Gary United Methodist Church

"Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." Ephesians 5:19

Everyone is welcome! Through our music...

We praise God.
We grow closer to God.
We tell others about God.
We bless the congregation.
We make something beautiful.
We grow closer to one another.

Celebrating a History of Music at Gary Church

Sunday, May 18, 10:10 a.m., Commons A/B, led by Kevin Lange

Learn about the development of the music program at Gary Church: from the early class meetings of the 1800s, to the bell ministry and praise bands founded in the 1900s, to the music groups we enjoy today. Join organist Kevin Lange for an exploration of Gary Church’s rich history of music and worship.

Pipe Organ Celebration

Saturday, May 31

Pre-concert talk: 2:15 p.m., Sanctuary

Organ concert: 3 p.m., Sanctuary

Refreshments: 4:15 p.m., Commons

Gary Church’s 1930 Austin pipe organ has led and supported worship every week for nearly a century. Music directors have changed, pastors have rotated in service, and musical styles and tastes have continued to evolve, but the organ has remained a constant. Even though recent years have been particularly hard on church music programs, Gary Church remains committed to a vibrant music ministry and the pipe organ as foundational to the worship life of the congregation.

We will celebrate the Gary Church pipe organ, its contribution to worship and its history. You’ll see and/or hear from many Gary Church organists, including Lance Peeler, Bill Crosbie, Bill Phemister, Karl Bruhn, Randy Berner and Kevin Lange. The program will include concert pieces and hymns and more.

The concert program will include a history of Gary Church's organ including the original 1930 specification plus details of additions and modifications made through the years. The program will highlight significant events and touring artists over the years who have played this organ in either solo or ensemble music presentations.

Invite your friends to this celebration of our 95-year-old pipe organ!

History of our Organ

The original organ in the present building was built in 1930 by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut at a cost of $15,900. It contained 26 ranks and was divided between two chambers located in the Chancel of the Church and completely under expression. It was an instrument of 3-manuals plus pedal and served Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, IL, for 60 years without change. In 1990, a solid-state combination action was installed in the console and a few tonal additions made.

In 2003, the Bradford Organ Company of Evanston, Illinois took charge of the maintenance. Under their direction, several tonal changes and additions were made and a completed specification drawn up based upon plans set forth in 1990. In 2006, the console underwent a complete renovation including new stop jambs and keyboards. At present, the organ contains 45 ranks plus console preparations for 3 digital ranks in the pedal.

A trompette-en-chamade was added in 2011 and first used on Easter Sunday that year.

Organ: Austin Organ Company, 1930 (Op 1737)

Rebuilt, tonal additions, 1990

Console rebuilt, tonal additions, 2006-2011

GREAT	SWELL
16'	Gemshorn (Ch)	16'	Lieblich Gedeckt
8'	Diapason	8'	Diapason
8'	Bourdon	8'	Gedeckt
8'	Gamba	8' Salicional
4'	Octave	8' Voix Celeste
4'	Harmonic Flute	4'	Principal
2'	Fifteenth	4'	Flat Traverso
IV	Fourniture	2 2/3'	Nazard
16'	Contra Tromba	2'	Flautino
8'	Tromba	1 3/5'	Tierce
Chimes	III	Mixture
16'	Contra Trumpet
8'	Cornopean
8'	Oboe
8'	Vox Humana
4'	Clarion
Tremelo

CHOIR	PEDAL
16'	Gemshorn	*32'	Double Open Wood
8'	Rohr Flute	32'	Contra Bourdon
8'	Gemshorn	*16'	Open Diapason
8'	Gemshorn Celeste	16'	Principal
4'	Koppel Flute	16" Bourdon
2'	Spitz Flute	16'	Lieblich Gedeckt (Sw)
1 1/3'	Quint	16" Gemshorn (Gh)
III	Scharf	8' Octave
8'	Trumpet-en-Chamade	8'	Flute
8'	Clarinet	4'	Choral Bass
Harp	*32''	Contra Bombarde
Celesta	16'	16' Trombone
Cymbelstem	16'	16' Contra Trumpet (Sw)
Tremolo	8'	Trumpet
4'	Clarion

* Console Preparation Only

11:11 a.m. music playlist

If you've been wanting a way to worship through singing at home or on the road, Collective Joy! now has a playlist on YouTube and Spotify of the songs that we regularly sing at the 11:11 a.m. Sunday service! Feel free to listen throughout the week so you can be even more familiar with the songs we are singing on Sunday mornings.

Children's Choir
Wednesdays, 6:15-7 p.m., Choir Room
Age 3–Grade 5
This group will make music with friends and praise God in worship. Register here.

4:12 Gary Youth Band

4:12 Youth Band: (7th-12th grade): Tuesdays, 6-6:45 p.m.

Do you play an instrument? Want to learn an instrument? Love to sing? Come and join 4:12 Youth Band as we play worship music together. All skill levels welcome. Register here to learn more.

Men’s Chorus
Saturdays, 9-10 a.m., Choir Room (meets twice a month)
High School–Adult: tenors and basses

Celebration Singers
This group for adult sopranos and altos is on hiatus until we can provide leadership.

Chancel Choir
Thursdays, 7:30-9 p.m., Choir Room
High School–Adult: sopranos, altos, tenors, basses

Usually leads Sunday worship at 9 a.m.

Collective Joy!

Thursdays, 6–7 p.m., Sanctuary

High School–Adult

Praise band, usually leads worship at 11:11 a.m.

Festival Choir and Orchestra
Meets weekly at the beginning of the year to sing and play in worship before or during Lent. The music is the sermon for the day.

Please contact Director of Music Joshua Velez to find out more about our singing groups!

Hear the 2025 Festival Choir and Chamber Orchestra

Enjoy Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, with organ and chamber orchestra. This deeply moving and spiritual work served as the musical message during our Sunday worship services on the second Sunday of Lent.

Music Ministry Examples

Below is a sampling of many of our music groups. Click the upper left of the video for the drop down menu to view a specific group.

Hear the 2024 Festival Choir and Orchestra: