Sunday April 28!

This Sunday is going to be an exciting musical Sunday.  The Festivo Bells will play before they take their summer break, (as JuBellee did last week) and with a lot of excitement, we will premiere a new composition by Thomas Keesecker.  It will be a new arrangement of the beloved hymn, Love Divine All Loves Excelling.  

The Chancel Choir commissioned Thomas to write this work and we are thrilled to be able to present it to you. This composition began with the question:  How do you thank a group of folks that come week after week, month after month, year after year to sing at rehearsal every Thursday and during most Sundays of the calendar year?  Their selfless giving of their time and talents means so much to all of us as we worship God together.  

It's a big ask to have folks give up so much of their time, and the Chancel choir continues to meet their commitment! Asincere love of music and the joy of singing together, they continue to bring beloved anthems as well as newer works.  Not only does this marvelous group of choristers sing together, we continue to pray together, lifting each other up in times of need and celebrating the joyful moments in our lives. We are truly a tight-knit group of singers, but, we’re always ready to welcome new singers to join us!  

What better way to show the appreciation we have for our Chancel Choir than to present a work written especially for them!

Please join me this Sunday to thank the choir for all they have done and continue to do to make worship so meaningful for all of us year after year.

Philip

April 28

Thomas Keesecker 3pm concert cancelled

An Afternoon of the Music of Thomas Keesecker has been canceled due to illness.  The composer has CAD, and last week had a stent put in.  He was feeling great for a few days post-procedure but is unfortunately not doing well enough to travel to the Buckeye State.   Keep him in your prayers as he continues to regain his strength.

The premiere of his work for the Chancel Choir will take place at Sunday morning worship this Sunday!  Please join the choir this Sunday morning to celebrate them and all they bring to worship every week.

Philip

On April 14, The Angel Choir sings “I Am Bound for the Kingdom”

The Angel Choir is excited to sing “I Am Bound for the Kingdom” this Sunday, April 14. This anthem is energetic and exciting, a departure from the choir’s two most recent pieces, both of which were appropriate for the poignant and thoughtful weeks of Lent. The piano accompaniment drives this rhythmic, buoyant anthem forward as the choir asks the question, “I am bound for the kingdom; will you go to glory with me?” The Angels will be wearing their colorful collars once again to celebrate the season of Easter, and we invite you to come to church to join us for worship!

April 28, 2024 

The premiere by composer Thomas Keesecker will begin at the 10 am service, and then we will offer an additional special concert featuring his music and readings at 3 pm. 

Our Chancel Choir is made up of folks who come together week after week sharing their love of singing and their faith. Their commitment to the music at First Presbyterian is wonderful to see and hear. On April 28, at the morning worship service, we will present an exciting world premiere of a new arrangement of the much-loved hymn, Love Divine All Loves Excelling. The choir commissioned Mr. Keesecker to write this stunning work and we are looking forward to sharing it with you Sunday morning at worship.   

In the afternoon,  at 3 pm, there will be a wonderful concert by Mr. Keesecker as he shares many of his compositions for instruments, piano solos, and the choir will sing several of his much-loved anthems.  

Thomas Keesecker retired in 2019 after serving as a church musician for over 40 years in Lutheran and Roman Catholic parishes in Virginia, Montana, and Maryland. His church music is well-published. His studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Catholic University School of Music in Washington, D.C. prepared him for a career in which he has mixed classical technique and jazz improvisation. In his retirement, he travels the country sharing his piano collections in informal recitals which incorporate hymn singing, readings, and poetry.

Hope to see you there,
Philip Everingham 

On March 17, The Angel Choir Sings “I Will Wait for You”

On March 17, The Angel Choir will sing "I Will Wait for You," a sensitive, melodic anthem of trust and devotion based on Psalm 130. The arranger of the piece is Victor C. Johnson, a clinician of an interesting class on youth music that I enjoyed at a recent Worship and Music Conference in Montreat, N.C. The choir and I look forward to sharing this musical offering that speaks to us of God's never-ending love and mercy.

Yours in music,
Joy

Angel Choir Summer Tour Informational Meeting

High school Angel Choir members and their parents are invited to a brief Summer Singing Tour meeting after worship this Sunday! This will be a concise information session with updates about this year’s Summer Singing Tour for our high school singers. We will meet immediately following worship at 11 a.m. this Sunday, March 17, in the church sanctuary. We will feature a short, entertaining video of a recent tour, distribute relevant handouts, and answer any questions you might have about our 2024 tour to New England and Annapolis on June 4-9. If you or your child will be going on this year’s amazing trip, or if you have an interest, your attendance is encouraged!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday,
Joy

Bell Ringing at Boys and Girls Club, Newark

I wanted to give everyone an update on how things are going as we are now over a month into the start-up of this program. The kids and I continue to have a great time learning about music, and how it's put together as they learn the fun techniques that are involved in ringing handbells. We continue to get to know each other as we learn this new skill together. Working with the kids has become a highlight of my week. They are filled with energy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new things.

- Philip

On March 10, the Children’s Choir Sings!

Our Children’s Choir is excited to help lead worship this Sunday, singing “God Is So Good” by Douglas Wagner. This uplifting piece celebrates God’s goodness and love, and the children have been working hard to prepare an inspiring musical offering. All singers’ families should plan to meet in the music room at 9 a.m. on Sunday. PLEASE REMEMBER THE TIME CHANGE! The children will then be able to warm up and go over last-minute details before the service. We look forward to the joyful praise provided by these young musicians as they sing out about how good God is!

The children’s music program has been filled with joyful sounds lately! Students have been practicing foundational musical skills by playing engaging rhythm games like “Earthquake,” where they match rhythms and scramble back to home base when the “quake” sounds. They also are working hard on breath control, pitch matching, and singing in harmony. We are excited to share the fruits of our efforts soon by performing a beautiful arrangement of “God Is So Good.” The students have risen to the challenge with enthusiasm, and it has been a delight to see them expand their musical knowledge, rhythm, and vocal skills week by week. We hope the congregation will enjoy hearing them share what they have learned when we present our piece in an upcoming service! Please come and support our young musicians.