director of music

photo by Amanda Jean Kowalski

We are blessed to have the multi-talented Mike Effenberger directing our music ministry here at Second Christian Church.

An extraordinarily gifted musician, Mike is an accomplished jazz pianist, keyboardist and, although he tries to keep it a secret, an excellent accordion player! Sometimes he'll even treat us by bringing in his vintage Hammond B-3. 

A fixture in the Seacoast music scene, Mike plays in numerous area ensembles, ranging from gospel, New Orleans jazz, funk, alternative rock as well as jazz standards and not-so-standards. Mike is a remarkably good humored teacher who works us hard to make our choir sound really good!

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​singing our faith

Music at Second Christian is a blend of the traditional hymns many of us grew up with as well as a healthy portion of more contemporary hymnody which gives expression to our faith in language that speaks to us today.

Our adult choir sings almost weekly from September to June, and we are blessed by a number of guest musicians who come in to share their gifts with us from time to time.

There's always a folder and a seat in the choir loft for YOU! No experience is necessary. From September to June we rehearse Wednesdays at 6:30 and Sunday mornings at 9:00. You are invited to come and make a joyful noise with us!

second sunday jazz

On the Second Sunday of each month, Second Christian holds a Jazz Service during our regular Sunday morning worship hour. From September to June our Second Sunday Jazz Trio - featuring Jim Rudolf (percussion), Rob Gerry (bass), and our own Mike Effenberger (piano), along with the occasional special guest - help lead us in this slightly outside-the-box worship service. Our July and August jazz service will often feature guest musicians, but everything is flavored jazz with Mike on the piano.

Artfully blending the sacred and secular, each month we feature of music of one of the legends of jazz, including the likes of Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Art Blakey, Fred Rogers, and other pioneers in the genre. Frequently, the choir will offer an arrangement created especially for the occasion by our own Mike Effenberger. 

A steady diet of Second Sunday Jazz may not be for everybody, but it's an adventurous worship experience you will always remember!
​We hope you'll come join us one Second Sunday. We think you'll be back!