Voices that Guide Us at First United Methodist Church

• Pre-concert talk: 30 min before each performance
• Post-concert reception: immediately following each performance

Come trace the arc of transcendence, where ancient echoes entwine with contemporary voices in a rich tapestry of the timeless and the sublime!

Witness the enduring power of prophetic women whose voices transcend time in Bay Area composer Eric Tuan’s A Great Cloud of Witnesses and feel the heartfelt connection in Pamela Z’s innovative “Pen Pal.” From Stanford’s composition program, “Mahi” reveals the courage of finding one’s voice, while “Subtler the Subtlety” invites us to a soundscape that transcends familiar harmony, exploring unseen realms. The stirring grace of Handel’s Messiah, the soothing balm of Joan Szymko’s “The Peace of Wild Things,” and Shira Cion’s meditative prayer, “Ma Navu,” all embrace transcendence in its most revered forms. The program culminates in a joyous medley of holiday songs from around the world, lifting us together in a final transcendent moment of shared music and spirit.

December 12, 2025 at 7pm in Palo Alto, CA December 13, 2025 at 1pm in Santa Clara, CA