Music at MLUMC

Music plays an important part in the life of the church and its people.  From the age of 4 children are invited to become members of a singing choir, the Happy Songsters. All children rehearse on Terrific Tuesday evenings, beginning with a supper for families at 6 p.m..  From 6:30-7:30 the children enjoy singing, playing handchimes and playing handbells while parents attend classes.  The music program also includes choirs for teens and adults, all under the outstanding leadership of organist and director Dr. Gretchen Franz, a graduate of Penn State University, the School of Sacred Music, Union Theological Seminary, NYC, and West Virginia University.

Vocal Music

• Happy Songsters - children age 4 through grade 2, rehearsing Tuesday evenings
• Covenant Choir – children grades 3-5, rehearsing Tuesday evenings                                   
• Asbury Choir – grades 6-12, rehearses Tuesdays 5:15 to 6 p.m.
• Chancel Choir – adults, rehearses Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m.; sings for the 10:45 a.m. service and presents concerts 

Handbells              

The church has a wonderful handbell program led by Nancy Lutz, Director of Handbells since 1995.  Mrs. Lutz has studied handbells extensively at events sponsored by the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR), at the Westminster Choir College and at Duquesne University.  She has been active leader nationally in AGEHR since 1999 and currently serves on the National AGEHR Board of Directors as the appointed Board Secretary.

The beginning chime choir and the elementary handbell choir meet on Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. as part of MLUMC's program for families, “Terrific Tuesdays.”

• The Glory Bells (teen handbell team) meets on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.; participates in worship, concerts in December and the spring.
• The Promise Bells (beginning to intermediate handbell team) rehearses Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.. Plays regularly in church, participates in concerts at the church in December and in the spring, and attends a day-long festival each spring
• The Chapel Bells (advanced adult handbell team) rehearses Mondays from 7 to 8:30 or 9 p.m.. Participates regularly in worship, church concerts, festivals.  The Chapel Bells and have been featured guest artists at concerts in the Pittsburgh area.