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UMC Bala's Music Ministry |
The music program at The United Methodist Church of Bala-Cynwyd unites gifted volunteer and professional musicians who glorify God through music while assisting God’s people in praise. It is our endeavor to provide music that strengthens the Ministry of the Word as shaped by the New Revised Common Lectionary and structured by the United Methodist Hymnal and Book of Worship. Music at Bala-Cynwyd also supports our sacramental life and enables us to richly celebrate the Sundays and seasons of the church year. It is part of our mission to affirm our congregation’s cultural diversity while enhancing our liturgical unity by including a vast representation of musical periods and styles. Music representing over five centuries of choral art helps us to continually invigorate the historic Western rite which we claim as United Methodists. Diversity of materials helps us celebrate many spiritual inspirations of the past and present while we remain one congregation united as the Body of Christ in a common liturgy. As we endeavor to “give of our best to the Master” through music, we seek to build up the people of God with repertoire that is artistically broad and profound, grounded in the scriptures appointed for the day and in the living tradition of the Church. “You shall have as song ...and gladness of heart, as when one goes forth
with the
melody of the pipe, to come into the mountain of the Lord!”
Our choir sings at each service from September to June, aided by our professional singers who serve as choral section leaders, soloists, ensemble singers and cantors for liturgical music. Our soloists individually lead our music during the summer season, providing anthems and leading congrega-tional singing. Our Handbell Choir participates in one service each month, providing a different sound of praise while focusing on the Word or the celebration of the day. Thanks to our Memorial Endowment for Music, we are able to include noted instrumentalists of the area for special services, including Christmas, Lenten Vespers, Easter, Good Shepherd, Ascension Festival, Pentecost, Holy Trinity, Reformation Festival and Christ the King.
Our program is directed by Cecilia Beatty, a member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), she has over twenty years of experience accompanying several area music groups including the Philadelphia Oratorio Choir, under the direction of Dr. Earl Ness, and the Mastersingers, under the direction of Robert Reilley.An active choral composer, she often supplements our music with original psalm and hymn settings, anthems and large works as a way to claim our holy texts. Our choir rehearses in the Hawkins Room on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Our Handbell Choir rehearses in the church after worship on Sundays at 12: 15 p.m. All members of the church and all friends interested in participating in the music program are warmly welcome to meet with the choir director.
Isaiah 30:29