High Lonesome Bluegrass Mass by Tim Sharp and Wes Ramsey

June 8, 2025, at the 10am service
Pentecost Sunday

Dear friends, please come and hear the Chancel Choir as we present songs from the Southern Harmony and Gospel hymnody!  Each song is arranged as a part of the liturgical mass, with well-beloved songs woven throughout the mass.   

Accompanied by the Denison Bluegrass Ensemble.

It will be a fun celebration of the church's birthday! Be sure to wear your red that morning, and stay for the fun reception afterwards, presented by the Worship and Music committee!

Philip

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Our first anthem, “I Will Give Thanks,” is new to this church. Craig Courtney has crafted another beautiful composition that draws inspiration from the texts of several Psalms, expressing praise and gratitude for all that God has given us.

Our second choral piece is Elaine Hagenberg’s “You Do Not Walk Alone.” An immediate favorite of every choir that begins rehearsing it, this Irish blessing’s simple but evocative lyrics are hopeful and encouraging. The melody is delicate and lilting, building from a unison beginning to six-part crescendos.

It will be sung as our choral benediction and serve as a fitting farewell to our nine exceptional choir graduating seniors who have shared their time, talent, and fabulous personalities with fellow choir members at our rehearsals and with our congregation during Sunday worship.

To commemorate our seniors’ dedication to First Presbyterian Church, their names have been added to the long list of Angel Choir alumni names engraved on a series of wood and bronze plaques displayed in the youth choir room. Oh, how we will miss them ...

 With appreciation and love,
Joy Hire, Fearless Leader

You Do Not Walk Alone

 May you see God’s light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear, even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard, may hardness never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember when the shadows fall,
You do not walk alone.

This Sunday, our children’s choir will share a special anthem in honor of Mother’s Day, titled The Blessings of a Mother’s Love.

Through joyful voices and heartfelt lyrics, the children will celebrate the care, strength, and unconditional love that mothers and mother figures bring into our lives. We hope this musical offering blesses all who hear it and reminds us of the profound impact of a mother’s love, both in our families and in our faith community.

Music, particularly choral music, has been a significant presence in Sandy’s life beginning in the second grade in her mother’s children’s choir in Willard, Ohio, where she was a fellow chorister with Sandy Jump. It continued on through high school choirs and a girls’ sextet. Somewhere along the line, 5+ years of piano lessons provided an extra foundation. She and her husband, J. David, moved from Willard to Granville in the early 60s and joined First Presbyterian and sang in the choir before Owens Corning whisked them away, first to Texas, then Toledo, Ohio, and finally back to Granville in 1973, where they joined the choir once again. Together they have been singing with the Chancel Choir for 53 years!

A teaching position allowed Sandy to share her music with 3rd graders for 18 years. She bought an old upright and painted it red (with apologies to Elton John)! 

Choirs have been a source of family for Sandy. There is a connection and a sense of belonging in every choir, truly embodying the phrase in the hymn, “the tie that binds.”

Please join us for worship on Sunday, May 18, for one of our favorite traditions, the blessing of our high school seniors.

The Angel Choir will sing for the last time this program year, and following their anthem, we’ll honor the seniors from the choir and our congregation. 

Seniors: Please send a picture of your choice and a short description of your future plans to Kristin at kream@granpres.org.

*Are you or is someone in your family graduating post-high school? Please let Kristin know, because we want to celebrate you, too!*

Area V Handbell Conference April 25 and 26th, 2025

The Festivos had a wonderful time this past weekend playing with almost 700 of our closest bell-ringing friends!   We packed up SUVs and cars and made our way to the Columbus Convention Center.   Classes began at 3:30, and day one concluded with a wonderful concert by a High School Handbell Choir out of Michigan. We attended classes reading new music that’s being released through Hope Publishing, as well as attended a meet and greet of the main attraction, our clinician, Fred Gramann.   Here is his bio:

A native of Washington State, Fred began his early organ studies with Dr. Edward Hansen of Seattle, winning the student organ competition sponsored by the Seattle Chapter of the American Guild of Organists while still in high school. While earning a bachelor's degree in organ performance at Syracuse University, he won first prize in the 1972 Ft. Wayne National Organ Competition and was awarded the Arthur Poister Prize for outstanding organist in the Syracuse University School of Music for four consecutive years. From 1972–75, Fred studied organ in Paris, France, with Marie-Claire Alain, also spending one year working with organist and composer Maurice Durufle. Fred earned a master's degree in organ performance at the University of Michigan during the 1975–76 school year. He returned to Paris in 1976 as Director of Music at the American Church in Paris, the oldest non-governmental American institution abroad, recently celebrating his thirtieth year of music ministry. Mr. Gramann started a handbell program at the American Church in 1981, thanks to a gift of two octaves of handbells. The program has since grown to include three handbell choirs performing on five octaves of Schulmerich handbells, four-and-a-half octaves of Malmark handbells, four octaves of Petit and Fritsen handbells, five octaves of Choirchimes, and a growing set of Whitechapel handbells. Fred has had numerous choral anthems and handbell works published in the US and is an Honorary Associate Director of the Raleigh Ringers.

