Rev. Derrick Elliott, Pastor, Sun Lakes United Church of Christ

The AARP says that music can keep your brain healthy(found in the Dec. 1 email to members). Sun Lakes United Church of Christ (SLUCC) agrees! Music also adds depth and meaning to worship. This fall we found ourselves searching for a choir director. We were fortunate to have several candidates, and our Choir and Worship Committees chose Marc Gaston to be our new director.

Mr. Gaston has over 30 years of experience in directing, which earned him the honored 2023 Prestigious Community Innovator Award for the City of Phoenix. He directs the Grand Canyon Performing Arts where he conducts the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus, two small ensembles, a youth chorus, and an instrumental ensemble. Mr. Gaston is also the music director for the Chordaires in Sun Lakes and the Director of Music at Desert Palms United Church of Christ in Tempe, Ariz.

Sun Lakes United Church of Christ also hosts a community Bell Choir, which plays several times a year at our services. Several of our bell ringers are members of the SLUCC Church, and others are members elsewhere but love ringing, and they have become regular “ding-a-lings” at the SLUCC. If you’d like to experience our Chancel Choir or Bell Choir, please know that you are welcome to come worship with us Saturdays at 4 p.m. We’re always looking for singers and ringers.

We worship Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m. at the Chapel in Sun Lakes Phase 1, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd N.