First United Methodist Church

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Music plays an outstanding role in outreach and ministry at First United Methodist Church (FUMC). Sunday worship services include concert-quality anthems, organ solos, hymns, hand bells, and occasional special groups or soloists. One of Santa Barbara's finest organists playing one of Santa Barbara's finest organs leads the worship experience. The congregation is inspired every Sunday as a professional-caliber choir offers classics through contemporary pieces year-round. It is our belief that music is an essential part of the worship experience, as exemplified by the following statements about music and worship, contributed by members of the Worship and Music Committee, the Music Staff, and the Pastors at FUMC:

Though music itself should not be worshipped, music is worship.
Music is an expression of faith and a means of teaching. United Methodist hymns are doctrinal.
Music is inspirational, putting us in touch with the divine.
Music furthers the mission of the church.
Music is a means of reaching beyond our immediate faith community, into the community at large.
Music adorns the Word.
Music is a spiritual language to be used to the glory of God whether we play or listen.
Music in worship is something we do to honor God: artistic creation and recreation as an act of worship.

The Music Ministry at FUMC has its most tangible expression in the Chancel Choir, the Hand Bell Choirs, and the organ. Children's participation and experience of music as a means of worship is twofold: first, in the use of music in the Sunday School curriculum and second, in their participation in Christmas and Easter Pageants. Finally, as a gift to the community, the church sponsors an annual Lenten Organ Recital Series, in which accomplished organists from the Santa Barbara area and beyond give short noon-time concerts, on Wednesdays, in the weeks leading up to Easter.

The Chancel Choir is comprised of fine singers from the Santa Barbara area who volunteer their time to enhance the worship experience for the congregation. The choir has appeared as part of the Santa Barbara Church Choir Festival, the 9/11 tribute concert with the Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Goleta Memorial Service for the Postal Service Victims in Spring 2006. The choir performs two anthems and service music for all regular services, and gives annual performances of major works with orchestra. Past performances have included Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Handel's "Messiah" and "Utrecht Te Deum," Bach's "Magnificat" and "Cantata 21," and Mozart's "Coronation Mass." The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday mornings at 8:15 a.m..

There are two hand bell choirs in the music program at FUMC, Las Campanas and the Jubilate Ringers. Both are ecumenical choirs whose members come from FUMC as well as additional congregations in Santa Barbara. We ring five octaves of Whitechapel hand bells with the addition of three octaves of Malmark hand chimes.

Las Campanas is a learning hand bell choir. It is always open to people who wish to give ringing a try. Jubilate Ringers is an experienced hand bell choir. This group participates in worship on a regular basis, providing up-lifting works ranging from a simple melody to complicated ensemble ringing. Las Campanas rehearses from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. The Jubilate Ringers rehearse from 5;30-7:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

The organ at FUMC is considered a premiere instrument in the city of Santa Barbara. A three-manual Artcraft pipe organ was installed during the 1927 construction of the present sanctuary, and remained in service until 1961 when the church purchased a three-manual Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ of 31 ranks. In 1993, a 61-pipe Trompett-en-chamade was added as a memorial gift, installed above the altar, and in 1999 the Schantz Organ Company installed a new console, which features multiple memory systems. Finally, in 2003, Schantz brought the organ to gorgeous tonal completion with the addition of 20 ranks of pipes and 3 digital ranks of 32' pitch. The instrument stands today at 52 pipe ranks plus 3 digital ranks, and is the third largest pipe organ in Santa Barbara.

Leslie Hogan, Chair, Worship and Music Committee