Piano music filled the Youth Activities Building, as delegates and guests filed in for worship and communion. Greg Reynolds, music director at the Neely’s Creek Church, Rock Hill, SC, has been Synod musician for the the past four years.
“I have felt that the ministry of music is a servant to the gospel. It helps to focus worship on the Lord and softens the heart in preparation of the preaching. Reynolds says he tries to match the prelude music with sermon topics. “I have found that many times God puts things together before Synod week – and the pieces I have prepared fit beautifully with the context of the service.”
Reynolds has been a music director now for about 30 years, with over half of that time at Neely’s Creek ARP Church. “This church and the ARP denomination has been a blessing to me and my family. All four of my children have pretty much grown up at Neely’s Creek and the denomination through Bonclarken, Appalachia Missions, Wales Missions Trip, and Music Conference.
Dr. Derek Thomas of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, opened the worship service with a sermon based on Romans 8:31. “We are a family, Dr.Thomas said. “If the Spirit of God dwells in us, the Spirit helps us in our weakness…strengthens, ministers. Dr. Thomas closed the worship service with communion, assisted by Vice Moderator Ken McMullen.