The First Presbyterian Church Messiah Project: Mark Your Calendars!

The First Presbyterian Church Festival Choir has begun preparations for our church’s 2018 –19 Messiah Project. During the next calendar year, Handel’s monumental oratorio will be presented in its entirety during four worship services. The four Sundays have been chosen to allow the piece to be experienced within the sweeping context of the liturgical year.

The project’s first segment, at both services on December 23, will be Part One of the oratorio: “The prophecy and realization of God’s plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah.” The music will be presented by the First Presbyterian Festival Choir and orchestra.

In order to enhance this exciting worship experience for the congregation, the Adult Faith Formation committee is sponsoring a series of adjoining seminars, taught jointly by Stephen Hall and music director Tom Tropp. Steve’s focus will be the scriptural foundation and meaning of the brilliant libretto, which is primarily based on Old Testament texts, and Tom will provide insight into Handel’s musical setting of these texts.

Steve Hall will be familiar to First Presbyterian Church. Many members of the congregation enjoyed his presentations on the Psalms last fall, as well as his talk last spring on “What does the Old Testament have to do with Jesus?” Steve holds both an MA in Hebrew Language Studies from the American Institute in Jerusalem and a Th.M. in Old Testament Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is in the process of completing a Ph.D. at the Divinity School at the University of Chicago.

Tom Tropp is the Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, where he has been the director of the sanctuary choir since 2006. He is also on the faculty at the North Park University School of Music, Art, and Theater, where he directs the Women’s Chorale and teaches courses in church music history and literature. He holds master’s degrees in conducting and historical musicology from the University of Arizona, as well as the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University.

On Sunday, December 9, Steve will give an overview of the year-long Messiah Project between worship services, at 10:10 AM in the Chapel. Click here to watch the lecture!

On Sunday, December 16, also at 10:10 AM in the chapel, Steve will lead a study of the text in Part One, “The prophecy and realization of God’s plan to redeem mankind by the coming of the Messiah.” Perfect for the Advent season. Click here to watch the lecture!

On Sunday, December 23, the choir and orchestra will present Part One during both morning worship services. Tom will lead a discussion on the music in the chapel at 10:10 AM. Come be inspired and gladdened. Click here to watch the lecture!

For details on The Messiah Project and for future performance dates, please go to firstchurchlf.org/messiahproject.