Music

     At First Church, we strive to achieve excellence in our music and worship ministries. We believe that music is a vital part of corporate worship and because of that belief we offer many ministries in which the First Church family can participate and minister in that setting. Our goal as a music ministry is to lead our congregation in anointed worship through music and to draw every person's heart closer to God in preparation for His preached word.

The 1st Praise! Sanctuary Choir

     Our adult choir at First Church is noted among the best in Gaston county and in our entire denomination. Under the skilled and anointed leadership of Music Pastor, Daron Dwyer, the First Praise! Choir has grown to a nearly 60-voice ensemble that leads the congregation of First Church in worship every week. The style of the choir music, matches the style of our corporate singing at First Church, that is wide and varied, holding to a blended flavor in music from ancient to modern. The choir most recently performed with the Gaston Symphonic Band at Gastonia's Unity Place where hundreds were in attendance. This relationship with the GSB has spawned ideas for further collaboration between the two groups. The First Praise! Choir also play a major role in the annual First Church Passion Play, The Song of the Lamb, which has become widely renown throughout the area as an excellent portrayal of the Passion of Jesus Christ in music and drama. There are many exciting things planned in the future of the First Praise! Choir including a recording project in the Winter of 2008 and an adult Missions Trip to Rhode Island in the Summer of 2008. In being apart of the Choir, there is the additional opportunity to minister in a smaller ensemble or in a special solo during the Sunday or Wednesday services.

The choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7:50pm and ministers every Sunday in the second worship service.

The First Praise! Orchestra

     The First Praise! Orchestra has grown from a small horn-line to a large and quickly growing facet of our music ministry at First Church. Under the direction of Daron Dwyer, the orchestra has witnessed not only tremendous growth, but tremendous outreach. Most of the members of the First Praise! Orchestra have recently become members of the Gaston Symphonic Band and in doing so have been active in putting arms of love around their community by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with their fellow band members by inviting them to join our instrumental ministry here at First Church. Through this outreach effort we have not only recruited a few more members for the orchestra, but have witnessed one life completely changed by Jesus Christ. Justin Thomas had been recruited by some of our members to play the trombone in the orchestra, recently he made a profession of faith and was baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ. This highlights the Orchestra's tremendous ministry not only in leading First Church in worship every week, but in "putting arms of love around their community and the world."

The orchestra rehearses every Sunday at 7:00pm and ministers during both Sunday services.

     There are many exciting opportunities for music ministry at First Church. The music ministry at First Church has become known for its excellence and variety. Many more opportunities are approaching such as the First Praise! Student Choir which begins in Fall of 2007 and the Adult Missions Trip headed by the First Praise! Choir.

     Every Sunday is an exciting time of worship and reflection as we magnify the Lord our God with the gifts He has given us. First Praise! Worship Ministries seek to lead our congregation in Spirit led, anointed music while expanding and learning more about our musical gifts. Come see what the Lord may have for you in the First Praise! Worship Ministry!