Alisa Bair
A native Lancastrian with a double degree in music education and music therapy, Alisa is a published writer and composer and an avid proponent of all of the arts. She had a rich, ecumenical background in church ministry prior to making a major career turn in 2001 to study at NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, where she received her M.F.A. in 2003. Upon graduation, she returned to Lancaster and, not planning to resume ministry employment, worked various jobs while continuing to write and compose. Fifteen months into her attendance at First Presbyterian Church, however, she began to sense a second calling into church ministry, just prior to learning that they were searching to fill a part-time music position. She was particularly thrilled to learn its emphasis was on the arts and with children and youth, for whom she has had a lifelong passion.
She is married to Rob Bair, a counselor at Hempfield High School. They have two adult daughters, Lauren and Leslie – and another, Kelly, whose faith journey through illness and up to her death at the age of eight is chronicled in Alisa’s book, A Table for Two (Good Books, 1998).
A lover of words, Alisa lives by quotes. Her latest favorite is one by German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke: "If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself, admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the Creator, there is no poverty and no indifferent place."
Alisa directs the Junior & Youth Choirs
You can reach Alisa at alisa@fpclanc.org
Dan SnyderDan came to Lancaster from upstate New York in 1992. He helped our Cherry Street service to make its transition to Sunday mornings in the winter of 2003 and has played a key role in its growth and development since then. He received and associates degree in Engineering Science before pursing a career in church ministry. Dan did his undergraduate work at Lancaster Bible College and is currently working on a Masters of Divinity toward ordination in the PC(USA).
He has a passion for the development of healthy worship communities that speak the language of post-modern and post-Christian people. Dan is also a creative, strategic thinker. He, his wife Chris and children, Julia and Gordon, live in the City of Lancaster where they invest their lives into their neighborhood.
You can reach Dan at dan@fpclanc.org
- Matthew Weaver, Organist
- Mark Williams, Chancel Choir Director
- Pam Williams, Handbell Choir Director
- Alison MeKeel, Cherub Choir Director
- Susan Hurley, Junior & Youth Choirs Director