 We took the 6 compositions that they wanted us to perform as a mass choir and rehearsed for several hours over our two-day conference.  We made new friends and got to know each other even better throughout the conference.  A particularly fun class we attended was a Battle of the Bands.   All in all, it was a great weekend.  Enjoy the pictures.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the people who made Holy Week so meaningful during this Lenten and Easter season.

Many thanks to Aaron Wilburn for his leadership of the Children's Choir as they processed and sang the opening hymns and led in the Call to Worship, and then sang such a joyful song as we began Holy Week.

A very deeply heartfelt thank you to the Chancel Choir, who provided music all week from Palm Sunday, an Anthem on Maundy Thursday, to Good Friday's wonderful Faure Requiem and then turned around and sang both services on Easter morning!   First Presbyterian is VERY blessed to have such a group of dedicated musicians!  THANK YOU!

Handbells provided music starting us off with an exaltant prelude at the Palm Sunday Service to a deeply felt, "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" at the Good Friday service. Thank you for sharing your musical gifts with all of us!

To all the readers who gave of their time and brought so much meaning to the Passion story and Easter morning, thank you!

To the Angel Choir who came and sang with Chancel at the 10am service!  Thank you!  Having the combined forces of both choirs was so incredibly moving!  Thank you to Joy Hire and the Angel Choir for all their hard work!

Thank you all!  It's truly a blessing working together to share the gift of music through worship!

Philip Everingham

Director of Music

This Sunday, our Children's Choir will help lead us into Holy Week with a joyful anthem of praise! During the Palm Sunday service, they will sing “Blessed Is He” as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Their voices, full of energy and faith, are sure to lift our hearts and set the tone for the sacred days ahead. We are so proud of their hard work and invite everyone to join us in worship as they share this special song!

This Sunday, our Children's Choir will help lead us into Holy Week with a joyful anthem of praise!

During the Palm Sunday service, they will sing “Blessed Is He” as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Their voices, full of energy and faith, are sure to lift our hearts and set the tone for the sacred days ahead. We are so proud of their hard work and invite everyone to join us in worship as they share this special song!

Larry Miller came to singing at the youthful age of 57. 

He had always wanted to sing but was always reluctant to jump in. When he got to Granville, OSU Newark sent out a course schedule, and there was a class called “Singing for Non-Music Majors”.

The course began with about 20 singers, and by the last week of class, it was whittled down to Larry and two sopranos. Three songs had to be performed for the final exam. For his final exam, he sang Ombra m'ai fu by Handel, Somewhere by Leonard Bernstein and Tony Bennett's The Best is Yet to Come!   

Tom Martin corralled Larry into the Chancel Choir about the same time he was learning to sing, and from there, the Denison Concert Choir soon followed. While with Denison Concert Choir, Larry was instrumental in getting the Newark-Granville Symphony to play and the chorus to sing Beethoven's last symphony, which includes the famous Ode to Joy that was heard everywhere when the Berlin wall came down in 1989.  

I know many of us still remember his and Hugh Price's Blues Brothers Skit at the first cabaret. Other choral highlights include the Bluegrass Mass and singing at Iona Abby during the 2015 Scotland tour. "Some of my closest friends are the people I sing with." Making music together is a truly bonding and special experience. Larry, we're glad you're still singing!

-Philip

Fauré’s Requiem which you will hear Good Friday at 7:30 in the Sanctuary is a lot like a great wine that has layer after layer of different flavors, some poetic and feminine, some darker and richer, infinite nuance and intrigue; and yet, at the same time, everything is perfectly balanced, harmonious, not one element overpowering the others. It is amazing that a wine with so much floral perfume never becomes cloying. This brilliance of balance – depth of content with refinement and grace – is the unique gift of French art. And Gabriel Fauré was a definitive exponent of this art.

This amazing Requiem depicts the timelessness of human existence, the procession of generations, human longings, profound sorrow, fear of the unknown, as well as light, hope, the ultimate joys of heaven, and, above all, peace. All of these separate emotions are distinctly expressed, but they also form a perfect harmonious unity which lasts only 30 minutes. There is not a note out of place in this work. And, because its structure and style are so “simple,” the handling of all these emotions takes great concentration and care on the part of the performers.

Speaking of the performers:  FPC’s Heather Kessler will sing the lovely Pie Jesu from the Requiem and a local baritone in the area will sing the baritone solos.  Robert Wisniewski who just recently retired from St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Columbus will be our organist and the wonderful harp music of Oliva Haggett will be heard during the glittering Sanctus.   We will also have amazing readers sharing the Passion story inbetween the sections of the Requiem and a beautiful and spacious arrangement of O Sacred Head Now Wounded played by the Festivo Bell Choir.  The Chancel Choir has been working hard over the past few months putting it all together and we are incredibly excited to share this timeless work with you on this sacred day.

Every now and then, Angel Choir members will request a reprisal of an anthem they’ve loved singing in the past.

This Sunday’s “Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain” is one such piece.

It’s worth noting that exactly five years ago, on the third Sunday in March, the reality of COVID suddenly set in, precipitating an abrupt cancellation of the service in which the choir planned to sing this compelling Lenten anthem. From disappointment grew opportunity, however, and The Angel Choir’s first virtual video was created.

