music ministry

Music at FUMC Graham: A Place for Everyone


At FUMC Graham, we believe music is a gift that brings people together. Whether you sing, play an instrument, or simply love to listen, you have a place here. Music is how we pray together, celebrate together, grieve together, and grow together.

If you’ve ever wondered if there was a place for you in our music ministry: there is. You don’t need to read music, you don’t need years of experience. You just need a willing heart and a love for worship.


Why We Make Music Together

  • Connection & Community. Music unites us across generations and backgrounds. When we raise our voices or instruments, we’re joined together, not only to God but to each other.

  • Worship + Service. Our music isn’t about showmanship: it’s about worshiping God and serving our church family. We aim to lead praise that lifts hearts, encourages faith, and points us to Christ.

  • All Are Welcome. Whether you’re 8 or 80, student or senior, beginner or seasoned pro, your gift belongs here. Every voice, every instrument, every willingness matters.

  • A Variety of Ways to Serve. From choir to handbells, from worship band to youth praise teams, we offer many paths for people to use their gifts in worship and ministry.

  • Growing Together. We value encouraging one another in skill, faith, and service. If you’ve never sung before or haven’t touched an instrument in years, we’re here to support you.


Where You Can Plug In

  • Chancel Choir: Meets weekly. Sings for our Sunday morning worship and special services. Great for those who enjoy traditional hymn‑based worship and community singing.

  • Handbell Choirs: Youth & adult handbell choirs:  a joyful way to worship and make music together for concerts and special seasons.

  • Worship / Praise Band: For those who prefer guitars, drums, keyboards, and contemporary worship, join for weekly leading of congregational songs.

  • Youth & Children’s Music: From simple praise for kids, to youth worship nights, to seasonal musicals, we love helping the next generation raise their voice.

  • Special / Occasional Involvement: Prefer to help just for Christmas, Easter, or special services? No problem. We welcome “seasonal singers/bellers/band‑members.”

  • Behind the Scenes & Support Roles: Tech team, hospitality, stage‑hands, drama/narration, set up/tear down;  not all service requires singing or playing. If you love serving, we have a place for you.


Want to Get Involved?

  • Show up to a rehearsal. No audition, no pressure.

  • Reach out to our music director.

  • Join a group!  You’ll meet friends, help lead worship, and become part of a community that supports each other.

Whether you sing from the pew, ring bells from the back row, or guide worship from behind a guitar, your presence and praise matter.


Come as you are. Bring what you have. Let’s make music together.


 

Join Our Music Family

"Blessed are those who come in the name of the Lord"

Ways you can help!

If your have gifts in the area of music, OR if you don't feel particularly gifted, but you just love to worship and would like to be a part of the music ministry - we have a place for you. If you feel drawn to be a part, but don't know where you fit, contact Christa! We will figure out where God is calling you!

Don’t ever let your level of music ability be a deterrent to getting involved.

You don’t have to be a professional singer or instrumentalist to be used by God.

Most of us in the music ministry aren’t professionals!

Give your gifts just as you are; you’ll be surprised how God will use you! 

CHOIR:

The Choir sings only at the 10:50 A.M. worship service. We have choir practice every Wednesday from    7:00-8:15 p.m. in the choir room, where we learn the music. We meet at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings, review the music, and sing it in the service. In a perfect world, choir members come to every Wednesday night rehearsal, but no one has perfect attendance! So don’t let that stop you from joining the choir.

 

 "SPECIAL SEASON" CHOIR MEMBER:

Some people don’t feel they can make a weekly commitment; they can only find time to join the choir for special seasons, like Holy Week (Good Friday & Easter music) or the Christmas Cantata. A “special season” choir member would come to rehearsals for the 8-10 weeks prior to Holy Week or the Christmas cantata to learn music just for that season. Singing in one of these events is even better than sitting in the congregation - ask anyone who has sung with us!


PRAISE TEAM SINGER:

These are the 2-3 singers who lead the congregational hymns and songs each Sunday. We rotate singers - you can be involved as much or little as you are able.

 

SOLOIST:

Not everyone has a solo voice. But if you do, and if you have a heart for worship, Christa would love to know about it!

