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Musical Reflection: Open My Eyes, That I May See
Let us reflect on an important life principle: God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. Holy Spirit, open our eyes, ears, and heart to be obedient even when things seem confusing.
OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE
Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth you have for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unlock and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God,Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth you send so clear; and while he message sounds in my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God,Thy will to see;
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare love with your children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for Thee, ready, my God,Thy will to see;
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Words and Music Clara H. Scott ©Public Domain
CCLI.COM Copyright License #1860205 Streaming License #20263031
ONE LICENSE A-736530 -
Musical Reflection: Trust and Obey
Let us reflect on an important life principle: Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.
TRUST AND OBEY
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he will richly repay;
not a grief nor a loss,
not a frown nor a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain] -
“It is Well With My Soul”
1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul. [Refrain]
3 My sin--O, the bliss of this glorious thought,
my sin--not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Refrain]
4 And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend:
"Even so"--it is well with my soul. [Refrain]
(C)Public Domain
Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir serves faithfully every week at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God” (Col. 3:16), they present anthems of praise and thanksgiving in varied traditional styles and support the congregational singing of hymns and songs. The Choir aids worshippers in the use of their hearts and voices to glorify God.
Rehearsals are held each Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary from September through May, and new singers are welcome.
Joy Ringers
The Joy Ringers Handbell Choir performs various times throughout the year at the 11:00 a.m. worship service to bring the pleasing sound of bells in honor of our Lord. The Handbell Choir is a group of 8 ringers utilizing two octaves of Malmark handbells as well as hand chimes.
The Joy Ringers team rehearses weekly from September to May on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Instrumentalists
We are grateful for our talented and skilled musicians who graciously volunteer to use their gifts and talents to provide music for our worship services. The instruments played include flute, violin, viola, saxophone, guitar, and keyboard. On special occasions, we welcome members of the Celtic Ceol historic music group which includes pennywhistle, hammered dulcimer and mountain dulcimer in addition to the traditional violin and guitar.
Murrysville Cantata Choir
The Murrysville Cantata Choir is excited to announce our spring worship concert on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 4 pm here at First Presbyterian Church. The choir will be presenting a seasonal work by Mary McDonald, entitled “My Savior's Love," a cantata with narration that includes musical selections highlighting the biblical events of Holy Week with Christ’s journey from Palm Sunday through the crucifixion and His glorious Resurrection.
The Murrysville Cantata Choir, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Murrysville, is a group of singers from churches throughout the Murrysville area that was formed in the spring of 2018 to present the sacred cantata “Behold the Lamb,” by Lloyd Larson, for the Easter season. Performing at First Presbyterian Church, the Choir followed their successful debut with “A Patriotic Thanksgiving” in November 2018 and, on Palm Sunday 2019, reunited for the Easter cantata, “A Journey to Hope,” by Joseph M. Martin.
In November 2019 the choir presented a second “Patriotic Thanksgiving” concert at First Presbyterian Church and appeared the following Sunday to present the concert again at Heinz Memorial Chapel on the Pitt campus in Oakland for the Chapel’s Sunday afternoon concert series.
Interested singers are invited to contact the church for information on joining the Cantata Choir for this Palm Sunday cantata. Weekly rehearsals will begin on March 1, 2020, at 6 pm at First Presbyterian Church.
Our Pipe Organ
We are blessed to have a pipe organ of fourteen ranks of pipes and two manuals and pedalboard. The M.P. Moeller Company installed our organ in the former church building adjacent to Laird Hall in 1914. It was moved to our current sanctuary in 1969, and a renovation in 1998 provided for the organ to relocated to the rear balcony. The organ has been updated and tonally improved over the years and provides a rich palette of sound to lead congregational singing and enhance worship through the power of music.
