God calls us to bring our praise in instrument and song. Whether we are singing a new song or an old hymn, listening to a choral anthem, or responsively chanting a Psalm, music brings us together in worship. We joyfully share messages of hope and faith as we gather to sing our praise.
Wonderful Wednesdays
A simple pizza and salad dinner is served each Wednesday evening making it easier for families to participate in Wednesday evening choir rehearsals, Bible studies, youth group, or occasional meetings. It also makes for a great time of fellowship around the tables.
Sanctuary Choir
APLC’s adult choir sings a variety of music from classical to contemporary. The choir participates in the 11:00 worship service each week and in special services and concerts during the year. New voices are always welcome. While some knowledge of singing and music reading is helpful, it is not required.
Bells of Praise
Adults and high school students with musical experience ring a 5 octave set of Schulmerich Handbells in worship, concerts and other special services. Handbell ringing requires the ability to read music and a commitment to weekly rehearsals. People with ringing experience who can’t make the weekly commitment participate on our substitute list.
Noteworthy
This women’s ensemble meets once a month for fellowship dinner and rehearsal and is ideal for those who love to sing but cannot make a weekly commitment.
Men’s Chorus
APLC men gather monthly for fellowship and singing arrangements written for men’s harmony.
Worship Band
Featuring guitars, percussion, bass, and vocalists with acoustic arrangements of both contemporary praise songs and favorite old hymns, this group leads worship several weekends during the year.
Instrumentalists
Players of all instruments, youth and adult, are encouraged to introduce themselves to the music staff. Instrumentalists often accompany a choir anthem and participate in festival worship services and special concerts. There is a place for all instruments – brass, woodwinds, strings, rhythm, keyboard, and percussion. Contact Shelbie Simmons, Minister of Music.
Cherub Choir
This ensemble is for our youngest singers, ages 3 to 6. The Cherubs learn simple songs about Bible stories and Jesus’ love for us and enrich our worship services approximately once a month.
Chapel Choir
The Chapel Choir is for 2nd through 5th graders. This group learns through singing, bell, and rhythm instruments with music that is both fun and challenging. Teaching the fundamentals of our Christian faith through song, Chapel Choir offers the foundation for a lifetime of church involvement and musical enjoyment.
Youth Choir / Youth Handbells
Middle and high school students have opportunity to learn a variety of music through singing or ringing handbells. The groups participate in worship regularly.
Chancel Organ
In October 2005, as part of a sanctuary expansion project, Abiding Presence dedicated a pipe organ installed by Parkey OrganBuilders of Atlanta, Georgia. The instrument, the firm’s Opus R38, has two manuals, 31 stops, and 27 ranks, with a total of 1420 pipes. It is to the credit of Phil Parkey that this instrument was successfully moved from a church in Pennsylvania that closed and rebuilt for the sanctuary at Abiding Presence.
In August 2014, the congregation launched a major fundraising effort to replace one rank of reed pipes (73 pipes in total) and make repairs to that wind chest. With generous donations exceeding the initial fundraising goal, a custom built, adjustable bench was commissioned along with the pipe work. The projects were completed in June 2015 by Parkey OrganBuilders. The instrument was rededicated to God’s glory with a celebration concert honoring the tenth anniversary of the organ’s installation in the APLC sanctuary.
