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Music Ministries
Musical Notes from Dr. Jim
I am excited to write about some upcoming ventures for the Music Ministry beginning this Fall. I am pleased to announce that beginning August 29, we will begin a new venture for the Youth. Youth Music (middle schoolers, senior high schoolers) will meet each Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m. prior to the Sunday evening Youth Activities. Susan Morehead, John Arnold, Linda Cogbill, and myself will be working with the Youth on a rotational basis, including: · Singing songs – some traditional, some contemporary · Instrumental music – bells, drums, guitar, etc. As well, beginning Wednesday, September 8, we will begin a new enterprise for the children of our congregation. Children’s Music (Kindergarteners through Fifth Graders) will meet each Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. prior to Wednesday Night Supper. Linda Cogbill will be leading with me on this, including: · Singing songs – children’s songs, Bible songs, etc. · Instruments – drums, rhythm instruments, etc. Both groups will participate in worship, etc. on an “as ready” basis. Additionally, I want to invite all of you who would be interested to participate in what will be my Wednesday Night “Stewpot” offering for October. In the past, we have had a Seasonal Singers Ensemble. This enterprise consisted of interested folk who wanted to join the Chancel Choir for Advent/Christmas and/or Lent/Easter. Seasonal Singers Ensemble will be offered toward this end—in preparation for Advent/Christmas—beginning with the first of the Stewpot gatherings in October, from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. Questions? Please be sure to speak with me about this. We welcome you to this enterprise! This about wraps it up for now! With all good wishes, Dr. Jim
Music is very important to the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. A team of very talented staff and volunteers lend their talents to provide for a quality music ministry. First Presbyterian has been blessed with several fine instruments on which to make music in praise of God. These instruments include: a 38-rank Casavant pipe organ installed in 2000, a 6-foot Kawai grand piano, a 3-octave set of Mallmark hand chimes, a 5-octave set of Schulmerich handbells and a ring of 8 Taylor bells in the church tower. The music ministry welcomes all who would like to share their musical talents.
Read below for more information regarding individual music groups. Praise the Lord with song at First Presbyterian! Choral MusicThe Chancel Choir is a group of dedicated singers who lead the 11:00 a.m. services each Sunday morning. This choir meets regularly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and is open to all adult and senior high youth. Serving as the primary worship choir, the Chancel Choir also participates in several special musical events each year. Change RingingFirst Presbyterian Church is blessed to have a "'ring of 8 bells"' in our church tower. These bells are rung in the centuries-old method of change ringing first brought to America by the British during the eighteenth century. The bells at First Presbyterian Church were among the first to be installed in a church west of the Mississippi River. The bells are rung regularly for practice, special worship services, weddings and funerals. Our tower hosts, on a rotating schedule, the Five Towers' Festival which is a weekend of change ringing sponsored by churches in Little Rock, Texarkana and Houston. It is not unusual for First Presbyterian Church to host as many as four bands of ringers from the United Kingdom that visit the tower throughout the year. Anyone age 12 and above is welcome to explore change ringing. Our band of ringers practices on Monday evenings with Lessons for Beginners meeting in the tower bells from 6:30-7 p.m. and with tower bell practice from 7-8:30 p.m. For further information, please contact the Tower Captain, Remica Gray (870-773-3741) or the church office. For more information on the art of change ringing, visit the website of the North American Guild of Change Ringers. Noon Advent Concert SeriesFirst Presbyterian Church provides a time of meditation and reflection each Thursday during the season of Advent. These noontime music presentations are followed by a light lunch sponsored by the Presbyterian Women. This series has become a tradition at First Presbyterian and is well attended by both the congregation and the community. We draw upon a host of talented musicians from the Texarkana Women's Chorus, the Texarkana Symphony and the Texarkana community. Special Music ProductionsFirst Presbyterian Church often participates in and supports other musical events at the church. In the past the church has hosted the Lyon College Choir, guest organists and pianists, as well as the Texarkana Regional Chorale and the Texarkana Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Chancel Choir participates annually in a joint concert with the choirs of First United Methodist Church and St. James Episcopal Church here in Texarkana. Handbell, Youth and Children's ChoirsThese three choirs have been an integral part of First Presbyterian Church's music ministry. After an interim period while the search for a new music director was underway, these programs are again being offered. Currently, two handbell groups meet each Sunday (one adult and one youth) and the youth music program is being expanded.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with the psaltry and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance; praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
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