Music is very important to the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. A team of very talented staff and volunteers lends 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 that would like to share their musical talents. For further information, or questions, please contact the Director of Music in the church office or by email at music1stpres@cableone.net

The Chancel Choir is a group of dedicated singers who lead the 11:00 services each Sunday morning. This choir meets regularly on Wednesday evenings 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.

Seasonal Singers is a group of vocalists who participate with the Chancel Choir during special music events and the seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. Please see the Director of Music for more information about becoming a seasonal singer.

Youth Choir is composed of all interested youth in grades 6-12 and meets immediately before youth group on Sunday evenings. The Youth Choir regularly sings in worship and often joins the adult and/or children's choirs for special musical presentations. This is the fastest growing choir at First Presbyterian Church.

The Children's Choir ministry is a fully graded program for children ages 4 years old through 5th grades. The choirs meet in two divided age groups on Wednesday afternoons as part of the inJoy after-school program. These choirs occasionally sing for worship. The Children's Choir ministry produces a musical at least once a year.

Adult I Handbells is open, by audition, to any interested older youth or adults. This choir rings at least three times a year during worship. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 4:00-5:00pm. Recently, this group hosted renowned handbell clinician and composer, Cynthia Dobrinski for a workshop on technique and repertoire.

Adult II Handbells is open to beginners who are interested in an opportunity to experience the technique of handbell ringing while learning to read music and play in an ensemble. Because this is a learning choir, participation in worship is minimal and scheduled on an ""as ready"" basis. This group rehearses on Sundays from 6:00-7:00pm.

For Junior and Senior High musicians, the Youth Handbell Choir has become a favorite part of the Youth Choir experience. Rehearsing from 5:00-6:00pm every Sunday, a portion of each Youth Choir rehearsal is devoted to handbell ringing. The youth ringers participate in worship during the Advent/Christmas season and also contribute to a Family Night Supper program on a Wednesday in May.

At selected times throughout the year, Children's Handbell Workshops take place on Wednesday nights during Family Night Supper. These mini-workshops are organized when adequate registration is received. Children in grades 2-6 are encouraged to participate.

First 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 Four 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 Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm. For further information, please contact the Tower Captain, Remica Gray (870-773-3741) or the church office.

First 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.

First Presbyterian Church often participates in and supports other music 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. 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.

Sundays

	10:30am			Chancel Choir Service Preparation
	11:00am			Chancel Choir leads music in worship
	4:00-5:00pm		Adult Handbells I
	5:00-6:00pm		Youth Choir & Handbells
	6:00-7:00pm		Adult Handbells II


Wednesdays

	4:00-4:20pm		inJoy Music for ages 4 - 2nd grades
	4:40-5:00pm		inJoy Music for 3rd - 6th grades
	7:15-8:30pm		Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursdays

	7:00-8:30pm		Change Ringing Practice

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.
Psalm 150: 3-4, 6