I encourage you to take the time to view this consequential video that reminds us not only of the disruption, distress, and fear we experienced for so long but also of the hope, love, and beauty that blossomed in response to them. It seems appropriate to reflect on these feelings during our season of Lent, and the choir is looking forward to offering this anthem that is so dear and meaningful to them on many levels.

With gratitude,
Joy and the Angels

You are invited!

…to a very special service, featuring music that is at once sublime, luminous, and soul-stirring. Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, while somber, is filled with light and transcendence. Come and worship with us! 

-Philip Everingham

The Children are Singing:

Calling by Mark Patterson. Dr. Everingham is playing the piano

This Sunday, the Children's Choir will offer the anthem "Calling" as part of our worship service. This beautiful and contemplative piece is a fitting selection for the first Sunday in Lent, a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal.

"Calling" is a song that invites us to listen for God's voice and to respond with open hearts. Its gentle melody and simple lyrics remind us that God continually calls us into deeper relationships, guiding us through times of trial and transformation. Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry, we, too, are called to listen, trust, and follow where God leads.

Through their voices, the children bring us all a powerful reminder that no matter our age, God is always calling us into a life of faith, love, and purpose. We hope this anthem blesses your Lenten journey and encourages you to reflect on how God is calling you this season.

Thank you,
Aaron Wilburn 

Sunday, March 9, at 3 pm

I'm excited to share more news about the Celtic service happening on March 9. Are you looking for a way to start this Lenten journey? Join us for worship at 3 pm. There will be a time of readings, songs inspired by the Celtic region of Scotland, Ireland, and Great Britain; music by a local Celtic harpist; a personal reflection on his personal faith journey by John Weigand, and so much more! Communion will be observed as well, led by Rev. Wallace Bubar. 

Come worship and experience a meditative and inspiring worship service that will reinvigorate you and fill your soul.

Philip

This Sunday, the Angel Choir is excited to sing “Lift Your Light” for worship.

With its gospel feel and catchy syncopation, composer Mary McDonald artfully moves the piece’s slow, soulful beginning to a surprising tempo change that is simply delightful! Just as we become accustomed to this shift, however, she mixes it up again with another tune and the familiar lyrics, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

We invite you to share in the energy of one of the choir’s all-time favorite anthems, and hope to see you and your light in church or online!

Join us for a Celtic Worship service on March 9th at 3 pm in the sanctuary.

This service draws from the Celtic liturgical traditions of Ireland and Scotland, particularly the communities of Iona and Northumbria. In addition to prayer, the service includes poetry and speaks of God in a common language. Music is largely instrumental—piano with a variety of other instruments. The service provides a quiet, contemplative time of prayer, song, and special music.

Karen Bovenizer will lead the singing, Olivia Clagget will provide Celtic harp, and Rev. Wallace Bubar will lead communion. Come and see, hear, sing, and pray with us!

Many of us know Tom Martin from various committees he has served on during his time at FPC.

If you’ve ever worked alongside him on any of the multitude of projects he has tackled over the years, you know what a joy it can be.

As a chorister at First Presbyterian, Tom came to the choir later than his wife, Barb. He began in 1993 when the choir sang the Rutter Requiem. We can thank Barb for recruiting Tom to sing Bass.

While Tom and Barb raised a family and sang in the choir, Tom worked for 27 years at Denison University in Alumni and Development. Pursuing his love of travel in 1998, he bought Welsh Hills Travel, which he ran successfully until 9/11/2001. He then began working as Senior Development Officer of Major Gifts at Muskingum University, traveling 55 miles one way from 2001-2010. Throughout his career, Tom continued to sing with the Denison Concert Choir and First Presbyterian Chancel Choir; he loved the blend of orchestra and choral voices singing together in larger choral works.

In 2015, Tom had the chance to combine his love of travel and choral music! He was deeply involved in our 2015 Scotland Tour, where the choir sang at St. Giles in Edinburgh, an Episcopalian church in Aberdeen, and culminated in a performance at Iona Abbey. Tom said of this trip, “As we were getting off the bus for the first time in Edinburgh, I found myself in the best mood, and it lasted throughout our tour.” Tom was instrumental with fundraising and working with the travel company that organized our trip.

Join me in thanking Tom for 32+ years of singing with us. His strong, dependable bass is still in the back row. He is greatly appreciated!

Join us! Sunday, March 9 at 3pm in the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

This service draws from the Celtic liturgical traditions of Ireland and Scotland, particularly the communities of Iona and Northumbria. In addition to prayer, the service includes poetry and speaks of God in a common language. Music is largely instrumental—piano with a variety of other instruments. The service provides a quiet contemplative time of prayer, song, and special music.
Hope to see you there!
Philip

We've had such a wonderful time in children's music this season!

The kids have been having a blast playing games, learning about melodies, and even getting hands-on with instruments like boom-whackers. They've already contributed to a couple of songs during our Wonderful Wednesday gatherings and this Sunday, they’ll be singing Encourage One Another during the service. Be sure to join us for this moment of music and joy!