A long-standing tradition in downtown Irwin has been the sounding of church bells and hymns played from many of the town's church towers.

A new tone can be heard at noon on weekdays and on Saturday as the carillons from First Presbyterian Church now resonate the sound of bagpipes along with its usual melodies.

Dale Litzinger, a technician with Schulmerich Bells, the company that manufactures the carillon system, said not only is First Presbyterian one of the first churches in Pennsylvania to have the bagpipes, but also among the first nationally of all institutions using carillons in such a way.

The music played that include this unusual instrument are "Amazing Grace," "Flowers of the Woods," "Going Home," "Highland Cathedral" and "Loch Lomond."

One of these five selections is played each weekday and Saturday before the cycle is repeated for the next week.

Church members contributing the money for the system included Brentzel, Guy, Bowman, Daulgherty, Fink and Lomicka families.

The regular bells can be heard at about 10 minutes past the hours of 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

The offset from the exact hour allows them to pick up right after the carillon chimes from the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church further downtown on Main Street have finished, thus acting as a choral response.

The bagpipes are a traditional musical instrument of the Scotch-Irish immigrants -- founders of the Presbyter-ian Church in America.

Church directory

A new church pictorial directory is being planned at Christ United Methodist Church of North Huntingdon.

Call the church office at 412-751-8219 to make a photography appointment.

Photos will be taken Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Saturday, Jan. 20.

Annual meeting

Norwin Christian Church in North Huntingdon will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m.

All reports of activities and events for last year and goals for 2007 will be discussed.

A soup and sandwich dinner will begin the evening at 5.

County prayer

Reservations are being taken for the 32nd annual labor-government-business-education prayer breakfast sponsored by Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and Westmoreland County Community College.

The event will be from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, at Four Points Hotel by Sheraton in Greensburg.

Cost of the breakfast buffet is $15.

To find out more or make reservations, call the chamber at 724-834-2900.