Oak Ridge Today

Service of Psalms on Apr. 2 at First United Methodist Church

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

Choir directors Seth O’Kegley (FUMC) and Anna Thomas (FPC), as well as organist Simon Hogg (SSEC) chat while composer John Purifoy plays piano. (Submitted photo)

 

Six choirs, with members from three states, will perform in the third and last Service of Psalms for the Lenten season, which will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The service will consist of reflections by local pastors and choral and instrumental performances of psalms selected for Lent that have been set to music by Knoxville composer John Purifoy, a press release said.

An offering collected during the service will be donated to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachia. ADFAC, an independent nonprofit agency located in Oak Ridge that is celebrating its 30th anniversary, serves the basic needs of primarily low-income residents in Anderson and surrounding Appalachian counties.

Running from Ash Wednesday to Easter, Lent is a season in the church year that is marked by an examination of one’s personal faith and spiritual journey.

Steve Boyce, cantor, will sing solo verses or passages to which the choir and congregation will respond. [Read more…]

First Presbyterian offers service of memory, hope Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rev. Sharon Youngs

Rev. Sharon Youngs

For those who have had a challenging year and need the comfort and peace that come from spiritual enrichment, special music, and candles, First Presbyterian Church offers its annual service of memory and hope.

The special service will be held on Wednesday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m., in the sanctuary of the church, located at the southeast corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive.

“The service is designed for all who desire a quiet, reflective worship experience during this bustling holiday season, particularly those for whom this time of year is difficult, for whatever reason,” said the Reverend Sharon Youngs, church pastor. [Read more…]

Combined choirs to sing ‘Sunrise Mass’ Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anna Thomas and Andrew Duncan

Anna Thomas, FPC music director, will conduct the first half of the concert, and Andrew Duncan, FUMC music director, will conduct the four-movement “Sunrise Mass.” (Submitted photo)

The combined choirs of First Presbyterian and First United Methodist churches will sing the “Sunrise Mass” by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo during a concert on Sunday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church.

String players from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and FUMC’s Sandi Henry on piano will accompany the choirs. The 32-minute symphony mass will be performed in the second half of the concert.

The first half of the concert will include choral music by various composers, including “Ave Verum Corpus” by W.A. Mozart, Dan Forrest’s setting of John Wesley’s “Covenant Prayer,” and Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of Isaac Watts’ version of Psalm 23, as well as works by Kevin Siegfried, Philip R. Dietterich, and Stephen Paulus. [Read more…]

Music directors have free concert Sunday at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary

Local church music directors will have a chance to step outside their responsibilities of coordinating music for Sunday worship and other programs to perform in the Third Annual Music Directors Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, pictured above.

Submitted

Local church music directors will have a chance to step outside their responsibilities of coordinating music for Sunday worship and other programs to perform in the Third Annual Music Directors Concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. There is no cost to attend.

Lining up to share their musical talent with the community will be ORUUC Music Director Wendel Werner; Andrew Duncan and Jeff Kile from First Methodist in Oak Ridge; Rachel Little from Erin Presbyterian in Knoxville; Sandy Wells, who recently led the Messiah Sing-Along at ORUUC; Alan Eleazer from Maryville Methodist; and Anna Thomas from First Presbyterian in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]