Music & Arts Opportunities

Celebrating creativity, honoring tradition, and expanding our collective imagination—together.

There are many ways to get involved with music and the arts.

With a nearly 45-member Adult Choir, several adult bell choirs, youth bell choirs, and a seasonal bell choir called the Old Lyme Ringers – all led by professional directors and soloists – we offer many ways to enjoy and participate in music-making here at FCCOL.

In addition, we regularly hold music sessions during our Sunday School classes, as well as special concerts throughout the year. We believe God can be revealed through music, and we’re deeply grateful for the richness these programs bring to our community life.

We also offer a variety of arts groups and activities designed to celebrate the beauty our community members make, and inspire them to find new ways to connect with the holy and with each other. Current art offerings include our book clubs, a writing group – even a pottery-making studio.

Opportunities for Music & the Arts at FCCOL

Our Choir sings during our Sunday morning worship service for most of the year, and arranges special holiday performances for our Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve worship services. We occasionally join with other area choirs for group concerts – a great way to connect to other music lovers in town!  

Membership is open to all congregation members. For more information, please contact Director of Music Simon Holt at smo.artisticdirector@yahoo.com.

Bell choirs are a timeless part of church tradition, and one we especially enjoy reimagining and bringing forward to the next generation. Old Lyme Ringers rehearse and provide special bell-ringing performances during the church year. Membership is open to all. For more information, please contact Gary Jungkeit at  gjunkeit@gmail.com.

Our youth bell choir, ReBELLion, is made up of students in grades 3-9. They ring at occasional Sunday morning worship services throughout the year.

Please contact Gary Jungkeit, either in person, or at: gjunkeit@gmail.com, for more information.

Our congregation occasionally arranges concerts with local and traveling music acts that enrich the spiritual lives of our congregation and community. We have been honored to welcome Ramzi Aburedwan & The Dal’Ouna Ensemble in Concert with guest violinist Michael Dabroski, and the Altera Ensemble.  We have also welcomed Roman Diaz and Rumba Ensemble from Cuba, and we’re excited that Altera Ensemble, under the direction of Christopher Lawry, will be returning.

Occasionally, our Book Clubs convene to read and discuss books of current interest. Updated information can be found our calendar or in the weekly newsletter. For more information, please contact Laura at lfitz.nager@gmail.com.

Writing at the Well is a group for writers and lovers of poetry and short prose. The group meets monthly in the Hoag Parlor, where participants either bring in written work of their own to share, or a poem or short prose piece by a favorite author. All writers and aspiring writers are welcome. 

Dates vary from month to month—please check the calendar on our website for a current schedule. For more information, please contact Laura at  lfitz.nager@gmail.com.

Some time ago, a member of our congregation donated funds to create a pottery studio in the basement of our Parish House in memory of her husband, Walt. The studio contains pottery wheels and a kiln, as well as an assortment of clays and finishes, and serves as a place for master potters to offer classes and teach their craft to local artists. 

For more information, email fccol@fccol.org.