If you're trying to influence others, meet different people and forge new relationships, music is a pretty good way to go about it. The Rizzetta's Tones' music is downright neighborly.

"I think (Good Shepherd's fine arts series is) for the community," said Doug Albert, who's been the chair of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's fine arts committee for three years. "Greenfield is like becoming our neighborhood. We are obviously a church, and we're welcoming to all. This is like a musical outreach to the Greenfield area. We want people to be comfortable as our neighbors. We're trying to be an outreach to the entire Conestoga Valley community."

Rizzetta's Tones will kick off the 2026-27 season of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd's popular fine art series. The Celtic-American quintet will present its unique musical stylings at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, inside the church's 350-seat sanctuary at 750 Greenfield Road, Lancaster.

The concert is free to attend, and a goodwill offering will be accepted during intermission.

"We do some really large ensembles, but this is more of an intimate setting," said Albert. "It's the kind of vibe like you're in Ireland and you slipped into a pub. It's kind of a Celtic feel."

Rizzetta's Tones' performance is expected to last about 80 minutes and consist of two 35-minute sets, each of which will feature five tunes and be separated by an intermission.

"They specialize in Celtic Americana," said Albert. "They're doing Celtic music, and they know they're doing it for American audiences. There's an educational element to their performances. There's also going to be a beat to this thing because they're playing percussion instruments. It's like the beat of Ireland."

Rizzetta's Tones consists of founder Bill Stine, Alden Hoke, Linda Lohr, Amanda Wells and Randy Kochel. They're accomplished and experienced musicians who can all sing and play multiple instruments.

"They're five people who have been playing together for a long time," said Albert. "They're very comfortable with each other. They are storytellers, and they're putting it to music.

"You're not going to find Celtic music at every concert you go to," continued Albert. "This is a uniqueness we want to bring to the community. We want to provide art opportunities. We're trying to be an extension of the neighborhood."

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, which is supported by more than 100 active members, has been serving the Conestoga Valley area through its fine arts series for more than 30 years. The next performance in the four-part fine arts series, "O Holy Night: Music of the Advent Season," will be presented at the church at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29.

"There aren't that many churches in the Greenfield area," said Albert. "We're trying to be your hometown church. We're trying to be that faith community that I think the area needs."

For additional information, go to http://www.goodshepherdlancaster.org.