Peggy Graff

Our own Fifth Street Bells diligently rehearses to prepare for its Sunday performances in Sanctuary worship throughout the year. Fifth Street Bells also rehearsed seven pieces this season in preparation for the Greater Dallas Handbell Association Advanced Festival.

Have you ever experienced playing handbells? Whether or not you have, there is a handbell ensemble at FUMCFW called Fifth Street Bells which is currently adding bell ringers!

The Greater Dallas Handbell Association recently held its annual Fall Workshop at FUMCFW. The day before the workshop, thousands of bells donated from various churches were set up, transforming six of our Sunday School classrooms on the third floor into workshop classrooms.

Thirteen years ago, an opportunity of a lifetime presented itself to work with Mr. Robert Stovall in the Choral Department at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills. For five years, we were the head and associate directors in the department (he was the head); and for me, it was some of the best years of my professional teaching career. I learned so much from Robert and had so much fun in the process.

This Sunday, World Communion Sunday, is a time we celebrate Holy Communion with ecumenical Christians around the world as an expression of our Christian unity. At the 11 am sanctuary worship service, Choral Union, along with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra string quartet and the Paup Sanctuary Organ, will present Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass.”

This Sunday, May 3, at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary, we are in for another special musical treat as theatre organist, Thomas Helms, accompanies the silent film, “Safety Last,” produced in 1923 starring Harold Lloyd. Thomas Helms has had a long history with silent films, and has composed an original score for the 1925 silent classic, “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Today is an exciting day as the Music Ministry and Worship Arts team hosts an in-house choral event with three widely acclaimed composers (Z. Randall Stroope, Morten Lauridsen, and Matthew Harris), along with honor choirs from OSU and four area high schools. We hope to see you at the concert this evening at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary!