Music Ministry

At First Congregational UCC, music plays a vital part in our ministry.  From our children’s choirs to our Alleluia Ringers and beyond, our music ministries help us to lift our voices and make a joyful sound during our morning worship. We’d love for you to join one of our many groups. Below you’ll find details on all the different musical ministries opportunities we offer as well as videos of our congregational musicians in action.

Interested in getting involved? Please complete this form to give us more details about your areas of interest!

Music Ministry Groups

Chancel Choir

The church’s Chancel Choir is open to anyone from 9th grade to adult with roughly 12 - 20 members. They perform a repertoire of songs, from classical music to traditional hymns, from sacred anthems to contemporary Christian, from secular music to musical theatre.

Chancel Choir sings two to three services monthly from mid-September through early June, with rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the Sanctuary. The Chancel Choir is led by Nik Kmiecik.

The Band

The Band is comprised of 5 - 7 professional musicians and plays at every Sunday service. The Band performs a wide variety of repertoire consisting of contemporary Christian, secular pop/rock, jazz, musical theatre, and soul. The Band is led by Justin Kono.

Youth Choir

Youth Choir is comprised of volunteer singers in grades 1 - 12 and sings once a month from mid-September through Mother’s Day. Youth choir performs a mix of Christian choral music, sometimes including dance and Orff instruments. Youth Choir rehearses Sunday mornings from 8:30 - 9:15 a.m. in the Coffee House and is directed by Annika Porter.

Cherub Choir

Cherub Choir is comprised of our youngest singers from age 3 through kindergarten. They perform traditional Christian songs. Cherub Choir sings 2 - 3 times per year (Sunday before Thanksgiving, Advent, and Mother’s Day). Cherub Choir meets on Sunday mornings from 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. in the nursery with Peggy Gutzke.

Alleluia Ringers

Alleluia Ringers is a volunteer bell choir with roughly 10 - 15 participants. Alleluia Ringers performs traditional Christian music played with handbells and hand chimes using a variety of techniques. Alleluia Ringers performs roughly once per month at services from mid-September through end of May. Alleluia Ringers rehearses on Sunday mornings from 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. in the Music Room and is directed by Annika Porter.

GET INVOLVED!

Please come join us! Whether you’re interested in Youth Choir, Cancel Choir or Alleluia Ringers (our hand bells group), please complete this form to give us a little more detail about your interests.

For Cherub Choir, please reach out directly to Peggy Gutzke.

Special Music Ministry Events

  • Our Christmas Concert features music from all of our musical groups as well as solo/duet performances by members of our congregation. Generally occurring on a Sunday evening in mid-December, our Christmas concert is a free family event and a highlight of the year. The concert is programmed by our entire Music Ministry Staff.

  • The Band performs a free concert that is open to the public. The concert consists of pop/rock, Top 40, jazz, soul, and other varieties of music performed by professional musicians. Weather permitting, this concert is held in Fishel Park behind the church or in our Sanctuary. The concert is programmed and led by Justin Kono.

  • Chancel Choir will occasionally put on a spring concert or a special music event (cantatas, requiem masses, etc.) that is open to the public. Special choral events are programmed by Justin Kono and Nik Kmiecik.

  • In conjunction with our Congregational Care Ministry, singers from the congregation go out to sing Christmas carols to our homebound members. This event usually takes places either the first or second Sunday in December and is open to anyone who wants to participate.