Music Ministry at Bethel

Music is an integral part of Christian worship, and has its musical roots previous to Christianity's founding two thousand years ago. Whether chant or choral preludes or hymns or psalms or contemporary praise choruses, music is the major outlet of praise to God in the corporate worship setting.

Psalm 96:1 (NIV) calls us to "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth." Psalm 150:6 declares, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Jesus, at the Last Supper with His disciples before his crucifixion, sang a hymn with these men. The New Testament speaks of the singing of hymns and songs during worship, and the Apostle Paul even exhorts Christians to, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-20, NIV).

Bethel Church has a long history of musical gifts and offerings. In the early days of Bethel, psalms were chanted between a song leader and the congregation. Eventually, Psalters, or books with psalms and hymns in them, were purchased for the congregation. In 1909, the first organ was bought for the congregation, with new ones being donated in 1954 and 2000. The choir has been a part of Bethel for more than a century. The Red Presbyterian Hymnal titled "The Hymnbook" was the hymnal of choice until 1998, when the "Celebration Hymnal" was purchased for the congregation. Contemporary praise choruses became popular in church during the mid to late 1990's, and paved the way for the creation of the Contemporary Worship Team in 2000.

Though perhaps new expressions of worship have been added, old ones have not been forgotten, and one thing remains the same: Our praise and worship is a sacrifice to our Almighty and Triune God alone: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Indeed, we profess "Sola Deo Gloria!" (To God alone be the Glory!).

The Chancel Choir

The choir has been a part of worship at Bethel on Sunday mornings for over a century. The choir is made up of dedicated individuals who sing three Sundays a month for the 11 A.M. service from September to the end of May. They sing one anthem, an introit, a prayer response, and a benediction response, as well as leading the congregation in singing the hymns. It is directed by Lon McClearn and accompanied by Eleanor Hodge.

Every October, the choir begins rehearsal for the Christmas Cantata, which is sung on the fourth Sunday of Advent (the last Sunday before Christmas Day). They also sing for the Community Palm Sunday Service held annually at Westfield Presbyterian Church.

The choir has dwindled in numbers over the years, and could always use more voices. If you can carry a tune and would like to sing with the choir, please feel free to see Lon McClearn, or show up for rehearsal. They rehearse on Wednesday nights at 7 P.M. in the conference room for an hour during the school year. All are welcome and encouraged to sing!

The Contemporary Worship Teams

The Adult Contemporary Worship Team was created in 2000 as a means of expanding the worship style of Bethel Church. The group sings a variety of Christian music from modern praise choruses and songs to gospel songs to even old time hymns with a different feel. In consists of singers, piano, keyboard, bass, electric guitar and drums. The adult team leads worship once a month on the fourth Sunday, and rehearses once a week on Wednesday nights. Today, the members include: Chris Arisman, Paul and Lynne Banting, Tina Leslie, Doug Montgomery and Fred Raney, and is directed by Lon McClearn.

The Youth Contemporary Worship Team was created in 2001 as an offshoot of the original team. It consists of several youth who provide music for youth groups on Sunday nights, as well as for church services on the fifth Sunday of any month where there are that many Sundays. It is led by Chris Arisman and the group rehearses once a week on Sunday evenings before youth group. Members include: Ben Arisman, Andy Berg, Victoria Kamicker, Kate Kissling, Marty Krisuk, Frannie Laughner, Hillary Laughner, Shane Sensky, Lissia Thomas and Stephanie Verenski.

The Organ and Piano

When one thinks of church music, one of the first instruments to come to mind is the organ. The organ was introduced to congregational life in the Middle Ages. Although many of the Protestant Reformers felt the instrument was appropriate for worship, there were others who felt that it was too much of a hindrance to worship and sinful in God's sight. One reformer was even said to have nailed the organ shut in his church and tore it to pieces with an axe.

