Music & Worship Arts Ministry
At First United Methodist Church, our Music & Worship Arts Ministry seeks to glorify God, proclaim the gospel, and serve the congregation and community through the creative gifts of music, liturgy, and the arts. Rooted in the deep traditions of the Church and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, we offer worship that is both reverent and vibrant—honoring the past while engaging the present with imagination and care.
We believe that worship is the work of the whole people of God. Through scripture, song, prayer, and sacrament, we are formed as disciples of Jesus Christ and sent into the world to love and serve. Music is not a performance for an audience, but a shared offering to God that unites us across generations and experiences. All are welcome to participate in the worship life of our congregation, whether through singing, ringing, playing, reading, or creating.
Get Involved
We offer a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to participate in the worship life of the church. Whether you’re an experienced musician, a gifted speaker, or someone who enjoys working behind the scenes, there’s a place for you.
Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is our primary vocal ensemble for adults and high school youth. We rehearse weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30–7:45 PM, September through May, and sing in worship most Sundays as well as for special services throughout the church year.
Rehearsals begin the Wednesday after Labor Day and continue through the weekend before Memorial Day. Our time together includes warm fellowship, meaningful devotionals, and a wide variety of sacred music—from classical to contemporary, hymn-based to liturgical settings. No audition is required—just a love for worship and a willingness to commit.
Peals of Praise Adult Handbell Ensemble
Our Adult Handbell Ensemble offers a unique way to serve in worship through the expressive art of handbell ringing. We use up to three octaves of Schulmerich handbells and Suzuki handchimes and rehearse on Wednesdays from 5:30–6:30 PM.
Each rehearsal includes a time of shared prayer and devotion with the Chancel Choir, building a strong sense of community and shared purpose. Prior handbell experience or music reading is helpful, but not required—we’re happy to teach and encourage new ringers!
Soloists, Ensembles & Instrumentalists
Do you play an instrument or enjoy singing solo or in small groups? We regularly incorporate solo vocalists, small vocal ensembles, and instrumentalists of all kinds into worship. Whether it’s offering special music, supporting congregational singing, or enhancing the liturgy during seasonal services, there are many ways to share your gifts. We welcome musicians of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Worship Leadership & Support Roles
Worship is a collaborative effort that involves many behind-the-scenes and visible leadership roles. If music isn’t your primary gift, you can still serve meaningfully in worship through the following ministries:
Training is provided for each of these important roles, and we are always grateful for those who offer their time and talents in these ministries.
Seasonal Opportunities
We understand that many people wish to be involved in music ministry but may not be able to commit year-round. That’s why we offer a variety of flexible, seasonal options:
Summer Choir (June–August)
A great low-commitment way to stay involved in worship during the summer! We meet 30 minutes before the service to learn a simple anthem to sing that morning. No robes, no weekday rehearsals, and no long-term commitments—just show up when you’re in town.
Seasonal Choir (Advent–Christmas & Lent–Easter)
For those who wish to participate only during special liturgical seasons, we offer opportunities to join the choir for Advent and Christmas or for Lent and Easter. This is a wonderful way to contribute to the beauty and meaning of our most sacred times of year without making a year-long commitment.
Join Us
Whether you’re interested in singing, ringing, reading scripture, preparing the altar, greeting worshipers, assisting with Communion, or operating sound equipment, there is a place for you in the worship life of our church. The Music & Worship Arts Ministry is not just about making music—it’s about building community, deepening faith, and offering all that we are to the glory of God.
If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, please contact Joshua Starnes, Director of Music & Worship Arts Ministry.
History of the Pipe Organ at FUMC
First United Methodist Church has maintained a presence in the Salisbury, North Carolina, community since its inception in 1783. In 1980, the church installed a new 3-manual and 53-rank Schantz organ (Op. 1590) in the sanctuary to replace the former organ installed when the current sanctuary was completed in 1963 (Op. 818). In 2001, Parkey Organ Builders removed all exposed pipework, covered exposed chest work, and sealed chamber openings while the sanctuary was being repainted. They also re-leathered all internal pipe valve actions and windchest primary actions.
By 2005, it was becoming clear that a recurring humidity problem was taking its toll on the organ. Chest action and pipe failures became more apparent. In 2008, the Board of Trustees signed a contract for the complete replacement of reed stops, 9 ranks in total, and an updated console. The console was returned to Parkey’s shop in Norcross, Georgia, during the summer of 2008 for complete refinishing and renovation. A new relay and capture system using Solid State Organ Systems components was installed. The capture action offered 100 levels of memory with Solid State Organ Systems’ “Any Piston Next” sequencer. The console’s internal dolly system for mobility had collapsed, rendering the console difficult for one person to move. That dolly system was restored and reinforced. New interior jambs of burled walnut housed the new drawknobs of ebony and maple woods. These complemented the new reverse color tracker touch keyboards with ebony naturals and maple sharps. Console renovations were completed in fall of 2008.
The original 1980 organ possessed a sound indicative of the 1960s and 70s neo-Baroque era. The organ favored a tone that was very bright but failed to fill the room and lead congregational singing. The fluework of the organ began showing its age in tonal regulation. Notes of inconsistent volume and slow-to-speak or off-speech pipes could be heard throughout the instrument. During the reparative regulation, we were able to foster a more fundamental bloom of tone. The exposed mixtures were relaxed and tamed as well. In a final analysis, Parkey was able to coax more color from the 8′ line of the ensemble and yet maintain a silvery clarity in sound. This project included increasing the scaling of the stops in proportion to the room. The French and German textures of sound for the reeds were maintained as originally set forth in the specification and the rebuild project was completed in the spring of 2009. (This instrument was featured on Pipedreams Episode #1041.)
In 2021, the Trustees noted some ongoing electrical issues occurring with the organ and the discovery of several leaks in some of the windchests. They began to investigate options for renovating and repairing the organ, including hybrid and digital options. By January 2023, an entire division became unreliable and after consulting a few organ firms, in the interest of stewardship, the decision was made to purchase a new Rodgers Infinity 489 from R. A. Daffer Organs, Inc. to replace the former Shantz/Parkey instrument. The new Rodgers features an antiphonal division and will allow additional versatility and customization to support the worship and music ministry for generations to come!