Music

Church Music is a gift from God, which is nurtured in rehearsals, planning, and preparation, multiplied and returned in worship and service.  With each aspect of music, whether in rehearsal, at worship or in the community, we offer praise and thanksgiving to Christ, proclaim the Word, and assist the congregation in the total worship experience.  There is an old Quaker proverb that says, “Where many candles are brought together, there is more light.” Singing in a choir is much like this proverb: an individual pools his or her given musical resources with the gift of others to create something much larger or more beautiful than that which could be offered alone.

The music program here at First Church of Christ Congregational seeks to exemplify that gift from God which is used to edify and enrich the total worship experience.   The sanctuary choir is a group of dedicated adults from all walks of life who serve the congregation in:

* Proclaiming the Word in song,

* Enhancing the worship atmosphere,

* Helping to delineate the parts of worship,

* Encouraging stronger congregational singing.

The group rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and warms up for thirty minutes on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. before the worship service at 10:00.  We are currently looking for new singers to join our dedicated choir.

The dynamic music program of First Church of Christ Congregational of the recent past has included the Children and the Youth Choir (CrossTown Players), which focused on contemporary gospel music, and the Bell/Chime ensemble, which performed on ceremonial occasions.  The sanctuary choir, on the other hand, leads in congregational singing and performs prepared anthems for Sundays and other special services based on the liturgical calendar of the church.  The choir has performed Easter and Christmas cantatas and musicals and have performed selections from Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Purcell’s (Bell Anthem) Rejoice in the Lord Always, and Haydn’s Creation. It is my fervent hope that the sanctuary choir would be blessed with  increased  membership and begin to attempt larger sacred choral works and also jump start the Bell/Chime Ensemble as well as the Children and the Youth Choirs.

The kindred spirit shared among singers unites a choir unlike any other group in the church.  They are aware of each other’s needs, share prayer concerns, enjoy fellowship, and rejoice in the successes of the group.  This “family” bond provides an internal support system for its members and builds camaraderie.

The psalmist beautifully penned what the true hallmark of a music program should be:

“Praise ye the Lord, Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let everything that hath breadth praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150, KJV)

Kweku Hammond-Donkoh
Director of Music/Organist