Welcome to the Westminster music community! Whatever your taste
or experience, you are invited to participate in the exciting
music programs here at historic Westminster. We welcome everyone,
from professional to amateur, from young to old, from new to
experienced.
The Contemporary Worship service at 8:45am Sunday is definitely
the more relaxed of the two Sunday morning services. Along with
prayer, readings from scripture, and a sermon, you’ll hear the
sound of guitars, keyboard, drums, violin, mandolin, flute and
the praise band singers.
To our parents: Children are always welcome in worship! Infants
and toddlers are lovingly cared for in the Nursery Room
throughout the worship service, should you wish to take advantage
of this care. Childcare is also available for children age 5 and
younger in the Preschool Room throughout the service. 1st – 5th
graders are invited to go down the hall to the Jackson Room for
Bible Discovery Zone when indicated in the Sunday Bulletin.
The Praise Band rehearses every Wednesday evening in the
Sanctuary at 6:30 p.m.
Singing and performing on instruments both acoustic and electric,
the Praise Band leads the congregation of the Contemporary
Worship Service in contemporary, jazz and folk-based Christian
music.
The focus is on music that sounds like a part of every-day life,
speaking the message that God is indeed found in the every day,
the ordinary
The setting is the social hall, located upstairs from the the
main sanctuary, and filled with the light from the morning sun.
Complimentary coffee and tea are readily available, and the
elementary children’s area in the Jackson Room is just down the
hall.
The 11:00am worship service features a full choir (except in
summer), and takes place downstairs in the main sanctuary.
To our parents: Children are always welcome in worship! Infants
and toddlers are lovingly cared for in the Nursery Room
throughout the worship service, should you wish to take advantage
of this care. Worship Kits are available for young children.
Following the children’s story, preschool and kindergarten are
escorted to the preschool room by their teachers and/or
parents. 1st – 5th graders are invited to the Jackson Room for
Bible Discovery Zone when indicated in the Sunday Bulletin.
In four-part harmony, the Westminster Cancel Choir leads the
congregation in singing hymns, and illuminates the focus of each
11:00am worship service. The Choir sings a wide variety of
traditional and modern works from Johannes Brahms and John Rutter
to African-American Spirituals and Folk Songs. The choir leads
the congregation in singing hymns and other liturgical music, and
performs for special services and programs including Advent,
Christmas, Lent, and Easter.
The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. in the Club Room.
Westminster’s English handbell choir rehearses Thursday evenings
from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. in the Patio Room.
The Westminster Ringers perform during Sunday worship and for
outside groups from September through June. The art of English
handbell ringing is carried on with a five-octave set of
Whitechapel handbells and a three-octave set of hand chimes. This
unique tradition is an excellent introduction to playing in a
musical ensemble.
Westminster’s set of Whitechapel bells were recently extensively
refurbished back at their home in England. Information about
Whitechapel handbells can be found at the Whitechapel Foundry
website.
Handbell ringing is a unique musical art that has grown in
popularity worldwide. The choir comprises players each ringing a
handful of bells combining to play several octaves of notes.
In our 10th year, Music At Noon is heading toward its 500th
concert! More than 80,000 people have attended M.A.N.,
so join us and see why it’s ”the biggest kept
secret in Midtown.” You will hear classics, jazz, pops,
Broadway, opera, folk, and world-music. Artists include:
pianists, singers, chamber musicians, choirs,
organists, violinists, cellists, flutists, brass
& woodwind players, guitarists, folk and world
musicians, and more. Always free.
For 150 years, Westminster has distinguished itself with
high-quality music, musicians, and musical instruments. When many
churches had only a piano or reed organ, Westminster’s first
church building (completed in about 1866 and located at 6th &
L Streets in downtown Sacramento) had a small, hand-pumped pipe
organ.
For 150 years, Westminster has distinguished itself with
high-quality music, musicians, and musical instruments. When many
churches had only a piano or reed organ, Westminster’s first
church building (completed in about 1866 and located at 6th &
L Streets in downtown Sacramento) had a small, hand-pumped pipe
organ.
The second home of Westminster Presbyterian Church (completed in
about 1904 and located at 13th & K Streets) had a larger pipe
organ with impressive façade pipes.
The current home of Westminster (completed in 1927 and located at
13th & N Streets across from Capitol Park) was originally
equipped with a 28-rank Reuter pipe organ; in 1979 a new console
was installed, and in 1983 a major expansion was completed by the
M. P. Möller Organ Company. More recent additions include: 8′
state trumpet, 32′ contra bourdon, 32′ contra bombarde, and new
swell reeds. Future additions include: gallery 8′ festival
trumpet; gallery 8′, 4′, 2′ principal and mixture; redesigned
swell division; new solid-state console.
As Westminster enters it’s 150th year, exciting plans are
evolving to continue our tradition of musical excellence and
service to the greater Sacramento community. (See photos of our
recently installed 26″ church bell.) You are invited to celebrate
the joy with us!
The copy below this July 14, 1974 Sacramento Bee photo reads:
Although this building was torn down in 1926, the stained
glass windows on the left will look familiar to some Sacramentans
because they are presently in the Westminster Presbyterian Church
at 13th and N Streets. This picture ws taken in the early
1920’s in the old Westminster Church which was at [13th] and K
Streets…
