First Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces has a long tradition of offering spirited music and stirring preaching, all in a family friendly worship environment.
We invite you to peruse the following pages and discover ways in which you too might become involved in the music and worship ministries at First Presbyterian Church.
Instrumental & Bell
Ensembles
Creative
Theatre
U PCOMING & SPECIAL EVENTS
Please doubleclick on the icon below to download our 2012 Lenten Events Brochure.
Lenten brochure.pdf
Weekly Worship Opportunities
Traditional Worship Service: Sundays 10:30 AM
Faith & Fellowship Contemporary Worship: Saturdays 5:00 PM
LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday, March 25 10:30 AM
CANTATA SUNDAY
On this day the Chancel Choir will present Felix Mendelssohns moving cantata Hear My Prayer in worship. Accompanied by organist Dr. Janet Loman and soprano soloist and First Presbyterian Choral Scholar Emma Rosenthal, this moving work will begin the meditative two week period leading into Holy Week.
Sunday, April 1 10:30 AM
PALM SUNDAY
With palm branches waving, we celebrate Christs triumphal entry into Jerusalem accompanied by special music offered by our Salt & Light Children's Choirs, Chancel Choir and more. Come join us for this very family friendly service.
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On behalf of the church family of First Presbyterian Church I'd like to invite you to attend one of our weekly services of worship.
Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God. In worship we the people of God acknowledge God present in the world and in our lives. As we respond to God's claim and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, believers are transformed and renewed. Please join us in worship as we offer ourselves to God and are equipped for God's service in the world.
We hope to see you soon!
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
October 2 at 10:30 AM
Come join us as we celebrate the gift of communion and its meaning held round the world. Special international sacred vocal and instrumental music and meaninful preaching add to this important celebration.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
June 13-17
from 9:00 AM - Noon
Calling all children for our annual week of VBS activities. Music, art, bible learning and more make this an exciting summer activity in which to paticipate. For more information please contact Kristine Lambert in the church's main office, or use the contact page on this site.
BIBLE SUNDAY
September 11 at 10:30 AM
This is the anticipated day when boys and girls in 3rd grade receive their own personal Bible. Through these pages we them to learn more about the love of God and the teachings of Jesus.
THANKSGIVING IN-GATHERING
Sunday, November 20 at 10:30 AM
In recognition of the manifold gifts that we receive from God, we take this opportunity to give back to the community. The congregation is encouraged to bring in donated canned and dry goods during this service.
All items wiill be donated to Casa de Pergrinos Food Pantry.
Sunday, December 18 at 10:30 AM
Join us for this special Sunday musical offering of Cantata 142 "For Unto Us A Son Is Given". This evocative cantata, for orchestra choir and soloists will help us remember the true meaning of the Christmas season.
Each year First Presbyterian Church hosts or paticipates in a unique variety of concert events featuring both local and touring performers and ensembles.
This past year's concerts have included events like the ones pictured below.
OUTREACH CONCERTS
by
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS
If you enjoy making music and participating in meaningful worship, then there is something for you at First Presbyterian Church.
Please consider joining one of our inspirational choral or instrumental ensembles.
Click an ensemble name or picture to learn more about each group.
Have you played an instrument before? If so, and you can read music too, then come join us and give handbells a try.
It's a wonderful way to share your talents in worship and it's not hard to play.
For more information, please use our web contact form.
Do you play an instrument or sing more cotemporary styles of music?
Why not check out our new Saturday night contemporary Faith & Fellowship service at 5:00 PM.
For more information, please use our web page contact form.
Adult ringers in this group come from all walks of life and love to share their excitement for handbells in worship.
Even if you have never played bells before, but have played an instrument and are able to read music, we can teach you the techniques. Come join the fun!
First rehearsal:
Monday, August 29 from 7:00-8:45 PM.
Our new youth choir may be small, but they sure are mighty in spirit and talented!
If you're in grades 7 through 12 you are encouraged to joined this energetic group of young Christians who share their love of life, God and music with our congregation.
This year, also consider joining the cast of "Noye's Fludde". There are a number of opportunities for youth singers, actors and dancers.
Click here to find out more.
Choir rehearsals are held most Sundays from 12:00-12:45 PM after worship.
Come join this adult group of singers who lead worship at the 10:30 Sunday service each week from September through May.
New singers who love to sing and share are welcome to join us at any time. We hope to see you at the first rehearsal and sing with us in worship on September 11th and beyond.
Rehearsal:
Wednesday, September 7 from 7:00-8:45 PM.
First Presbyterian Church is blessed to have a wonderful music staff of professionally trained musicians who are not only talented musicians, but passionate Christians who earnestly love being a part of our church music ministry.
