72nd Annual Ocean Grove Choir Festival

Jul 18

Written By John Burnham

Anchored in Hope
A Festival of Faith and Song

Saturday, July 18, 2026
in the Great Auditorium

The Great Festival Chorus

MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra

Dr. Jason C. Tramm
Artistic Director

Dr. Gordon Turk
Organist in Residence

Dr. Cindy Bell
Worship Coordinator

Ronald Naldi
Tenor Soloist,
Artist in Residence

Monica Ziglar
Soprano Soloist

Justin Beck
Bass Soloist

Corrie Lotito
Mezzo-Soprano Soloist

John Burke, Jr.
Tenor Section Leader

Click HERE for conductor biographies

PROGRAM

Instrumental Prelude

MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra

“The Church’s One Foundation”

Arr. R. Sterling

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

Arr. M. Riley

Invitation to Worship

Nancy Ann Gillan

President, OGCMA

“Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal”

trad. Hymn/arr. Alice Parker

Dr. Anne Matlack, Conductor;
Monica Ziglar, Soprano
and Justin Beck, Bass

Hark I hear the harps eternal,
ringing on the farther shore.

As I near those swollen waters,
with their deep and solemn roar.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
praise the Lamb!

Hallelujah, hallelujah, glory to the Great I AM.

And my soul though stained with sorrow,

fading as the light of day.

Passes swiftly o’er those waters
to the city far away.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
praise the Lamb!

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah,
glory to the Great I AM.

Souls have crossed before me, saintly,
to that land of perfect rest.

And I hear them singing faintly,
In the mansions of the blest.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
praise the Lamb!

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah,
glory to the Great I AM.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
praise the Lamb!

Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah,
glory to the Great I AM.

Scripture

Katie Suter

Revelation 21:1–4

“And I Saw a New Heaven”

Edgar Bainton

Dr. David Trippold, Conductor

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

For the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away;

And there was no more sea.

And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

Coming down from God out of heaven,

Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice
out of heaven, saying

Behold the tabernacle of God is with men,

And he will dwell with them
and they shall be his people,

And God himself shall be with them
and be their God.

And God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes

And there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow nor crying,

Neither shall there be any more pain,

For the former things are passed away.

For the former things are passed away,
are passed away.

Congregational Hymn

“O Worship the King”

R. Grant, Att. J.M. Haydn / Arr. K. Boesiger

O worship the King, all glorious above,

O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;

Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,

Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of God’s might, O sing of God’s grace,

Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,

Whose chariots of wrath

the deep thunderclouds form,

And dark is God’s path

on the wings of the storm.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;

Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,

Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

“Glory in the Lord”

Pepper Choplin

Pepper Choplin, Conductor

Dedicated by Grace Church
in honor of Jason Tramm
for his faithful service, inspiring leadership,
and unwavering dedication
to keeping music alive in Ocean Grove

Let not the wise glory in their wisdom,

Let not the strong glory in their strength,

Let not the rich glory in their riches,

But let them glory in the glory of the Lord.

Rejoice in my knowledge and understand

that I am the Lord your God.

For I will move through all the earth

with justice from above

and righteousness and love.

Let not the wise glory in my wisdom,

Let not the strong glory in my strength,

Let not the rich glory in my riches,

But let them glory in the glory of the Lord.

Come and know me, you will see my wisdom.

Come and know me,
you will see my faithfulness and strength.

If you know me, you will see my glory,

See the power and the glory of the Lord.

So let the wise glory in my wisdom,

And let the strong glory in my strength,

And let the rich glory in my riches,

But let them glory in the glory of the Lord.

Scripture

Ryan Herbison

Jeremiah 9:23–24;
John 3:16–17

“And Can it Be”

Charles Wesley/
arr. Dan Forrest

Dr. Cindy Bell, Conductor

And can it be? And can it be?

Amazing love, how can it be?

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me,

who caused His pain?

For me who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God,
shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above.

So free, so infinite His grace;

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race;

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;

For, O my God, it found out me!

And can it be? And can it be?

Amazing love! How can it be?

No condemnation now I dread

Jesus and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach the eternal throne,

And claim the crown

through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou my God,
should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou my God,
shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

Amazing love!

Scripture

Katie Suter

Psalm 148:1–7, Psalm 148:11–13

“Hallelujah” from Mount of Olives

Beethoven

Thomas Berdos, Conductor

Hallelujah! unto God’s Almighty Son.

