Monday's thought on Sunday's worship service

Thomas Canning was a composer. He wrote hymns and anthems for church worship as well as secular music and was a professor at West Virginia University. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and sung in our church choir. Frequently, he would write anthems for our church choir. It was always a thrill to be in the congregation when Dr. Canning's anthems would be sung by our wonderful church choir. Even as a teenager I enjoyed his music. Wesley Church was a wonderful church environment to be in. They brought in speakers from Harvard and Yale and Duke. They were on the cutting edge of the discussion on any number of topics. They were on the campus of the University and had many students attending. They had a Pastor whose primary job was to work with the college students. It was a creative and exciting environment.

Does it sound familiar? I think it does. I think that kind of church I was fortunate to grow up in is precisely the kind of church we have now at First Church. We have programs for people of all ages and there is excellence everywhere you look. Also, we have a member of our choir who is a major composer. Zion Park has written several anthems we have heard in the worship services on Sundays. Now he has written a Christmas cantata and we will get to hear it this coming Sunday in the 9:15 and 10:45 services.

When Zion's anthems are sung by our choir there is a particular "signature" that goes along with them. His music is deeply spiritual and lively and exciting. His music has a passionate reverence that is enlivening and wonderful.

I am sure you will enjoy the music next Sunday. Reverend Miller will conduct the service for us and it will feature Zion's anthem.

Meeting with the new member class this Sunday one of the people who attended said to me as he left, "This church could be called, 'The Church with no limits'.

This church makes me proud to be a United Methodist.

It's exciting to be part of it.

What do you think?

If you have thoughts about our church write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles