Music, Drama &

Arts Ministries at

The United Church of Fayetteville

An Invitation…

We invite you to join in sharing your faith through music and other creative arts.   Whether you find inspiration in hymns and songs, choral masterworks, spirituals, or contemporary music, we hope you will be inspired by music and the arts in worship at United Church.  The arts build up our community, nurture us in the faith, and help us witness what we believe.   Music and the arts that complement the day’s message add to the power of the spiritual experience of worship.  God’s gifts of music and the arts offer us times to refresh and recreate heart, mind and soul.  We look forward to welcoming you, your friends and family to the worship life of United Church. 

Sunday School Choirs

We encourage all children to participate in a choir at the beginning of Sunday School. Music is a fun and creative way for children to express themselves and learn about their faith. The choirs foster friendship and a sense of acceptance into the larger “Family of God.”  Children learn to be leaders in worship as they sing or play chimes in Sunday services.

Cherub Choir

This first opportunity to participate in a choir is filled with fun musical experiences. The children sing and use rhythm instruments as they learn Bible stories and offer their gifts in worship. They sing carols (Christmas and Valentines Day) to homebound members. Pre-K through Grade 2; Sundays from 9:00 to 9:25 AM.

Children's/Chimes Choir

Children in grades 3 - 7 meet Sundays from 9:00 to 9:25 AM. in Room 10, directed by Jim Spencer. They discover the joy of praising God together in song and sharing their gifts in worship. The Choir often joins in musicals such as “Moses and the Freedom Fanatics” and Christmas pageants such as “Why the Chimes Rang.”  The choir uses our 3 octave set of Suzuki Tone Chimes to play hymns and carols. Choir rehearsals are followed by Gathering Worship in Room 10. Children receive training and take turns serving as readers, ushers and acolytes in worship.

Youth Handbells & Youth Choir

Youth (8th-12th graders) work as a team to create expressive handbell music for worship. They present programs in the community, including the December “Brass and Bells” Concert, concerts at nursing homes and retirement communities, and the all-church Variety Show which raises funds for the youth mission trip.  The Youth Choir sings for Youth Sunday, Christmas Eve, Seekers’ Confirmation, Graduation Sunday. 

Sundays, 9:00 - 9:30 AM.

Youth also serve as worship leaders: liturgists, presenting Word to the Children, ushers, participating in dramatic productions and liturgical dance, serving as soloists, in instrumental ensembles, and some have even preached.

Joyful Sign Choir  

Under the direction of Barbara Morison, youth and adult members use American Sign Language to interpret hymns and anthems for worship.  The uplifting ministry of this choir is also shared in community services such as the F-M St. Nicholas Festival.  Their ministry of “making a joyful sign to the Lord” gives our worship another spiritual dimension, while providing a ministry to the hearing impaired. Rehearsals: Wed., 7:15 PM, Beard Lounge.

United Church Choir

Under the direction of Hugh Jones, singers enjoy a  variety of music, from  traditional classics to contemporary  styles. The Choir provides inspiring musical leadership for Sunday worship, and for Christmas Eve, Holy Week, and Easter services.  Typically, twice a year they present a Choral Service featuring a cantata, hymn festival, or lessons and carols service, and are often joined by instrumentalists at Christmas and Easter.  Choir members also participate in multi-generational musicals.  High school singers and seasonal members are always welcome! Rehearsals: Thursdays 7:30 to 9:00 PM.

United Church Ringers

Members use our four-octave memorial set of Schulmerich Handbells and play in worship, community programs, and the December “Brass & Bells” concert.  Their repertoire includes hymns, carols, classics and new compositions.  Rehearsals: Thursday, 6:45 - 7:30 PM., Hugh Jones, director.

Worship at United Church

Worship is the central unifying act of our church family on Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM (9:30 AM during the summer).  Worship services are spiritually nurturing and seek to transform our daily lives as followers of Jesus. Creative use of music and the arts give full expression to our freedom in Christ.  We continue to explore alternative styles of worship such as outdoor worship in the park, Taizé services, drama and liturgies from the Iona Community of Scotland, and contemporary worship styles.  The Worship & Spiritual Life Committee encourages participation in worship by all ages, develops programs for worship education and spiritual renewal, and assists in planning worship.

Congregational Hymn Singing

As Christians, we have a unique heritage of singing.   Hymns help shape our faith and our Hymnal - A Worship Book gives us a rich diversity of hymns, traditional, contemporary and international.  We often gather for “Hymn-Sings” at worship.

Our Historic Pipe Organ 

The use of a pipe organ provides strong leadership for congregational singing and inspiring music in worship. Our historic Johnson pipe organ (originally tracker action), has three manuals and 27 ranks.  It was built by William A. Johnson and his son of Westfield, MA, in 1871 in a rear balcony and later moved to a front chamber in 1885.  It was rebuilt by Chester A. Raymond (Princeton, NJ) and moved from the front of the sanctuary to the rear balcony in 1959. The organ console was replaced in 1989; the Great division was repositioned by Kerner & Merchant Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. in 1994, and was renovated in 2004.  Contributions to the Organ Fund may be made at any time to help preserve this vital instrument.

Instrumental Ensembles 

Brass, string, woodwind, Dixieland and jazz ensembles, harp and hammered dulcimer players have participated in worship. United Church’s Orchestra involves children and youth for holidays or the variety show. 

Drama Ministry & UC Talent Co.

Singers, actors, dancers, instrumentalists, and theater tech people of all ages join together to bring musicals and dramas to worship on the stage in Fellowship Hall or the sanctuary. This ad hoc group has inspired and delighted the congregation with musicals such as “Celebrate the Vision,” “Lost and Found,” Bread for the World’s “Lazarus,” the Broadway musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”  

Steeple Series Concerts & Recitals

We welcome the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble for concerts, a December “Brass and Bells” concert and in May, a “Pops Concert.”  Youth and college students have also recently offered piano, string, and saxophone recital.


Steeple Coffee House

UCF presents monthly concerts in Fellowship Hall (last Saturday of each month) that showcase community musicians for the public for a nominal fee. These concerts are organized by the Steeple Coffee House Committee.