Wesley United Methodist Church
Open hearts. Open minds. Open Doors.


Youth Choir

Handbell Choir
Wesley Winds
Celebration Band
Wednesdays
5:30 pm
Ray Oehme
"Halleluja"
Chancel Choir
Music is a vital part of the worship life at Wesley United Methodist Church. Choirs for all ages worship God through the singing of anthems and responses from diverse stylistic and historical origins reflecting the full range of the Church's tradition and mission. Choirs also take an active role in worship, leading the congregation through offering "hymns and psalms and spiritual songs" to God. Wesley choirs frequently sing outside the church sanctuary, offering the same gifts of worship to the community and the world.

 The 25-member Chancel Choir sings for the 10:45 a.m. Worship Service each week. The Chancel Choir rehearses each Wednesday evening at 7:00pm (September through May). In addition to regular worship leadership, the Chancel Choir sings for all special seasonal worship services including Advent Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Thanksgiving Eve.
+ Dr. Richard A. Smith
Director of Music
Dr. Richard A. Smith has directed church and community choral programs in Iowa, Alabama, and Florida for 30 years.  He has led choral and church music workshops throughout the United States.  His articles on church music and hymnody have been published in such journals as The Choral Journal, The Chorister, The Hymn, and Theology Today.  His choirs have performed for both state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, in various European venues and in Washington D.C.'s National Cathedral.  Their recordings and concerts have been broadcast on National Public Radio's Performance Today and The First Art.

Dr. Smith holds a bachelor of Music degree in Music History from Birmingham-Southern College, the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Sacred Music degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
 
Smith is also active as a composer.  His "Hodie Christus Natus Est" was recently published by Trinitas Music.  In 2002, Mr. Smith won the Iowa Composers' Forum's and the Iowa Choral Directors' Association's annual commission prize for new choral compositions.  The commissioned work, "Resurrection Circus," was premiered at the 2003 Convention of the Iowa Choral Directors Association.
 
Ric joined the staff of Wesley United Methodist Church in July of 1998.  He directs the Chancel and Handbell Choirs and is also actively involved in worship planning and leadership.  Mr. Smith founded the Muscatine Children's and Youth Choirs, involving 80 singers in grades K-12.