As we continue to celebrate 175 years of ministry in the Rochester community, join us for these thrilling events that celebrate and continue the rich tradition of music at Third Church, even as we continue to expand the range of our offerings in the other arts.

ThirdArts serves as the new umbrella under which we provide a variety of music and arts events to the congregation and the community.

Throughout human history, God’s people have been blessed with many and varied gifts. Our faith often finds its most powerful and profound expression through creative gifts which include art, music, drama and literature.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate God’s creative gifts, and offer our praise to God through this series of arts events! The wonderful variety of programs, and the substantial gifts and talents of our members, will help us expand and enlarge our praise beyond what words can express. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you.

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Friday, September 26 - Sunday, September 28

Click for more details

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Sunday, November 2 at 10:30 a.m. - Chancel Choir Special Music

Mass in Time of War
“Paukenmesse”
by Franz Josef Haydn

Sunday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. - A Concert for Peace

The Chancel Choir, soloists and orchestra will present this concert as an appropriate way to mark the extreme tensions in our world today, and to offer our prayers for peace. The program will feature Haydn’s powerful “Mass in Time of War.” The Mass, performed in the morning in the context of worship, and as part of the evening concert, was composed in response to Napoleon’s invasion of Austria.

In the evening, the choir will sing additional works by Cabena, Hampton, Mendelssohn and Paulus. Also on the program we will feature San Francisco area organist and composer Angela Kraft Cross performing the East Coast premiere of her own “Symphony of Peace,” composed in response to the events of September 11, 2001, and the ensuing escalation of violence in the world. A free-will offering will be received.

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Christmas Eve – Wednesday, 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 individuals and families. The Junior Choir, The Glorious Things, The Carol Choir, and the Junior High Bells will lead the Festival, as will many of Third Church's senior high youth.

8:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service of Holy Communion: The Chapel is the setting for this service of Holy Communion, with a meditation by John Wilkinson, and lessons and carols led by a small vocal ensemble.

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.

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Saturday, January 10 at 4:00 p.m. - The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival
Sunday, January 11 at 4:00 p.m.

After a several year hiatus, the Boar's Head Festival will return and again be the culmination of our celebration of Christmas and Epiphany. Dating back to 14th century England, this festival procession includes much pageantry, thrilling music by the choir, and much carol singing by choir and audience, accompanied by organ and instruments.

The two performances will each be followed by a reception hosted by the royal court, and full of goodies which include plenty of mince tarts, plum pudding, and a wassail bowl! It is an event to which we invite the entire Rochester community, so spread the word, and invite your friends and neighbors to join you for this beautiful and fun festival.

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Sunday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m. - Chancel Choir Special Music

J. S. Bach - Cantata #4
“Christ Lag in Todesbanden”

As our Lenten special music, the Chancel Choir, soloists and orchestra will present this wonderful Bach cantata, based on the Easter hymn “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Grasp.” This presentation will take place on Bach’s 319th birthday.

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Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. - The Mansfield University Concert Choir

This extraordinary group from Mansfield, Pennsylvania, will perform in our sanctuary as part of their annual spring concert tour. The group has performed and recorded internationally under the direction of Peggy Dettwiler, The program will include works by Bardos, Hassler, Jing Ling Tam, Moses Hogan, and portions of Bach’s “Mass in B minor.” The Mansfieldians, a highly select group of 12 singers, co-directed by Dr. Sheryl Monkelien, will also perform.

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Sunday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. -

“Once Upon A Parable”
by Allen Pote and Tom Long
A musical presented by the children of Third Church

Jesus was a storyteller - he was constantly teaching the crowds with tales designed to inform, amuse, puzzle, and challenge. Two thousand years later, the words of the parables are still fresh and enlightening. In this musical, a group of storytellers try to capture the humor and contemporary flavor of the parables, using them to retell the story of Jesus.

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Sunday, May 2 at 12:00 noon - Handbell Festival

The Handbell Choirs of Third Church will join together in an informal and entertaining concert of handbell music. This will be a time for the choirs to share what they have learned during the past year. Light refreshments will be served.

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Sunday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. - Choral Evensong & High Tea

As the choir prepares for its 2005 tour to serve as Choir-in-Residence at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, we will share in a service of evening prayer - or Evensong - patterned after the services sung daily in English cathedrals and collegiate churches. This reflective liturgy, full of music, scripture and prayer will be a fitting close to a full and diverse season of music and arts events at Third Church. A splendid tea, with all kinds of goodies will be served following.

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Music & Arts Staff

Peter DuBois, Director of Music/Organist
Christina Lenti, Associate Director of Music
Lucinda Meredith, Assistant Organist
Jeanne Fisher, Jr. High Bell Director