Music & Worship at First Presbyterian
Proclaiming the Word of God through Music
Join us in Worship at First Presbyterian Church
Music plays a vital role in worship here at First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville. Through vocal and instrumental music we lift our music as a sacred offering to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ each week. Our Adult Choir serves as the primary musical ensemble for our 11:00 AM worship service as well as special services. Our choir is made up of both long-term singers as well as new members, professional singers and amateurs. Some of our members are found singing in the Knoxville Opera or playing in the Knoxville Symphony or jamming in a bluegrass group. All levels of musical talent are welcome and there is a place for you here: singing, playing hand bells or an instrumental.
Meet Our Music Director/Organist
Hello! I am Mark Pace, and am honored to serve as Music Director at First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. When I was a child, I always wanted to play musical instruments. However, coming from a low income family, I did not have access to a piano or formal music instruction. When I was about 16 years old, I bought a piano and began taking lessons with money I earned doing farm labor. A couple of years later, I visited a church that had someone playing the organ and directing the choir. I had never witnessed such a scene at my home church, nor had I ever considered such a position to be a future career possibility for me. However, this worship experience prompted me to major in organ and choral music during college and pursue an eventual career as a church organist and choirmaster.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than praising God with the wonderful organ at our dear old First Church and directing a gifted choir in the singing of anthems and hymns intended to bring our congregation closer to knowing and experiencing the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
I remind our choir members of the old adage that “he who sings prays twice.” I also love The Chorister’s Prayer, which goes as follows:
Bless, O Lord, us thy servants,
who minister in thy temple.
Grant that what we sing with our lips,
we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts,
we may show forth in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Get in touch with Mark Pace at mark@fpcknox.org or by calling the church office at (865) 546-2531.
Watch and Listen
Videos
Check out videos from our worship services of our choir and various instrumentalists.
Musical Practice Schedule
Check out Children’s Choir, Adult Choir, and hand bell schedule and descriptions here.
Diapason Magazine Feature
First Presbyterian is honored to have been featured on the cover of Diapason Magazine.
Musical Instrument Information
First Presbyterian is blessed to have two wonderful pipe organs. Learn more here.
“It is a joy and blessing for me to sing in the choir at First Presbyterian Church. I sing to praise, glorify and worship our Creator though song. And, what a super time we have when preparing during rehearsals. I so appreciate the wonderful group of talented, friendly people who make up our choir and our terrific music director Mark Pace. It's a great place to be for worship through music.”
- Mary Ann Piper
Featured Performances at First Presbyterian
