First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach

James Hyatt is a professional financial consultant. “I did go to church, but then I just stopped,” he shared. “I stopped going to church after college and for some time after college. I was originally from South Florida and moved to New England for eight years.” Now James is back in Florida.

Before they were married, James and his wife, Danielle, started having conversations about the importance of practicing their faith together in a community. “We were looking for a very non-judgmental place where we felt comfortable going. From my experience, depending on the church, you can get eyes that look at you and you can just feel the judgment.”

“When we walked into First Delray, it was welcoming. They seemed happy to have us. It was non-judgmental and they were kind and answered our questions. We realized it was a place we could go together. At First Delray, we can practice our faith and strengthen it together.”

Not only do James and Danielle feel welcomed at First where they are practicing their faith together in worship, but they also practice it together when they return home. “Danielle and I go home and talk about the sermons. We talk about the service. The messages I get from Pastor Hood and Pastor Rapier, they are mind blowing how it impacts me internally. It really makes me think closely about my relationship with God and strengthening that. It makes me think about reading the Bible more. They have helped me realize how important faith is in my everyday life.”

Not only has it deepened their faith as individuals, but it has also strengthened their relationship. “Danielle and I have a great relationship. Going together to worship at First has really impacted us in a positive way. We better communicate with each other.”

James and Danielle will be married at First Delray in 2022. They are grateful for the community who welcome them and the staff and pastors who support their spiritual growth. “The staff and ministry, it is phenomenal how much they care about the people and the community. We know they care about us too.”

Penny Johnson moved to Florida about seven years ago. The plan was for her family to move with her, but her daughter-in-law got a huge promotion and they stayed. Penny is a musician, but before visiting First Delray, she had a vocal cord injury that required surgery. “I was a trained singer,” she shared. Penny believed at that point in her life she may never sing again.

As she began to settle into life in Florida alone, she did an internet search for a church. “Music and mission were important to me. A church should be more than Sunday morning. I was looking for a church that reached out into the community.”

First Delray was the first church she visited. “I never visited another,” she said. “The first Sunday I came was a Sunday in Advent. The entire service was music. After the service I was sold. The music at First Delray is quite exceptional.”

It wasn’t just the music though; it was the kindness and warmth of the people. “When I was new, I felt awkward going at first. I was used to going to church with my family and I was now going alone,” she shared. “I found that it really didn’t matter though. That first Sunday, a woman in front of me turned around and started talking to me. Before that service even started, I was signed up for the handbell choir. I have a lot of friends that are people I met at the church. When I came here, I didn’t know anyone. I was starting from scratch, but it was easier than I expected because of the church.” God had given Penny a community to surround her and lift up her gifts for ministry.

While things at First Delray were welcoming and she was finding great spiritual growth in the Monday Morning Women’s Bible Study that draws her closer to God, something was still missing. Little by little her voice was coming back, but she missed singing deeply. “I asked Don Cannarozzi if I could try the choir. He said sure come and try. I sat next to him with this injured voice and he kept encouraging me. It was important,” she said through soft tears. “I thought I would never sing again. I can’t do what I used to do, but the fact that I can do some and that I am included in the choir—with professional signers who welcomed me with no judgment—means so much to me.” Now, when Don is off, Penny subs for him. She plays the organ and directs the choir.

“I studied music to play for God, so the fact that the church has encouraged me, and that I can share my gifts again means everything to me.”

Pregi Febriani grew up in Indonesia and came to the US for her bachelor’s and master’s degree in hospitality. She knew when she arrived in the US that she wanted to find a community. “I was looking for a church family because I didn’t have family in the US. The way I was raised, you always have God, and you can just pray, as simple as that, but I knew I also needed a community.”

After moving to Florida with a friend, Pregi began sitting on the back row of congregations in search for the one she would call her home. “I am very introverted so if the church is too small everyone will know I am new, and if the church it too big it might not feel like a family. I would sit in the back and get a feel for the churches.”

First Delray was similar to her church back home. “The people greeted me and made me feel welcomed, but they didn’t overwhelm me.”

Even when Pregi works light nights and the hotel and restaurant she still tries to get up and go to church. “My parents say that an hour at church can make your whole week different. You can read the Bible and pray but coming to church is a way to give yourself a break and be in community.”

After her children were born, she appreciated that the church provided ways for families to gather. Now, as her children are aging, she values Dr. Hoods weekly prayers and book. “Sometimes I feel like I pray the way I teach my children to pray. I just say God thank you for this day, I hope it is good. Dr. Hood’s prayers and messages are educational and inspirational, and I like to have his book with me. I spend a lot of time in the car rider line. I can pull the book out and just read one paragraph again and again for inspiration. That is what I need sometimes. Other times, I can read pages, but God always finds a way to give me what I need at that time.”

Pregi is grateful that she and her family call First Delray their family here in the US.

To fully appreciate the Music Ministry at First Delray, a place to start is to imagine what our worship services would be like without the Music Ministry. Music has been used for centuries to celebrate important events, to help celebrate marriage ceremonies and as solace when we mourn the passing of loved ones. Liturgical music helps to set the tone of a worship service. It can be joyous to celebrate the birth of Christ (Joy to the World, we sing). It communicates sorrow when we remember the Passion of Christ (The Old Rugged Cross, Beneath the Cross of Jesus) and the supreme joy of Easter Morning (Christ the Lord is Risen Today and the Hallelujah Chorus).   

While only a few sermons have brought me to high emotion, even tears, many musical numbers have done so. Music has the power to touch our hearts in a way that mere words simply do not. Hans Christian Andersen wrote, “Where words fail, music speaks.”   I don’t know the context and whether he was thinking of religious music or just music in general.   In either case, he was absolutely correct. I have had experiences when the emotion of a hymn or other song has been so strong that I cannot even sing the words without tears, but even then, I can hum the melody and listen to the singing of others.  

Whether singing a traditional hymn, listening to an instrumental rendering of a hymn or a full chorus and soloists performing one of the great choral works (Messiah and many other great works by Handel, Bach, Haydn, and Mendelssohn), liturgical music is a unique and special way to praise God and to inspire the listener.  St. Augustine said, “To sing is to pray twice.”   In other words, hymns and other songs of praise to God have a double blessing.   Both the text and the music can be a prayer to God. And which of us has not listened to or sung the words of a favorite hymn as a prayer.

At First Delray, we have the great fortune to have one of the most talented and inspiring ministers of music anywhere in Don Cannarozzi. His playing on piano and organ are unsurpassed in any other church in my opinion. Don also has assembled a roster of talented voices that make up the core group of our choir.  Give thanks and celebrate the supreme blessing that our music ministry gives to each of us. I know that I do.