Howard Alanson Smolleck has been organist at First Presbyterian Church since 1998, having been organist at University Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces for 18 years. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1947, he grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth). His home church was Immanuel Presbyterian in Grand Prairie, where he was assistant organist while in high school and early college. He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1969, and a Master of Science and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the same school. While in college, he was organist at two other area churches: St. John Presbyterian in Oak Cliff (west Dallas) and Inglewood United Methodist in Grand Prairie.
Valerie Mirellez is a vocal performance major at New Mexico State University. In recent years, she has sung in ensembles at the University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, New Mexico State University and in the Doña Ana Lyric Operas Elixir Of Love. Valerie is also on the worship team for the evening service at Calvary Baptist Church. Upon completion of her degree, Valerie plans to pursue work that incorporates music and social justice.
We hope you enjoy the pictures from the Fall 2011 production of Benjamin Britten's church opera "Noyes Fludde".
Noye J.R. Spurlin
Mrs. Noye Dina Schraeder / Margaret Goehring
Sem Jeremy Borchert
Ham Greg Sherman
Jaffett Stephen Taylor
Mrs. Sem Dorothy Klement
Mrs. Ham Valerie Mirellez
Mrs. Jaffett TBA
The Dove Elizabeth Loman
The Raven Rosa Taylor
The Gossips Lloyd Kirshenman, Eunjeong Moe, Dina Schraeder,
Margaret Goehring, Larry Courter
Animals Salt & Light Choirs
Emma Rosenthal, soprano, is a student at New Mexico State University, majoring in Vocal Performance. She has performed in numerous recitals in Las Cruces and California, and in productions with the Dona Ana Lyric Opera, most recently as Susanna in Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro. Emma has been a section leader for the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church for two years, and has previously led the Chancel Choir at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus, in California. She hopes to earn her Masters degree in Vocal Performance and pursue a career as an opera singer.
CONTACT US:
First Presbyterian Church
200 E. Boutz Rd.
Las Cruces NM 88003
Office: (575) 526-5559
Fax: (575) 647-5910
The church office is open weekdays from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Worship Services: Saturday at 5:00 PM & Sunday 10:30 AM.
To e-mail the church main office please contact fpclinda_zianet.com.
Daniel Molloy is curremtly working on a master's in music degree in choral conducting at New Mexico State University. He recently completed a bachelor's of music in vocal performance at NMSU as well.
Ryan Allais is in his senior year at New Mexico State University and is currently student teaching at Mayfield High School. He has played Count Almaviva in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro", the chorus in Donizetti's "L'elisir D'amore" and will sing the role of Eisenstein in "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss in February with the Doña Ana Lyric Opera. Ryan was born in Colorado Springs, CO and grew up in Taos, NewMexico where he enjoyed the great skiing. This is his first year singing with the chancel choir and looks forward to making great music.
David A. Klement, conductor, joined the faculty of New Mexico State University Fall of 2009. In addition to his duties as a choral conductor at NMSU, David is also the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church where he directs the 45 member Chancel Choir, oversees a staff talented of professional musicians and a growing music program. Most recently, he was artistic director of the Rochester Boys Choir program which he founded in Rochester, NY, in addition to being the full-time Director of Music at the 2300 member Asbury First United Methodist Church. David has stage directed and music directed over thirty theatrical productions and has been active as a performer as well. As a boy soprano, David served as Head Chorister of the world renowned St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys in New York City where he appeared as soloist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kings College Cambridge and was the featured soloist on the PBS documentary soundtrack for the 1979 documentary Henry Moore. David received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music. He is a founding member of the professional chamber choir the Carolina Chamber Chorale, which can be heard on Albany Records. David's principal teachers include Donald Neuen, Gerre Hancock, Melinda ONeal, Alfred Mann and Daniel Moe.
Beth Borchert-Thomas has been the choral director at Mayfield High School for 23 years. She is also the children's choir director here at First Presbyterian Church. Beth is married to Dennis Thomas and they have 5 children.
The First Presbyterian Children's Choirs meet weekly as a part of the Salt & Light Ministry. Salt & Light begins on Sept. 14, 2011 and ends for the semester on Dec. 7 beginning again on Jan. 11, 2012 through Apr. 11. The Children's Choirs participate in the 10:30 worship service once a month including their very special Christmas Pageant, Dec. 11. The children's music and worship time includes singing, worship skills, and the playing of chimes and Orff instruments. Each spring, the children participate in a special celebration of music which this year will be part of our "tailgating party!" on Apr. 11.
Come and be a part of this exciting and vibrant children's ministry.
For more information, contact Beth Borchert-Thomas at mayfieldhschoir_yahoo.com
Click the player below to hear recent music and worship events.
