Music & Fine Arts at First UMC Lakeland

09/04/2026

🎶 Our 2026–2027 Fine Arts Series Brochure is here!

Discover the concerts, special performances, and musical experiences coming to First UMC Lakeland this season.
You can find the physical brochure inside the Fall issue of First Connections Magazine, out in mind September. If you can't wait till then, scan the QR code below and check out the digital Fine Arts brochure, right now!!

Take a look at what’s ahead and start planning for another exciting season of Fine Arts at First UMC Lakeland!

We can't wait!!

08/22/2026

COMING SOON!

🎶 A new season of exceptional music is almost here! 🎶
We’re excited to share that the 2026–2027 First UMC Lakeland Fine Arts Concert Series Brochure is almost here! From inspiring voices and beautiful instruments to unforgettable performances in our sacred spaces, another wonderful season of music awaits. 🎹🎺🎻
Our new Fine Arts Brochure will be included in the Fall issue of First Connections magazine, so keep an eye on your mailbox later this fall!
✨ New Season. New Experiences. Exceptional Music.
We can’t wait to experience it with you! 🎵

06/21/2026

The Handbell Ringers & Singers' recent trip to Nova Scotia was an unforgettable experience. What a blessing it was to immerse ourselves in the local culture and make connections with the people there through our music. We enjoyed this unique opportunity to spread God’s love…you can see the pure joy on our faces as we explored the beauty of The Maritimes!

06/20/2026

Following a fantastic trip to Nova Scotia, the Handbell Ringers & Singers arrived back in Florida this afternoon, where we were delighted by an unexpected greeting from Pastor Andy at the Ft. Myers airport! What an awesome surprise!

06/20/2026

On Day Nine of our Nova Scotia adventure, the Ringers & Singers visited the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, a restored 18th-century fortified town on Cape Breton Island. As the largest historical reconstruction in North America, the site offered us a captivating glimpse into colonial life, which we enjoyed despite the cold and damp weather conditions. After completing our tour of the fortress, we traveled to Halifax and returned the tables & foam coverings we’d borrowed for our concerts from a local church. Then it was time to bid farewell to our outstanding bus driver, Mark, who ensured our safety and punctuality throughout our stay in Nova Scotia while also regaling us with entertaining stories along the way and joining in our activities. We thank God for the gift of this wonderful trip filled with amazing memories, laughter, and unforgettable experiences.

06/19/2026

While in Nova Scotia, the Handbell Ringers & Singers experienced a special treat! We attended a Baddeck Gathering Ceilidh (otherwise known as a kitchen party) which featured traditional Celtic music & dancing. We loved it!

06/19/2026

On Day Eight of our Nova Scotia tour, the Ringers & Singers set out on a day trip to the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. On the way, we made a stop to see Paroisse Saint-Pierre (St. Peter’s Church) a large, beautiful church made of sandstone strategically positioned on the waterfront. This impressive example of French-Canadian Neo-classical architecture was built in 1893 and we were in awe as we walked around the scenic grounds and viewed the ornate features inside the church. For the rest of the day, we enjoyed various stops along the Cabot Trail Park surrounded by nature and God’s creation. Later in the evening, we experienced a special treat as we attended a Baddeck Gathering Ceilidh just down the road from our hotel. The gatherings are apparently a Nova Scotian custom featuring traditional Celtic music & dancing, reminiscent of “kitchen parties” that have long taken place in the region. We thoroughly enjoyed it, as the music was superb. It is evidently a favorite activity in that area, as the place was completely packed!

06/18/2026

Day seven of the Ringers & Singers tour brought us to the charming and quaint Ceilidh Country Lodge, our accommodations for the next few days. With beautiful weather and an amazing water view, we love this cozy little place, which is within walking distance to everything in the town of Baddeck. We ventured down the hill to our waterside lunch destination, The Freight Shed, for a delicious meal and then headed to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. We saw many of his personal artifacts and also observed full-scale engineering replicas at the museum. We then enjoyed strolling around town visiting shops and cafes for a good part of the day. Later in the evening, we traveled around the corner to Knox Presbyterian Church for our final concert during this tour. The lovely people from Knox (including their pastor) prepared a full dinner for us, complete with homemade biscuits, a bountiful seafood chowder, and savory corned beef & cabbage with potatoes & butternut squash. And then they brought out dessert! We were overwhelmed by their generosity. The church was quaint, just like the town, so the sanctuary was very small. We ended up removing an entire pew in order for the whole group to fit into the space for the concert. (We promptly put the pew back in place at the close of the concert.) Today offered another stunning glimpse of God’s creation and the uniquely welcoming spirit of Nova Scotia.

06/17/2026

Day Six brought much nicer weather in Nova Scotia! The Ringers & Singers took advantage of the beautiful day and visited Victoria Park in Truro. We then packed up the bus and headed to Baddeck, Nova Scotia, which will be our home base for the second half of our tour. Once settled into our hotel, we changed into our performance attire and headed to Sydney, where we gave a concert at United Heritage Church. What a blessing it has been to explore the beautiful landmarks in Nova Scotia, meet the wonderful, friendly people who call Nova Scotia home, and spread the love of Christ through music.

06/16/2026

The Ringers & Singers started Day 5 of our Nova Scotia tour with an amphibious tour of Halifax on the Harbour Hopper. We learned all about the history, landscape, and architecture of Halifax as we explored the city by both land and sea. The day was rainy, cold, and foggy but we had fun! We had some time in Halifax on our own for the afternoon so many of the group visited the Maritime Museum, where we learned about Nova Scotia’s marine history. We then traveled to Truro where we were warmly greeted by the people of First United Church. They’d prepared three types of delicious soups for us, and we welcomed the warmth of the food after such a cold, damp day. Once again, our evening concert was well received and we were met with enthusiasm and kindness by the people of Truro.