Worship: In-Person or Online : Details
“Those who sing pray twice.” So said 5th century bishop St. Augustine. We are encouraged in Colossians to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
We at Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church do a great deal of singing in worship and we do believe it to be another form of prayer. Our fine Rufatti pipe organ leads us in worship and the musical organizations of which we are proud complement that leadership.
The Chancel Choir is open to adults (from high school and beyond) and rehearses on Wednesday evenings. We alternate singing at the 8:30 am and 10:00 am weekly Sunday liturgy and for both liturgies on Festival Sundays.
The Handbell Choir invites those with music reading ability to ring. The Bell Choir rehearses on scheduled Wednesday evenings and plays periodically in worship.
Youth - Children in church school receive instruction at scheduled times and play a role in worship liturgy several times per season. A yearly Advent pageant showcases their instrumental talents during the Prelude. They also sing gloriously during the week-long Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the summer.
Guest instrumentalists, often from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, enhance our worship life frequently throughout the year.
If you have musical gifts that you would share by participating in Mt. Lebanon Lutheran’s music Ministry, kindly contact Dr. Christopher Keenan, Director of Music and Organist.
The Ruffatti Organ
The Fratelli Ruffatti Pipe Organ was installed in 2002 after an extensive search by the organ selection committee. It has three manuals and pedal and consists of 36 pipe stops, 16 digital stops, 32 ranks and 1,816 pipes. The instrument is more than adequate for the majority of organ literature, undergirding hymn singing, and providing colorful accompaniments for anthems and solos.
In 2009 a 4 stop Antiphonal Division was built and installed by J. Zamberlan and Company and Joseph Zamberlan continues the maintenance of the entire instrument to this day. The Antiphonal division boasts a beautiful Trompette enchamade as well as 8, 4, and 2 Principals.
Mt. Lebanon United Lutheran Church is very proud of its version of the “king of instruments!”
Organists' Biographies
Dr. Christopher Keenan, Organist and Director of Music
A native of Franklin, TN, Chris received his Bachelor of Music degree (Organ Performance) in 2012 from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He studied under John Walker, former president of the American Guild of Organists and one-time Music Director & Organist at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. Chris then earned a doctorate in Music and Organ Performance in 2016 at the University of Texas. He’s performed recitals throughout America and Europe, including Auferstehungskirche, Leipzig; Freiburg Cathedral; Westminster Cathedral; Bach Church, Arnstadt; Portsmouth Cathedral; Albert Hall, Nottingham; and Princeton University Chapel.
After completing his doctoral studies, Chris became Director of Music & Broadcasting at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. During his time there, an interest in medicine grew from his service as a Firefighter / EMT-B at Pine Ridge Fire Rescue in Summerville, SC. Christopher completed remedial studies in science and gained admission to the University of Pittsburgh Medical School beginning in fall 2022 where he is working toward an M.D. degree. He’ll serve with us during his time in Pittsburgh.
Larry Allen, Director of Music and Organist Emeritus
Larry Allen was the Director of Music and Organist of Mt. Lebanon Lutheran Church for 16 years and is now honored with the emeritus title. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and his Masters in Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he was a student of Alec Wyton. He did further study in Paris with Marie-Claire Alain and received the Premier Prix in organ performance from the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmasion.
Prior to his Pittsburgh move, Larry was for 30 years Director of Music and Organist at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. He was also head of the organ department at the Hartt School of Music from 1992-2004. His professional vocal ensemble, The Woodland Scholars, sang for several conventions of the ACDA.
In Pittsburgh, Larry has been Dean of the American Guild of Organists and was the Chairperson of the 2015 Regional Convention which brought over 200 organists and church musician together for a week of concerts and courses for self improvement. He is the organist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with whom he has performed the Saint-Saens “Organ Symphony” and has recorded the Strauss “Alpine Symphony.”
Sunday Worship
Liturgy of Word and Sacrament
