The First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande Celebrates 125 Years of Ministry

Rock founded, Christ centered, Faith sustained

125th Anniversary Cantata

Music Sunday
June 7, 2009

At the 10:30am service on Music Sunday, June 7th, the Chancel Choir presented its 125th Anniversary Cantata. The choir was accompanied by trumpet, trombone, handbells, and organ.

Hymns from the "old favorites" category were glued together by Readings (by Jamie Foster) that highlighted our church's 125-year history. Other than the Bible itself, what we could well have most in common with the people of our church over the years are the hymns. The congregants of 1884 probably sounded much like we do today in a rousing chorus of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".

As great pieces of music and tunes and texts were combined across centuries and across continents to create the hymns we know and love today, so did God's hand bring together people across lands and time to be the lifeblood of our church for 125 years, ministering to the world and to each other from this little corner of the universe known as Arroyo Grande.

Hymns included:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Now Thank We All Our God
When We Are Living
Lord of the Dance

The musical score is from Hal Hopson's "Festival of Hymns".