Music Ministries
First United Methodist Church offers a full range of music ministries...from children's choir to adult choirs for voice and for handbell players.
The Chancel Choir meets during the fall, winter, and spring at 7:00 p.m. in the music room in the southeast corner of fellowship hall. During the summer, they meet before worship on Sunday's at 10:15 a.m. Hope Helferich is currently director of the Chancel Choir and Celebration Ringers. Among former directors are Fritz Bramble, Mildred Auer, Ruth Hentz, Sarah Alice Burr-Lovitt, George Titsworth, Esther Rings, Judy Hughes Simmons, W. C. Lange, Jane Fritsche, Jean Anne Fritsche, Darryl Patton, Pete Zwall, Doug Talbott, Marge Marsh, Keith Welty, Kevin Monroe, Nancy Flowers, and David Kerwood.
The Children's Choir meets as part of the regular church school program on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m.
The Celebration Ringers adult handbell choir meets during the fall, winter, and spring months. Bell choirs began at First Church in the 1950's under the direction of Shirley Pittman. The current handbells have a range exceeding five octaves and the choir chimes, given in memory of Ralph W. Holem, have a range of three octaves.
Fred Wolfe served for 45 years as organist at the Moller organ that cost $20,000 when it was given in 1943. It was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Nuttle and Miss Edith Chesney. Our grand piano was a gift of Mrs. C. D. Wilson. Regular worship pianists are Marge Marsh and Susan Zieman.
