Herbert's words, found in our hymnal, also set the stage for our Music and Arts programming at Third Church for the coming year.

Throughout human history, God's people have been blessed with many and varied gifts.

Friday, October 13 at 6:30 p.m. – Potluck Dinner and Hymn-sing

Join your friends or bring your family for a wonderful evening of food, fellowship – and SINGING! Celebrate the rich diversity of music in our Presbyterian Hymnal, as Chris Lenti, Associate Director of Music, leads us on this journey – and have a chance to call out some of your favorites, too. These are popular events at Third, so watch upcoming issues of the bulletin and Messenger for full details about reserving your spot!

Sunday, October 22 at 3:00 p.m. – Joint Choir Concert at Asbury First United Methodist Church

The Chancel Choir of Third Church will join with choirs from Asbury First United Methodist Church and Christ Church (downtown) in a concert in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the public radio program With Heart and Voice. The concert will be held at Asbury, 1040 East Avenue, and will feature music for combined choirs, organ and brass, with congregational singing included as well.

Friday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m. – Organ Recital

by Peter DuBois, Third Church Director of Music/Organist. Invite your friends to join you for this enjoyable evening of organ music featuring the 4-manual Austin organ in our sanctuary. The program, which is free and open to the public, will include works by J. S. Bach, César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Maurice Duruflé and others.

Sunday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. – Ecumenical Evening Prayer

The Third Church Junior Choir will be joined by children's choirs from five other area churches in presenting this beautiful service in our Sanctuary. It consists of traditional evening prayers and hymns, and several anthems sung jointly by the choirs. Plan to be present for this unique and special event.

Sunday, December 17 at 10:30 a.m. – Chancel Choir presentation of GLORIA by Antonio Vivaldi

during our morning worship service. The choir and soloists will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra, all under the direction of Peter DuBois. This sparkling Baroque masterpiece will help us prepare for the glorious celebration of our Savior's birth.

Christmas Eve – Sunday, December 24

4:30 p.m. – Festival of the Nativity: This traditional candlelight service, incorporating narration, carols, and tableaux illustrating the Nativity will be our early Christmas Eve service for families of all kinds. The Junior Choir, The Glorious Things, The Carol Choir, and the Junior High Bells will participate, as will many of Third Church's senior high youth.

 

11:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols: Once in Royal David's City, led by children, and joined by choir and congregation, opens this beautiful candlelight service which portrays in scripture and music the wondrous story of our Savior's birth. The Chancel Choir provides musical leadership for the service, which includes much congregational singing, as well.

Sunday, February 11 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Third Church Youth present GODSPELL

The timeless and always-entertaining Broadway musical based on the life and teachings of Jesus as found in the gospel of St. Matthew. You will not want to miss this fun and energetic presentation, so plan on inviting your friends, neighbors and co-workers to attend with you!

Sunday, April 8 at 10:30 a.m. – Chancel Choir presentation of LUX AETERNA by Morten Lauridsen

This special Lenten musical presentation will mark the Rochester-area premiere of this gorgeous and profound new work, written in 1998, by American composer Morten Lauridsen, composer in residence for the Los Angeles Masterworks Chorale. The piece, accompanied by a 30 piece orchestra, is comprised of movements based on traditional liturgical Latin texts, all of which deal with various aspects of Light. It is our hope that you will find this to be an unusual and meaningful part of the Lenten season.

Beginning April 1, through April 30 – An Exhibition of Children's Art

This national exhibition is part of the Presbyterian Church USA's celebration of the Year of the Child, and will include 45 framed works of art on biblical and spiritual themes created by children of all ages from throughout the denomination. We are fortunate to be one of the sites chosen to host this exhibit during the year. The art will be displayed in public areas throughout the Parish House. Family devotional guides and exhibition catalogues will be available during the exhibit.

Sunday, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. – Music Recognition Sunday

This service is the annual celebration and recognition of the many persons who participate in the music ministry of Third Church, and serves as the culmination of the year's program for children's youth, and handbell choirs. Many of the musical groups will participate as we celebrate the talent and dedication of so many persons in our congregation sharing their gifts to the glory of God.

Throughout the year…

 

New Chancel Choir CD - Beginning in late October, the Chancel Choir will release its second compact disc recording for sale, Calm on the Listening Ear of Night: Music for Advent and Christmas. This exciting project, begun last year, brings to disc many of the favorite seasonal anthems and carols from the choir's repertoire, and introduces several new favorites as well! Sales of the CD will help support the choir's tour to Great Britain in 2001. You will want to purchase many copies of this wonderful CD for friends and family – AND for yourself, too!

 

Junior Choir recording project - Throughout the year, the Junior Choir will be studying and learning many of the great hymns of the faith. In the spring, they will record a CD of many of these hymns to share with the congregation – and with families of newly-baptized infants in the future!