PIANIST/ORGANIST/KEYBOARD: 

There are many opportunities, worship services, and other needs for pianists at our church. If you play and would love for your gifts to be used in worship or another event, let us know.

 

OTHER INSTRUMENTS:

We believe that any instrument can glorify God and minister to people. Let us know if you play an instrument - or are even learning an instrument - and want to be used in worship.

 

ADVANCED HANDBELLS:

Celestial Bells is our advanced handbell choir for youth and adults. It is a group for those who have played handbells before, or in some cases, those who read music well and can be taught easily to play bells.  The day of rehearsal varies by semester; currently, we meet Tuesdays 6-7:00 p.m.

 

KLAPPER KIDS BELLS:

This group is for 3rd -5th graders.  

Klapper Kids meets after Bible Zone on Wednesdays, 5:20-6:00 p.m.


INTERESTED IN LEARNING BELLS?

If you’ve never played bells before and would like to learn, let us know.


YOUTH WORSHIP - SINGER OR INSTRUMENT:

Once a month, our youth have a worship service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. If you are a youth and love to sing or play an instrument, we’d love for you to help lead.

ASSISTANT:

Maybe you don’t want to be the leader of a handbell group or other music group, but you like music and would be happy to assist a music leader. If so, we need you. Let us know!

 

DRAMATIC READER OR NARRATOR:

For special services of the year, we are always looking for people who feel drawn to speak or read. We’d love to utilize you!

 

DRAMA/ACTING:

Do you have drama background or skills? We need your input and skill, especially for Holy Week services and the Christmas cantata.

  • children's music

    There are few things better than hearing children sing, and there is hardly anything more enduring in your child’s life than teaching them songs.  FUMC provides music opportunities for children who are within the church, as well as children who are in the community.  Through music, children not only have fun; they learn about God through music that will last a lifetime.


    MUSIC IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

    Music is a regular part of our church’s Sunday School curriculum.  Our children have a special leadership role in worship on Children’s Sabbath, the Christmas Cantata, and Palm Sunday, among other days.


    HANDBELL CHOIRS

    Currently, FUMC has one children’s handbell choir, Klapper Kids, for 4th - 6th grades.  The kids not only learn how to play a chime or bell; we teach them to read music! It is fun, educational, and spiritual all in one activity!  


    BIBLE ZONE

    All community kids can participate in music through Bible Zone, our after-school program on Wednesdays.  In the fall, we learn and perform a children’s Christmas musical.  In the spring, children sing for residents at elderly homes, as well as for shut-ins who need encouragement. For more information on Bible Zone in general, visit the Children’s page on our website.

  • Youth music

    YOUTH WORSHIP

    Our youth have their own worship service during Youth Group on Wednesdays (currently once per month).  If your youth loves to sing or plays an instrument, we'd love to have them join our youth Band!


    YOUTH PRAISE TEAMS

    At FUMC, we believe in intergenerational corporate worship.  We love that the body of Christ - of all ages - can worship together!  Youth who love to sing and play can be part of praise teams that lead in Sunday morning worship.  Youth can also be a part of our choir.

  • adult music

    CHOIR

    Our choir is comprised of youth and adults who love to worship.  We rehearse every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.,  and we help lead the congregation in worship at the 10:50 a.m. Sunday service.  The choir also presents a Christmas musical celebration in December and extra music on Good Friday and Easter.

     

    OTHER VOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

    Are you unable to attend a choir rehearsal regularly, yet you love to sing and want to be a part of music ministry?  FUMC provides other “occasional” opportunities to participate, such as singing a solo; being a part of a duet, trio, or other ensemble; or being a praise team member who leads in contemporary songs at the 10:50 a.m. service.

     

    ADULT HANDBELLS

    Playing handbells is such fun!  It is also inspirational to worship.  Currently, we have one adult handbell group, Celestial Bells, which is open for medium to advanced bell ringers.

     

    PRAISE BANDS

    If you play an instrument, we’d love to get you involved either in a praise band or as a solo musical offering.  The sky's the limit; just let us know you want to play!  Praise bands accompany congregational songs in the 10:50 a.m. worship service.