Praise the Lord, ye bright angelic choirs,

In holy songs of joy.

Man, proclaim His grace and glory,

Hallelujah! unto God’s Almighty Son.

Praise the Lord in holy songs of joy.

Greeting

Nancy Ann Gillan

Offertory

“Benedictus” from Requiem

Mozart

Great Auditorium Quartet

Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domini.

Blessed is He who cometh
in the name of the Lord.

Osanna in excelsis.

Hosanna in the highest.

Ocean Grove Auditorium Ushers’ March

Clarence M. Kohlmann

Doxology

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Please remain standing
for the singing of the hymn.

Congregational Hymn

“How Firm a Foundation”

Rippon/Early USA

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say
than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee,

help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

“When through fiery trials
thy pathways shall lie,

My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

“The soul that on Jesus
hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell

should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no, never, no never forsake!”

“Christ Arose”

Robert Lowry/
R. Kevin Boesiger

Kevin Boesiger, Conductor

Dedicated by the Ladies’ Auxiliary
to the Love of God and Country

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Savior,

Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus, my Savior,

Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose;

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Scripture

Ryan Herbison

Luke 24:1–7

I Cor. 15:51–53

“It Is Well With My Soul”

Spafford/Bliss arr. Mack Wilberg

Dr. Everett McCorvey, Conductor

Dedicated by Jason Tramm
in loving memory of
Dorothy Doktor and John Tramm
whose love opened my heart to song.

Their gifts live within me in every note I conduct.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control:

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul;

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross,

And I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
O my soul!

It is well, with my soul;

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day
when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound
and the Lord shall descend;

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul;

it is well, it is well, with my soul.

Scripture

Katie Suter

Psalm 33:20–22;
Hebrews 6:19a

“My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord”

Trad. Arr. Moses Hogan

Dr. Jason Tramm, Conductor

In the Lord, in the Lord, My soul’s been anchored in the Lord;

In the Lord, in the Lord, My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.

Before I’d stay in hell one day,
My soul’s been anchored in the Lord;

I’d sing and pray myself away,
My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord, O Lord!

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord. [Refrain]

Goin’ shout an’ pray and never stop,
My soul’s been anchored in the Lord.

Until I reach the mountain top,
My soul’s been anchored in the Lord,
O Lord!

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord, O Lord!

My soul’s been anchored in the Lord. [Refrain]

Do you love Him? Oh yes!
Do you love Him? Hallelujah!

Do you love Him? Oh yes! God Almighty.

Are you anchored? Oh Yes!

Yes, I’m anchored,
my soul’s been anchored in the Lord.

Yes, Will you serve Him?
Oh Yes! Will you serve him?

Hallelujah! Will you serve Him? Oh yes!

God almighty. Are you anchored? Oh yes!

Yes, I’m anchored,
My soul’s been anchored in the Lord, Hallelujah!

Will you praise Him? Oh yes!
Will you praise Him?

Hallelujah! Will You praise Him? Oh Yes!

God almighty! Are you anchored?
Yes, I’m anchored. Lord, I’m anchored,
Oh yes!

Lord, I love You, Oh Yes! Yes, I’ll serve You,
Oh yes! Lord, I’ll praise You. Oh yes! Hallelujah!

My Soul’s been anchored in the Lord,
God almighty, My soul’s been anchored
in the Lord.

Scripture

Ryan Herbison

Rev. 21:5–7; Rev. 22:20

“Because He Lives”

William and Gloria Gaither/
arr. Joseph M. Martin

Joseph Martin, Conductor

Dedicated By Ted Aanensen
In Honor and to the Memory of
Lou Mitchell, a man of rock-solid faith
and a foundational voice
that he used to honor God
in the Ocean Grove Choir for over 69 years.

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive.

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove
my Savior lives!

Because He lives I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,
just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives.

But greater still the calm assurance,

This child can face uncertain days
because He Lives!

And then one day I’ll cross the river.

I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.

And then when death gives way to victory,

I’ll see the lights of glory
and I’ll know He lives!

Because He lives I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

just because He lives!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Because He lives, He lives!

Congregational Hymn

“Blessed Assurance”

Crosbie/Knapp,
Instrumentals Arr. K. Boesiger

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.