300 South Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601-3112
(724) 832-0150

Worship: 10:00 am

Summer Sunday School: 10:00 am

THE MUSIC MINISTRY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Martin Luther referred to music as “a precious gift bestowed on people alone to remind them that they are created to praise and magnify the Lord.” In its belief that music is an integral part of its worship life, the congregation of First Presbyterian Church has maintained a long-standing tradition of opportunities. You can join a choir or a handbell ensemble to enhance and facilitate worship, or you can engage in the music ministry’s work by singing in the congregation (our largest choir). You can also attend the offerings provided by our church’s concert and music series now in its thirty-sixth season.

Anita Garr, Michelle Harbaugh, and I are anxiously awaiting the return of our ever faithful choir singers and bell ringers. We always welcome new people into our choir family. Participation in the First Presbyterian Church’s music program is open to church members and non-members alike.

We encourage parents to have their children and youth take advantage of our offerings in music education and worship, including our outstanding Logos and Deep End programs which take place on Wednesday evenings. Please know that we are totally committed to the musical and spiritual growth of our young people. The old adage continues—SINGING AND RINGING IN THE CHOIR CAN BE A JOY FOR A LIFETIME.

THE CHANCEL CHOIR leads the congregational song and offers anthems and responses primarily at the 11 a.m. worship services and for special services throughout the year. Soloists and choral ensembles offer music at all of our worship services, in addition to the Wednesday evening Advent and Lenten devotional services. For membership information, please call Ed Highberger at 724-832-0150. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 7:30 P.M.

THE KIRK RINGERS play the church’s Schulmerich handbells at the 11 a.m. services and for the various Christmas and Easter celebrations. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 6:30 P.M.

THE ELEMENTARY MUSIC PROGRAM is a part of the LOGOS program which meets on Wednesday evenings. The program incorporates a meal, worship, music, and recreation. The music curriculum guides the children in discovering their voices, and exploring the many ways we can make and respond to music. The vocabulary of worship is introduced in song and in prayer. Children enjoy playing various percussion instruments. The first meeting is on Wednesday, September 8 at 5 P.M.

THE JOYFUL NOISE and the JOY BELLS are a part of the Wednesday DEEP END program. Middle school and high school young people meet to sing and ring handbells. The singers meet from 5:40 to 6:15 P.M., and the bells ringers meet from 6:15 to 6:45 P.M. The first meeting is on Wednesday, September 8.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAM includes a Cherub Choir for the very young and a Sunday School Choir for the upper elementary children. Traditional, Contemporary, and Global hymns are sung with instrumental accompaniment.

THE ORGAN SCHOLAR PROGRAM CONTINUES—Cory Clippinger, Ed Highberger’s High School Organ Scholar for the 2009-2010 academic year, played an outstanding recital in our sanctuary on August 14. Cory is now in his freshman year at Penn State, where he is majoring in architecture. Michael Ruschak, a senior at Penn-Trafford High School, has been selected by the Pittsburgh Organ Academy to study the organ as a scholarship student of Ed Highberger for the 2010-2011 academic year.

A BIT OF TRIVIA—Since 1974, one hundred and seven students have had instruction on the Austin pipe organ in our sanctuary. The majority of these students have been from Seton Hill University, and many are serving in churches throughout our country— mission in a different guise. The congregation is to be commended for its continued support.

2010-2011

Our music series continues to make a significant contribution to the religious and cultural life of the Greensburg area. Some of the events are presented in cooperation with Seton Hill University’s Sacred Music Program.

Saturday, November 6 (10 to 11:30 A.M.) Sanctuary

HYMN AND ANTHEM ACCOMPANIMENT WITH J. CHRISTOPHER PARDINI

Mr. Pardini is one of the most talented of America’s younger generation of organists. He is a graduate of the Westminster Choir College and of the Eastman School of Music. He served as the organist of Garden Grove, California’s Crystal Cathedral and as Director of Music and Organist of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. He has recently been appointed to the post of Director of Music and Liturgy at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg.

Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4 (8 P.M.) Sanctuary

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD with the Westmoreland Choral Society, Thomas Octave, Music Director and Nancy Sheehan, Accompanist. This is a ticketed event—Westmoreland Choral Society 724-853-2763.

Sunday, December 19 (Single service at 10 A.M.) Sanctuary

FESTIVAL CHRISTMAS SERVICE AND NATIVITY DRAMA

An intergenerational service presented by the Christian Education and Music Departments of the Church.

Friday, December 24 at 11 P.M. Sanctuary

THE 46^TH FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

Originating in 1918 at King’s College, Cambridge, England, the Festival of Lessons and Carols, because of its immediate appeal, has been adapted by churches all over the world. The yearly repetition of this “Once in Royal David’s City” story continues to engage us, the speak to us, and to enrich our lives. Multiple Choirs, Organ, Trumpet, Oboe, and Percussion.

Friday, March 11 at 7:30 P.M. Sanctuary

SENIOR ORGAN RECITAL BY ALBERT CHARLES BOWERS

Friday, March 18 at 7:30 P.M. Sanctuary

SENIOR ORGAN RECITAL BY ROBERT LYNCH

Friday, March 25 at 7:30 P.M. Sanctuary

DR. LARRY TAYLOR, ORGANIST

Dr. Taylor is Associate Professor of Music and College Organist at Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia. He hold degrees from the Cincinnati University, Emory University, the University of Notre Dame, and Seton Hill University. A donation of $10 at the door is suggested, and will be used toward grant money for Seton Hill University organ students.

Friday, April 1 at 7:30 P.M. Sanctuary

FRANKLY, FRENCH!

Piano and organ students from the studios of Edwin Kuhn and Edgar Highberger perform music by French composers of the 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th centuries.

TO BE SCHEDULED: A Concert of Sacred Music by Marc Tourre, Baritone

First Presbyterian Church Hymn Festival

Take our music home with you!

Songs of the Soul, a compact disc representative of the music that is heard at the worship services at First Presbyterian Church, is now available for $15 at the coffee hour or through the church office. The compact disc is a result of the regular commitment of many participants in the music ministry and nine hours of recording the week following Easter Sunday. It features the Chancel Choir singing ten anthems such as Mack Wilberg's arrangement of the hymn-classic "Praise to the Lord" and the ever-popular "Hear Me, Redeemer" in a gospel style. Also included are duets by our soloists and selections by the Logos Choir, the Joyful Noise Singers and the Kirk Handbell Ringers. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of SONGS OF THE SOUL will be given to the Second Sunday Supper Project.

Signature Preludes and Postludes: Ed Highberger has completed a compact disc of organ music titled, Signature Preludes and Postludes. Featured are eighteen service pieces, eleven which are based on well-known hymns and carols including "God of Grace and God of Glory", "A Mighty Fortress", "It is Well With My Soul", "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly", "What Child is This?", "There is A Happy Land" and "Angels We Have Heard on High". The pieces were recorded on our sanctuary and gallery organs which contain over 3,500 pipes in 61 ranks, in addition to chimes, zimbelstern, and a 32' electronic pedal stop. Also heard on the recording is the Alan Sterner organ in St. Joseph Chapel at Seton Hill University. The organ in St. Joseph Chapel contains 82 ranks of digitally recorded pipes from the files of E. M. Skinner and AEolian Skinner. The project was made possible through the encouragement and generosity of an anonymous donor. Rick Carlins of Farmington, PA did the recording and mastering of the various tracks. The compact disc is now available through the music department for $12. Proceeds from the recording will go towards the purchase of robes for the Chancel Choir.

Click here for pictures of the 2008 FPC Christmas Pageant