The Music and Worship Arts Ministry at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Gainesville, Florida, is a central pillar of the church's identity, known for its "traditional style with a creative twist." Located in downtown Gainesville, the ministry emphasizes inclusivity, spiritual healing, and a wide-ranging repertoire that spans from classical masters like Mozart and Handel to modern blues, jazz, and contemporary anthems.
Chancel Choir
The cornerstone of the traditional 10:30 a.m. service, this choir includes adults and youth. They perform diverse choral works and lead the congregation in hymns. They are known for presenting major works, such as the 2023 premiere of REQUIEM by Heather Sorenson and other community singing opportunities.
Rehearsals are August through June on Wednesday evenings beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
REQUIEM Premiere
April 23, 2023
April 23, 2023
Celebration Ringers
An adult five-octave bell choir that rings challenging music once a month in the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This is a "Copper" Group, if you know the lingo.
Rehearsals are Thursday evenings at 6:15 p.m. in the handbell rehearsal room, 2nd floor of Epworth Hall.
Members of Celebration Ringers
attending the 2024 Florida State Handbell Festival
attending the 2024 Florida State Handbell Festival
Fellowship of the Ringers
A group tailored for beginners and those with limited or no experience. The Fellowship will meet again beginning April 23 for a performance on June 7. This is a "Tin" group if you know the lingo.
Rehearsals are Thursday from 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. in the handbell rehearsal room, 2nd floor of Epworth Hall.
Fall 2025
Fellowship of the Ringers
Fellowship of the Ringers
Drama Ministry
Our newest ministry created to produce quality productions at the church and share our knowledge and resources with the community. This year, we're presenting a Church-wide Variety Show and Spaghetti Dinner on August 15, 2026.
Click the images below to listen to our performances of "SAM SHOVEL: PRIVATE EYE"
Instrumental Ensemble
This ensemble plays a wide variety of music including hymns, arrangements, and original compositions. They also provide colorful accompaniment to anthems sung by the Chancel Choir. Rehearsals are typically scheduled for everyone's convenience. All with playing experience are welcome.
Children and Youth
Our children and youth sing, play, or participate in worship on a regular basis. Since 2018, the music and worship arts ministry has performed "Moses and the Freedom Fanatics" by Hal Hopson and "A Technicolor Promise" by Allen Pote. Children, Youth and Adults all participate together in the production. On May 31, we will perform Allen Pote's, "The Tale of Three Trees."
Carnegie Hall, Nov 2023
REQUIEM
2023 was a special year of music at First UMC. We commissioned and premiered REQUIEM by Heather Sorenson. It was an amazing journey coming out of the 2020 pandemic and continues to effect us today. REQUIEM was commissioned to help heal our world with hope and the light of Christ. REQUIEM premiered in Carnegie Hall in November 2023 and has since been performed hundreds of times across the globe.
REMEMBER HOPE
A concert sponsored by First UMC‐Gainesville, Florida celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Alachua County through our shared history of Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, LGBTQ+, Veterans, and all those who struggle for equality in North Central Florida.
CLICK HERE to watch the concert.GALLERY
OUR ORGANs
Sanctuary Organ
When our beautiful Sanctuary was completed in 1942, the congregation was greeted by the sound of a new 3 manual Moller organ with 1,427 pipes and 21 ranks. In the many years that followed, the organ provided music that helped us worship, morn, celebrate, and minister in new ways to the community. In 1979, the decision was made to expand the organ to 1,960 pipes with 35 ranks. This also included the removal of a Masonite wall in front of the organ chamber and the addition of the present screen.
After a series of tropical storms that hit Gainesville in 2004 flooded the church-basement blower room, it became obvious a major rebuilding was needed. Much of the organ components and wiring from the original 1941 installation had deteriorated over the years, although many of the original pipes were in good condition. In the Spring of 2005, an organ committee was appointed and decided to move forward with Berghaus Organ Company of Chicago. The committee understood the bond between this church and our current instrument, and to restore this instrument if possible along with considering future expansion and the inclusion of space on the console for an antiphonal extension.. In August 2006, the organ was removed and was reinstalled from September through November 2007. This expansion achieved the dreams of our congregation and included 2,241 pipes and 39 ranks. Some of the newest pipes are displayed in the façade you see today.
In 2019, members of the congregation came forward to fund the antiphonal expansion and then the pandemic happened, delaying the project, and causing all sorts of supply chain headaches. In November 2020, a contract was signed with William Longmore and Associates to build and install the Antiphonal Division. In December 2021, the pipes were delivered, installation began, and the expansion project was completed in the Spring of 2022, adding 427 pipes and 3 ranks to the organ for a total of 2,668 pipes and 42 ranks.
After a series of tropical storms that hit Gainesville in 2004 flooded the church-basement blower room, it became obvious a major rebuilding was needed. Much of the organ components and wiring from the original 1941 installation had deteriorated over the years, although many of the original pipes were in good condition. In the Spring of 2005, an organ committee was appointed and decided to move forward with Berghaus Organ Company of Chicago. The committee understood the bond between this church and our current instrument, and to restore this instrument if possible along with considering future expansion and the inclusion of space on the console for an antiphonal extension.. In August 2006, the organ was removed and was reinstalled from September through November 2007. This expansion achieved the dreams of our congregation and included 2,241 pipes and 39 ranks. Some of the newest pipes are displayed in the façade you see today.
In 2019, members of the congregation came forward to fund the antiphonal expansion and then the pandemic happened, delaying the project, and causing all sorts of supply chain headaches. In November 2020, a contract was signed with William Longmore and Associates to build and install the Antiphonal Division. In December 2021, the pipes were delivered, installation began, and the expansion project was completed in the Spring of 2022, adding 427 pipes and 3 ranks to the organ for a total of 2,668 pipes and 42 ranks.
Chapel Organ
Our chapel contains a Moller-Artiste Opus 10112 organ originally built in 1965 for All Saints Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg. This 2-manual, 3-rank instrument was installed and dedicated in our chapel in 1988 as a gift of Bess Thompson and her family, in memory of Lannie Thompson. The stops on the organ encompass 3 ranks of pipes: Diapason, Gedeckt, and Viola. The 16' Bourdon, Quint, Nazard, and Flautino are all extensions of the Gedeckt. The Fifteenth and Twelfth are extensions of the Viola.