Music & Arts : First United Methodist Church, Dallas

Music & Arts

In the Arts District of downtown Dallas, FirstChurch offers a thriving and diverse program of music and fine arts including choirs and handbell choirs for all ages, a theatre series producing three plays/musicals annually, and an art gallery with new exhibits every month. There is something for everyone who loves the arts and many ways to become involved both on stage and behind the scenes. For questions, contact Director of Music and Arts Dana Effler.

Choirs for Children & Youth

We share God’s gift of music with our children and youth in a variety of ways. Whether singing or playing an instrument, our children are instructed by music educators who are committed to providing a foundational sacred music education for our children in an engaging, safe and nurturing environment. Two handbell choirs, one musical ensemble and three choirs all rehearse on Sundays. Visit the Variations YouTube Channel to hear more of their music.

Register for Fall 2023-2024 Children’s & Youth Choirs below.

Carol Choir (Grades K – 1)

Cantate/Orff (Grades 2 – 3)

Counterpoint/Steeple (Grades 4 – 6)

Variations Youth Choir (Grades 7 – 12)

Choirs for Adults

The Chancel Choir sings for Sunday worship services and performs major choral works with orchestra. The Choir has toured to England, Canada, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, France and Switzerland giving concerts in such hallowed sacred spaces as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, St. Nicholas Church in Old Town Prague, and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Two handbell choirs ring not only for worship services and concerts at FUMC, but also for handbell festivals and performances in the greater Dallas community and beyond. Visit the Chancel Choir YouTube Channel to hear more of their music. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, and the handbell choirs rehearse on Sundays. Interested in singing? Click here.

Goodrich Gallery

The Goodrich Gallery enriches our church with exhibits featuring the work of gifted local artists. The Gallery is open on Sundays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Goodrich Gallery exhibit June/July features artwork by Charles Ralph.

Artist’s Statement:

My Art
is Driven By
My Heart
My Head
and
My Hands

I feel We
As a Society
Have Lost our Way
Regardless of
Religion and Belief
The lack of a God and Faith
In Our Lives
Of The Creator of Our World
Our Universe
The Amazing Miracles
Greater than Ourselves
We can Experience Everyday
If We Choose to See
Like a Young Child
All the Beauty
Wonder and Mystery
We Have Right Before us
Can Touch and Hold
In our Memories
Each Day
Every Sunrise
Bringing Light
And Love
To Our Lives
Every Sunset
Bringing a Moon
and the Stars
To Rest our Souls

Is not the Circle of Life
Where our Souls Go
As We Pass Through
This World and On To the Next
The Greatest Question ?

Belief in God
Christianity and all other Faiths
Have Created and Given Us All
The Greatest Art and Architecture
To Contemplate Our Own Existence

Upcoming Exhibits

Rotunda Theatre

FirstChurch is home to the Wortley-Peabody Theatre, a fully-outfitted black box theatre in the round that offers many opportunities both on stage and backstage for members and non-members who share a love of the theatre.

Upcoming Shows!

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Performances are Thursday, June 22, Friday, June 23, Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortley-Peabody Theatre.

Based on The Comic Strip Peanuts
by Charles M. Schulz

Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Beth Wortley, Director
Tim Effler, Musical Director

Click here for tickets.

Anything Goes!

Tickets & Reservations

All shows requiring reservations will be performed in the Wortley-Peabody Theatre.

Maximum seating capacity for the Wortley-Peabody Theatre: 150

Free productions are produced in the sanctuary. *Sanctuary performance times may vary.

All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.*

Box office opens at 6:30 p.m.

Seating begins at 7:00 p.m.

Reserved seats will be held at time of ticketing.

All reservations must be claimed 10 minutes prior to curtain. Reservations not claimed by that time will be released for resale. We reserve the right to seat late arrivals during the first appropriate interval or not at all if no seats are available.

Unused reservations will not be credited toward future productions. No refunds for unused reservations.

During the first Saturday performance of each production in the Wortley-Peabody Theatre, free on-site childcare is provided by the Developmental Learning Center (DLC) which is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Child-Care Licensing Division.

Reservations must be made at least one day prior to the performance. Please contact Tim Effler in Music and Arts at 214-220-2727, ext. 220.

Parking Information

Free parking is available at the meters after 6:00 p.m. Pay for parking in parking tower on the southeast corner of Harwood and San Jacinto.

For more information please contact Tim Effler in Music and Arts at 214-220-2727, ext. 220.

Flowers for Sunday Worship

Altar flowers add beauty to the church on Sundays. Remember a loved one by placing flowers on the Altar in their honor or memory. The donor or honoree may take all or part of the flowers following the 11 a.m. worship service. Altar flowers are $135.

Please contact Carrie Chavarria to request a date.