Epworth UMC
Music Ministry

Epworth UMC's Music Minstry is a great source of inspiration and enjoyment for all at Epworth, those who participate as singers and musicians and those who participate as listeners.  David Kirven is the music director for Epworth.

Chancel Choir

• Wednesday: 7:30 ­ 9:30 p.m.
• Ages: Adult
• Room 205

Chancel Choir is a choir made up of adults and is responsible for most of the music service work at the 10:00AM worship service. Rehearsals are every Wednesday, and run from 7:30 PM--9:00 PM in the Choir Room. This choir also offers two major works per year at the worship service--one during Advent and one during Lent.

ETC (Epworth Teen Choir)

• Ages: Teen
• Sunday Rehearsals at 11:30 a.m.
• Room 205

  Epworth Teen Choir is for young singers in middle school and high school. Rehearsals after church at 11:30 AM in Room 205. This choir will sing about one time per month for worship service.

Carol Choir

• Ages: 4^th ­ 6^th Grade
• Sunday Rehearsals at 11:30 a.m.
• Room 204

  Carol Choir is for young singers in grades 4--6. They sing about one worship service per month and their rehearsals are weekly.

Melody Choir

• Ages: 1^st ­ 3^rd Grades
• Sunday Rehearsals at 11:30 a.m.
• Room 201

Melody Choir is for children in grades 1--3 and they sing about one time per month for worship service.

Cherub Choir

• Ages: 4 and 5 year olds, kindergartners
• Sunday Rehearsals at 11:30 a.m.
• Rehearsals in the Chapel

Cherub Choir is made up of 4 and 5 year old children and they sing about one time per month for worship service.

Young Ringers

• Ages: 5^th ­ 12^th Grades
• Room 205
• Rehearsals Sundays at 12:15 p.m.

Young Ringers is a handbell group made up of middle and high schoolers. Some skill in music reading is preferred.

Epworth Ringers

• Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
• Ages: Adults
• Room 205

Epworth Ringers is a handbell group made up of adults. They ring about one worship service per month and rehearse on Monday evenings in the Choir Room (205). Some skill in music reading is preferred.

The Epworth Handbells

The Mrs. Ruth Ellen Wilmot family donated a two octave (25) set of Schulmerich Handbells. Since then, handbells have been a regular part of the Music Ministry here at Epworth. In the 1970's, under Ed Owens, a third octave of handbells were purchased. In 1983, under Andrew Dobos, a fourth octave set was also purchased. Now, in the twenty-first century, gradually, and through the kind donations and memorials of many members, Epworth will have completed the full five octaves. Most of the music written today for handbells requires five octaves. The smallest handbell weighs about 6 ounces, while the largest handbell weighs about 8 pounds. The latter is a lot of weight to be swinging in fractions of seconds! With the support of the congregation and Epworth's fine ringers, we ring exultantly to the glory of God!

The Epworth Pipe Organ

The Moller Pipe Organ was purchased in 1964 by the Lawson King family. The organ has a console with two keyboards and a pedalboard. There are 21 ranks (61 pipes in a rank) distributed on both sides of the chancel area in the church. The organ was maintained, serviced and tuned on a regular basis until the Moller company went out of business. The Lewis & Hitchcock Organ Company now has a contract to tune and service the organ and does so on a very regular time schedule. In 1992, a major maintenance was performed on the pipe organ; that is, worn parts were replaced, other parts were releathered, a new rank of pipes added (a soft string sound), the chimes were replaced and a zymbelstern (tinkling bells) installed. Dr. and Mrs. James Jacobs donated the funds for this servicing and upgrading. The pipe organ is in excellent condition and should last for another 30 years with regular servicing. The current value of the pipe organ is over five times the original cost. A wonderful example of the Lord's returning much on the original investment.