Our new Organist and Choir Director is Frederick A, Lucies.

The Music Program of the First Congregational Church of Dalton., UCC is diversified and open to people of all ages and abilities. If you are interested in participating in any of our musical groups, I encourage you to put yourself forward and to speak to me face-to-face.. In our crazy world, few are they who can commit to EVERY SUNDAY. That does not mean that we cannot do great things with those who are present at worship.

We currently have three Sunday services with distinctly different flavors:

·    Chapel Service –8:00 AM - this service meets the needs of the early risers who are eager to worship the Lord in the early hours. The attendance is predictable and the attending members are faithful and dedicated.    

·      "Digital Soul Service"–at 9:15 AM- we look to the world of media to enhance our experience of God in the world; our musical selections tend to address the contemporary world, with all of it confusion and chaos – we strive to approach the equality and justice that Jesus demanded.

·         "Traditional Service" – 19:30 AM – this service focuses on the depth of the UCC traditions and principally celebrates the Pilgrim Hymnal. However, we are actively stretching into exploring other formats, traditions, and musical experiences as they lead us all to new levels of Spirituality.

We explore the broadest range of musical expression, focusing on enhancing the Scripture and the message of the day.

We have suffered from a false chasm between “sacred” and “secular” music – a sad fact in all of our “traditions” from UCC to “Roman Catholic”.

Music that lifts the spirit, inspires the soul, enriches the life of a single human person – this music is truly sacred, and our shallow judgments about what is right and wrong put us all to shame. What makes music sacred is the sacred nature of the person who shares that music with others.

 In our worship, we may experience any of the following:

·         Popular songs that shine light on the message

·         Instrumental solos that capture the emotion of the day

·         Musical moments from the Renaissance our that lift the soul and draw us above and beyond ourselves

·         Uplifting choruses of Gospel music that acknowledges our history of enslavement of other human beings and shares in their liberation from such oppression

·         Sublime moments from the classics of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and others who have called us all to the ultimate dedication to the truth of God

·         Rock harder that we can bear that challenges us to address the injustices of our society

So many experiences, so many options, and so much to share – I pray that we not let limited visions dictate our judgments about what is and is not fitting for worship, and that we open our hearts to the challenges that Jesus has graced us with.