Summer worship hours

From May 31 through September 6, First Presbyterian will be on its summer worship schedule: one service at 9:30 AM only. While the Chancel Choir and Liberty Bells are on hiatus over the summer, there will be special music offered by a vocal or instrumental soloist each week. If you are interested in offering your musical talents at one of our summer services, Director of Music Kevin Dill would be delighted to hear from you!

May music list

Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)

May 3 – 5th Sunday of Easter
Chancel Choir
Introit: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem (Lowell Mason, 1792-1872)
Canticle: Benedictus Es Domine (Austin Lovelace, 1919-2010)

May 10 – 6th Sunday of Easter
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Prelude in C minor (Howard Starks, b.1928)
Offertory: Ribaltimento (Kathleen Wissinger, b.1957)

May 17 – 7th Sunday of Easter
Juanita Shutsa, flute
Offertory: Mélodie (Arthur Foote, 1853-1937)

May 24 – The Day of Pentecost
Liberty Bells
Offertory: With Joyful Hearts (Barbara Kinyon, b.1929)

April music list

Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)

Apr. 2 – Maundy Thursday Communion Service (7:30 PM)
Chancel Choir; Juanita Shutsa, flute
Introit: Agnus Dei, from New Plainsong (David Hurd, b.1950)
Offertory Anthem: Saw Ye My Savior? (Early American, arr. David Johnson)
Communion Interlude: Versets in G minor (Domenico Zipoli, 1688-1726)

Apr. 5 – Easter Sunday (9:00 & 11:00 AM)
French Creek Brass Quintet & Chancel Choir
Preservice Music: Prelude, Op. 117 No. 8 (Claude Debussy, 1862-1918)
Introit: Easter Anthem (William Billings, 1746-1800)
Offertory Interlude: Easter Hymn Medley (arr. Arthur Frackenpohl, b.1924)
Postlude: Oh! Had I Jubal’s Lyre (G.F. Handel, 1685-1759, arr. David Marlatt)

Apr. 12 – 2nd Sunday of Easter
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Celebration in F (Michael Keller, b. 1958)
Offertory Interlude: Jubilant Fanfare (Kevin McChesney, b.1963)

Apr. 19 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Chancel Choir
Introit: O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord (Hal Hopson, b.1933)
Anthem: Followers of the Lamb (19th c. Shaker tune, arr. Kevin Dill)

Apr. 26 – 4th Sunday of Easter
Chancel Choir
Introit: Glorious Jesus (William Billings, 1746-1800)
Anthem: Awake, Thou Wintry Earth, from Cantata #129 (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)

March music list

Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)

Mar. 1 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Liberty Bells & Chancel Choir
Prelude: Prayer (Arnold Sherman, b.1948)
Anthem: Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord (John Bishop, 1665-1737)

Mar. 8 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Chancel Choir
Introit: Out of the Night, Watching Early for Thee (Russian Orthodox Chant)
Anthem: Wilt Not Thou Turn Again, O Lord (Philip Dietterich, b.1931)

Mar. 15 – 4th Sunday in Lent
Juanita Shutsa, flute
Prelude: Ego Sum Pastor Bonus (Frederick Karam, 1926-1978)
Offertory: Minuet, from Suite in B minor (J.S. Bach, 1685-1750)

Mar. 22 – 5th Sunday in Lent
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Sarabande, from Suite XI (G.F. Handel, 1685-1759, arr. Frances Callahan)
Offertory: Meditation (Lew Gillis, 1927-1989)

Mar. 29 – Palm Sunday
Chancel Choir
Introit: Let All the Gates Be Opened Wide (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897, arr. Hal Hopson)
Anthem: Acclamation for Palm Sunday (Kevin Dill, 2014)

Upcoming Concert: Dialogues and Diversions

First Presbyterian Church of Meadville presents
Dialogues and Diversions: Music Serious and Not-So-Serious
Saturday, February 28, 7:00 PM

Juanita Shutsa flute
Sonya Eagles-Dill soprano
Jennifer Dearden trumpet
James Niblock narrator
Kevin Dill accompanist

featuring music by Buxtehude, Strauss, Bach, Mancini, Guilmant, and Plog

free admission

January-February music list

Music list for choral services (11:00 AM unless otherwise noted)

Jan. 18 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem (Lowell Mason, 1792-1872)
Anthem: As Longs the Deer for Cooling Streams (Michael McCabe, b.1941)

Jan. 25 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Liberty Bells & Chancel Choir
Prelude: Spiritual (Douglas Wagner, b.1953)
Anthem: Bound for the Promised Land (Southern Harmony, 1835, arr. K. Dill)

Feb. 1 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Chancel Choir
Introit: O Worship the Lord (Hal Hopson, b.1933)
Anthem: How Beautiful Upon the Mountains (John Stainer, 1840-1901)

Feb. 8 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany
Liberty Bells
Prelude: Reflection (Kevin Dill, 2014)
Offertory: Carillon (Kevin Dill, 2014)

Feb. 15 – The Transfiguration of the Lord
Chancel Choir
Introit: Rejoice in the Lord (John Bishop, 1665-1737)
Canticle: Benedictus Es, Domine (Austin Lovelace, 1919-2010)

Feb. 22 – 1st Sunday in Lent
Saint Hildegard Choir
Introit: Eternal Lord of Love (Kevin Dill, 2015)
Anthem: Call To Remembrance, O Lord (Richard Farrant, c.1525-1581)
Communion: Lent Prose (plainsong, mode V)

Christmas Eve video

On Christmas Eve, the choristers of Trinity Episcopal Church in Southport, Connecticut sang Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, Kevin Dill's 2010 setting of an anonymous 18th century carol from New England. Click here to see a video of the service (the carol begins shortly after the 4:00 mark). Dr. Robert Kwan, Trinity's Organist and Choirmaster, is the organ accompanist.