The First Lutheran Church will have special music at both the 9 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service and the 11 a.m. Traditional Worship Service on Easter Sunday, April 20.

The 9 a.m. Contemporary Easter Service in the lower level of the church will celebrate “Christ is Risen” with Holy Communion. The service will include Easter music, scripture readings, the Easter message by Pastor Mark E. Swanson, as well as observing Holy Eucharist. Congregational songs led by the Sacred Fire Team will be “Glorious,” Christ Is Risen,” “All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises.,” and “Communion Song.”

Childcare is provided at both worship services. The Contemporary Service is family friendly in a relaxing environment and about 45 minutes in length. The service will be video recorded and available online via the following: Facebook, Vimeo, and the Church website www.flcjny.org. The Sacred Fire Praise Team members include Kimberly King, Worship Leader & Coordinator of Contemporary Worship, Les King, Andrea Magnuson, Doug Anthony, Elaine Rissel, Brenda Ecklund, and Jonah Gruber.

There will be a half-hour of special prelude music beginning at 10:30 a.m. prior to the 11 a.m. Traditional Worship Service in the church nave. Musical selections will include “Toccata in D Minor” by J.S. Bach, played by Brian Bogey, organist; a piano solo “How Majestic Is Your Name” arr. by Jerry Ray, Gail Espinoza, pianist; “I Cannot Tell” arr. Tom Fettke, sung by Peter and Kimberly Larson; “An Easter Aria” by Flor Peeters, played by Brandon Caruso, trumpeter; “Alleluia, Jesus Lives,” arr. by Douglas Wagner, Jen Mikula, Hand Bell soloist; “To God All Glory and Praise” – Jane Lorenz, Julie Livengood, pianist, and Brian Bogey, organist; and “Alleluia” (from ‘Exultate, Jubilate’) by W.A. Mozart, sung by Marika Koch.

The 11 a.m. Traditional Worship Service with Holy Communion and Pastor Mark E. Swanson preaching, will include festive Easter congregational hymns with organ and brass including Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia!, Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing, and Thine Is the Glory. The choral anthems sung by the First Lutheran Choir will include Jesus Is Risen by Joseph M. Martin and Hallelujah (from ‘The Mount of Olives’) by Ludwig van Beethoven for the offertory anthem. During communion, Julie Costantini, soprano soloist, will sing There Is a Redeemer with I Know That My Redeemer Lives arr. by Lloyd Larson. The organ postlude will be Toccata (from the ‘Fifth Symphony’) by Charles M. Widor.

Worship participants at the 11 a.m. Traditional Worship Service will include the Rev. Mark E. Swanson, Pastor; Brian A. Bogey, Organist/Choirmaster; Brandon Caruso and Glenn Utter, trumpeters; Peter Larson, Liturgist; Fran Guichard, Lector; and Marika Koch, Hymn Cantor. This service will also be video recorded on the First Lutheran Church Facebook page, and on the church website www.flcjny.org. The public is welcome to attend.