Music of the Church

Gathering Ensemble (Praise Band)

This group of worship leaders is much more than just a praise band. We definitely lead the assembly in songs of praise but we also know that there is much more to worship than just praise. We also lead the gathered people in singing for God’s mercy such as our version of the Kyrie, written by Rev. Chip Andrus. We beckon our children to gather for a special time together will a revised rendition of “Jesus Love The Little Children” written by elder Scott Hoffmann. And we regularly send the people of God out to love and serve the Lord with Scott’s “Gathering Song”. We write psalm settings, praise songs, canticles and service music. Another important part of music leadership in a more “contemporary” setting is to make sure that we do not abandon the great hymns of the church. This group likes to create new arrangements where these powerful hymn text can be heard in a new and vibrant way. We also love to take the old gospels and spirituals and re-introduce them to the church in our own style. And, of course, where appropriate we lead the congregation in the newer praise and worship music that is so popular throughout the church today. We also try to think and sing globally as we worship in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Therefore we sing global hymns in different languages as well. The early ‘Gathering” service is an ancient/future model of the liturgy. While we follow the ancient ecumenical pattern of worship (Gathering, Word, Eucharist and Sending) we use modern technology, music and instruments to help us express this liturgy and engage those who gather for this service.

The Band:

Scott Hoffmann: Guitar and vocals

George Holcomb: Vocals and anything that is called a musical instrument

Harry Cikanek: Bass Guitar

Wes Williams: Drums

David Davis: Congas and vocals

Kathleen Stanley: Vocals

Alan Kimberlin: Guitar and vocals

Chip Andrus: Guitar and vocals


Choirs, Organist, and Bells

Chamber Choir Director: Amy Briggs

Organist: Myrna Brittian

Handbell Director: Charles Butler

Children’s 1-3 grade Choir Director: Donna Butler

Children’s 4-6 grade Choir Director: Chip Andrus

Children’s 4-6 Handbell Director: Charles Butler

HANDBELLS

Handbells are designed to be rung by hand. A ringer grasps the bell by its handle and moves the wrist to make the hinged clapper inside the bell strike. They are generally heard in tuned sets of two to five or six octaves. The first tuned handbells were developed by Robert and William Cor in England around the end of the 17th century.

Originally, tuned sets of handbells were used by change ringers to rehearse. The handbells sets used by change ringers had the same number of bells as in the towers - generally six or twelve bells tuned to a diatonic scale. Handbells were first brought to the United States from England in the early 1900s. In the 1940s people began ringing handbells in American churches and were first manufactured in the United States in the 1960s.

Handbell ringing has progressed dramatically over the past forty years to their current level of popularity, especially in church music. First Presbyterian Church currently has a four octave set of Schulmerich handbells. Handbell ringing is also gaining popularity in many public school system music programs as well as in many college programs.
First Presbyterian Church is fortunate to have this resource as part of our church music program. An ideal approach in developing our program is to offer instruction and performance opportunities to parallel our children and adult choral music program, as scheduling permits. Currently, our program consists of one performing choir for the adults and a beginning choir for the older children (grades 4-6) and a projected choir for the youth (grades 7-12).
For many years First Presbyterian Church has offered this ministry of bells to its members, as well as to people in the community. Currently, the director of handbells is Charles Butler, who has been involved with bells since 1968.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHANCEL CHOIR:

The Chancel Choir provides worship through music for the traditional service,
which is at 11:00 A.M. every Sunday.
The Choir also participates in special services through out the year such as
Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and more.
If you would like to join us we practice on Wednesday nights at 7:00 P.M.
We are a close family of friends that enjoy music, laughter and a deep love
for God and the Church.

Come, be part of the church with us!
Praise the Lord with the sound of glorious music!

If you are interested in being a part of any of these musical offerings please contact us.

YOUNGER CHILDREN’S CHOIR
(Grades 1-2-3)

The Younger Children’s Choir meets every Wednesday from 5:00 to 5:50 pm in the younger children’s music suite near the Children’s Community entrance. The choir calendar year mirrors that of the public schools, September through May. This is primarily a teaching choir. Several times during the year we use our music to lead in the Sunday morning worship services. We also present our Christmas Music on a Wednesday evening before Christmas and usually have an “end of the school year” Music Festival on a Wednesday evening during May.

Children naturally love making music. Between the ages of six and nine, the music elements of rhythm, pitch and tonality are best learned. During these choir sessions we listen, move, sing, play instruments, play music games, create and worship. We believe that these music experiences will serve a child throughout their whole life.

Please click the links above to visit each person's music website.