Music is a wonderful gift from God. Our earliest recorded Hebrew scriptures reveal that music has been central to worship from the beginning. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we are instructed to “sing a new song to the Lord,” and to “praise God with strings and pipe!” This rich tradition continues around the world and here at First Church.
The Choirs
Our largest choir is you, the congregation, as you sing the hymns each Sunday. The Adult Choir is open to anyone high school age and above, and welcomes all who love to sing. We are fortunate to be assisted by three professional Section Leaders who provide musical leadership and support to the choir. This group rehearses each Thursday evening and sings in worship each Sunday morning from September to June. We welcome new members at any time. A highlight of the Choir’s year is the annual Festival of Lessons & Carols, presented each year at Christmas time.
A Children’s Choir convenes on occasion during the church year. Brief rehearsals will be scheduled for two or three consecutive Sundays immediately following worship. Information is given via the Sunday School and in church publications. All children in grade 2 and higher are welcome.
Our worship is also enriched by soloists, instrumentalists, percussion, and handbells from time to time, both from within our congregation and from the wider community.
First Church owns five octaves of Schulmerich Handbells. We look forward to being able to reconvene the Handbell Choir as volunteers become available to play.
Please speak with Director of Music Ministries, Jim Gower, if you would like to find out more about participation in any of these important ministries.
THE BELLS OF FIRST CHURCH
~ TUESDAYS at 7:00 p.m. ~
July 10 ~ Hans Uwe Hielscher
Wiesbaden, GERMANY
July 17 ~ Amy Heebner
Albany, NY
*July 24 ~ Tatiana Lukyanova
New Britain, CT
Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, a picnic, and your friends
for a delightful evening of music on the lawn.
Concerts are free and open to the public.
Complimentary ice cream & bottled water will be provided.
Concerts take place rain or shine.
Covered seating will be provided in the event of rain.
*PLEASE NOTE the following CHANGE in scheduling
from prior years:
The CLOSING CONCERT on July 24 is preceded by
a POT-LUCK PICNIC at 6:00 p.m.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages are provided.
Please bring a salad, side dish, or dessert to share.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
THE CARILLON
First Church is truly fortunate to be the home of the Philip B. Stanley Carillon. The 37 bells, weighing a total of 7,960 pounds, were forged by the Petit & Fritsen Company of The Netherlands, and are suspended about 50 feet above the ground in a tower near the entrance to the church. The bell tower is a beacon of beauty both visually and in its glorious sound.
Our gifted Carillonneur, Tatiana Lukyanova, provides a 15-minute Carillon Prelude to the Sunday morning service on the first Sunday of each month throughout the year.
During the summer, we offer a series of free, open-air carillon concerts called The Bells of First Church on Tuesday evenings, in July, at 7 p.m.
Carillonneurs from the local area and around the world delight us with the amazing capabilities of this instrument. You are invited to bring a picnic and lawn chairs or blankets, friends, and family for a relaxed evening of music and fellowship on the shady lawn. Complimentary ice cream treats and cold bottled water and provided. The one-hour concerts are held rain or shine. In the event of rain, covered seating is provided in the narthex.
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