Bethel's heritage, came from this line of thought that the organ was inappropriate in worship, and as such, congregational music remained unaccompanied from 1798 through 1909. This particular branch of Christians felt that only the sound of human voice was appropriate, and also that the only "hymns" that should be sung were metrical versions of the Psalms (called "Psalmody"). The minister would read a verse, the song leader would sing the verse and the congregation would sing it back. This was how Bethel Church worshipped for nearly a century.

At the dawn of the 20th century, one man in the congregation wanted very badly to bring an organ into the church. He was met with great hostility, and so when he died around 1900, his will stated that they were to bring an organ into the church for his funeral. A small reed organ was to be brought up to Bethel for the service. However, as it was crossing the Little Beaver Creek, the horse lost it's footing and into the creek fell the organ! Many in the congregation claimed it was a sign from God that this instrument was an abomination.

Yet., it seems that changes often begin with the youth, and apparently the use of an organ at Bethel was no exception. The Bethel Sesquicentennial History Book from 1948 tells us that "It was [the Young People's Society] that first endeavored to secure money for the purchase of an organ. However, because of the opposition to having an instrument in the church, they postponed the project until a time when the idea was met with favorable consideration."

In 1909, a pump organ was purchased for the congregation, and it was first used in worship on Sunday, October 10 of that year. This "machine," as it was so affectionately called, was first met with hostility, for one family even left the church for a brief time over its use. Gradually, people warmed up to the idea of using the instrument. The first organist was Mrs. Mary Cowden, and the choir leader was Mr. Alex McCalla. Mrs. Cowden served as organist until 1928, when Miss Mary Alice Kyle, then in her teens (now Mrs. Mary Alice Craig), took over for a time. The first hymnal was the 1912 edition of "The Psalter." This too was a radical change, for until then people were still accustomed to song leaders and acapella singing. Eventually, the Sunday School program also bought song books for their usage.

In 1954, the first electronic organ was donated to the church by the McClain family. This Baldwin organ served the congregation well for many years. It also had a set of electric chimes along with it, donated by the Witherspoon family.

Yet, as with anything, time did a number on the old instrument. One Sunday morning in 1992, the organ stopped working properly, and began making a horrible grinding noise. It was decided to refurbish the old organ and it was rededicated in 1993. However, this refurbished organ did have some bugs in it and the old electric chimes no longer worked. The chimes were removed from the sanctuary in 2006 as they were no longer functional.

In 2000, the church received an anonymous donation of a brand new Allen Renaissance electric organ. With modern technology, it sounds very similar to a pipe organ, minus the sounds of the bellows running and the noise from wind pressure. When played at its fullest in the empty sanctuary, one really can "rattle the walls." Though it does not have the same ambiance as a pipe organ, this instrument is quite versatile and serves the congregation well. You can see the stop-list and other Organ Specifications by clicking the link.

As for hymnals, the Psalter of 1912 was followed by the official hymnal of the United Presbyterian Church published in the 1950's entitled "The Hymnbook." This was the hymnal of the congregation until 1998. In that year, due to the wear on the old hymnbooks and the shift in the hymnody of the congregation, the "Celebration Hymnal" was purchased, a hymnal which combines old hymns with gospel tunes and some contemporary praise choruses.

The piano, originally called the "pianoforte" and invented in the 1700's, quickly became popularized and used in American worship. The first piano was purchased for Bethel's sanctuary in March of 1959, with the chairman of the committee being Clarence Lipp, who was a long time member of the choir, and whose daughter (Eleanor Hodge) is the current choral accompanist. It was a Baldwin upright piano and served the church well until 2001, when a new Everett baby-grand piano was purchased by the church. It adds greatly to the accompaniment of the choir and to the congregation.

For several decades, the church has had volunteer organists and pianists from the congregation who have done a great service for the congregation in leading worship. Finding people who can lead worship in this capacity has become a hardship for many churches. Again, Bethel is so blessed in this way.

Today, Bethel has five talented volunteer pianists/organists who regularly lead worship for the congregation. They are Chris Arisman, Carolyn Cowher, Janice Grim, Nathan Leslie and Nathan Parrot. Bethel is greatly blessed to have many talented musicians who also provide special music during the summer as well.