Lancaster Church of the Brethren is a musical church! We sing our faith to God in a variety of ways, with ensembles for all ages and in a variety of styles. Come join us as we praise God through song! Here are our musical ensembles:

The Chancel Choir, under the leadership of Director of Music Emery DeWitt, provides music for our Sanctuary worship service, with great music from the past and from modern composers. In addition, the choir is the centerpiece for the annual Starlight Tea Christmas Concert, held on a Sunday evening during the Advent season. Accompanied by Sanctuary organist Margaret Marsch, rehearsals are fun, fast-paced events! The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, 7:45 – 9:15, September through mid-June. No audition is necessary - some music reading skills required.

The Carillon Bell Choir, also directed by Emery DeWitt, is comprised of eleven ringers who dedicate much time and effort to create the magical effect of handbell ringing! They ring in Sanctuary services approximately monthly, and also are featured in the Starlight Tea Christmas Concert and in occasional area concerts. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 – 7:30, September through mid-June. Strong music reading skills are required for this advanced ensemble. There are often opportunities for substitute ringers due to travel or other scheduling issues. Please contact Emery DeWitt if you’d like to try ringing – it’s fun!

Our Chapel Worship service at 8:00 AM is ably served by Chapel organist Jeanne Heck, who is also responsible for scheduling special music for that service. There are opportunities for soloists (both instrumental and vocal) in all of our worship services – the Chapel service at 8:00 AM, Morning Psalm at 9:00 AM and 10:15 AM, and the Sanctuary Worship service at 10:15 AM. We would love to talk with you if you are interested in singing or playing to the glory of God!

The Morning Psalm Praise Band and Morning Psalm Singers are under the direction of Morning Psalm Music and Worship Leader James Potts. This dynamic ensemble provides music for two Morning Psalm contemporary worship services every Sunday, year-round!  Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Auditions are required to perform with this ensemble; contact James Potts for details.

The Seventh Day Youth Band is a praise worship band compromised of youth grades 8-12 who seek to worship and lead worship through their gifts of music, form an encouraging community that holds one another in prayer, grow in their technical skills of music and worship leadership, all while having fun. Seventh Day meets under the directorship of Jon Metzger on Wednesday evenings from 6:15-7:30pm.

Director of Children’s Music Jamie Nace leads four different ensembles for youth and children, combining learning, worship and fun! There are both vocal and instrumental ensembles for each age group, allowing our children to grow up surrounded by music. It’s the beginning of a lifelong means to serve God with joy!

The Cherub Choir and the Mallets and More Ensemble are for our youngest children. In the Cherub Choir, children learn to sing a variety of traditional and contemporary music in a fun, energetic environment. An array of music reading and performing skills are taught as well. The Mallets and More Ensemble uses Orff instruments - a fun way for young children to learn about music. In this ensemble, the children will learn to read and play music using these mallet instruments. The Cherub Choir and Mallets and More Ensemble rehearse on Wednesdays from 5:50 – 6:30 pm. Both ensembles are open to children ages 5 through fifth grade.

The Youth Choir provides an opportunity for group singing for our older children. In this ensemble, the youth will learn to sing a variety of traditional and contemporary music. Proper vocal technique and music reading skills will be taught as well. This group is open to youth in grades 6-12, and rehearses Sunday's from 11:45 AM - 12:15 AM.

Our Youth Bell Choir gives the youth the opportunity to ring songs of praise in an instrumental ensemble. In this ensemble, the youth perform a variety of music using hand chimes. No prior music reading ability is required as the skills needed will be taught. This group is open to youth in grades 6-12, and rehearses Sundays from 11:15 - 11:45 AM.