Your Gifts Help Us Grow!

We realize it at times and are completely unaware of it at others, but music touches our daily lives in ways most of us rarely stop to consider.  There is music on our radios, and CD players; it is inseparably interwoven in television & movies; it bombards us as we shop, watch ball games, and play video games; and it now  annoys us with constant cell phone ringing in public places.

Worship seems to be one place where we become very aware of how much music means to us as God's creation.  It is one of the most meaningful ways we have of communicating and connecting with the mystery and majesty that is the Creator.

This is where you can help:
We work to provide a variety of musical styles in worship and try to acquire new material to add to our repertoire that extends yet another dimension in our expression of Christian worship. One stumbling block to this quest is that new music does have a rather steep price.  A new piece for the Chancel Choir will cost anywhere from $110.00 to $200.00 and a cantata for Christmas or Easter will run $500.00 easily.  Music for Jubilee Ringers, our Children's Choir and Revelation will run from $40.00 to $70.00 per number. We have small budget for purchasing about 14 pieces each year between all the ensembles if we purchase the smaller, less expensive numbers.  The ensembles will sing and play at least 80 to 85 pieces per year - meaning we repeat lots of music.  Making a donation to pay for a piece of music helps us continue acquiring quality literature for our ensembles.

Beyond the purchase of sheet music, there are tremendous expenses in maintaining and growing the music ministry at FUMC.  We love to have guest instrumentalists at worship but they are talented, in demand, and not often free.  We are planning tours and retreats for different ensembles so they may grow as Christians and help others as well.  Instruments are costly to purchase and need routine maintenance.  We would love to begin bringing in outside performers to augment our strong music program and help all members of the church to experience new and wonderful avenues to praise God through the arts.  Then there are always the unforeseen events that need a financial boost.

Here is another way we can help you:
Making a donation not only helps the musicians and the church, it is a terrific way to recognize someone important in your life. Whether it be in honor of someone or in memory, we will place labels on music or instruments you purchase.  We will make note of the gift of sheet music in the worship folder every time it is sung or played in worship.

Let us help you recognize someone special as you help us in the quest for more ways to musically express the wonder's of God and being part of God's creation.

Contact Ed Davis at eddmusic@fumcstw.org for more information or to set up a donation.