The Rev. Richard W. Cowles Jr. loves to sing.

The pastor at Church of the Apostles, United Church of Christ, has been on the job only a month and already in Sunday services he has sung a hymn he composed, performed with a quartet and sung a benediction.

"I love to use music as a source of joy and sustenance in times of trouble and to help build up community," the "baratenor" said. "I see myself as a community builder."

Cowles (pronounced "coals"), 62, who hails from Springfield, Mass., enhanced his love of music as an undergraduate at Moravian College, singing in its choir, well-known for its Christmas Vespers services.

In college, he felt the call to ministry while singing an anthem.

Ordained in 1973, Cowles served 28 years as a pastor and 10 years as a regional conference minister in upstate New York before coming to Lancaster.

He and his wife, Sarah, have a daughter, Sarah, 28, and a son, Peter, 30, both of Liverpool, N.Y.

As designated senior pastor, which is new to the UCC, he signed a contract to service Apostles for four years.

"It's the middle way between an interim and a fully called pastor," he said. "The church has experienced some conflict. I was called to work on the morale of the congregation, to build some positive spirit and help with moving forward with a vision for growth."

Cowles attended a service at Apostles in 1983 when he was a pastor at Carversville UCC in Bucks County and attended a UCC conference at Franklin & Marshall College.

And he was impressed.

"It's one of the signature churches in Pennsylvania," he said. "It's associated with the Lancaster Theological Seminary, which is our seminary in the area."

Apostles, 1850 Marietta Ave., has about 600 members and 250 worshippers on an average Sunday. It worships Sundays in a family-oriented contemporary service at 9:15 a.m and a traditional service at 10:45 a.m.

"Apostles has a very active congregation," he said. "There are lots of opportunities for families young and old."

The suburban church has a thriving preschool, its own food pantry and an annual concert series.

The congregation serves a meal once a month at First Reformed UCC for the Lancaster Council of Churches and offers periodic community events in Radar Park on its sprawling grounds next to Homestead Village.

"I love this church," he said. "I believe it has much to share with the community. I look forward to a good ministry here, to reaching out to the community, and for the community to discover this wonderful community of faith."