Music in Worship

Gospel Choir

Director: Craig Hopper

Focusing on Black Gospel Music and Spirituals, this choir is a high-energy chorus that participates in worship at least once a month. The Gospel Choir also sings for other congregations and at events in the wider community throughout the year. Anyone with an interest is invited to join the choir. Instrumentalists are welcome. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 6:20-7:20 pm, September through May.

Cherub Choir

Cherub Choir is on hiatus this year until it is considered safe from a standpoint of public health to resume.

The Cherub Choir is for children in grades K-2. We rehearse weekly from 5:30-6:00 pm and prepare to lead worship once a month. Our rehearsals focus on exploring our voices, matching pitch, moving to music, playing rhythm instruments and understanding our congregation’s worship. We learn to sing hymns, responses and anthems that reflect the theme of the scripture lessons.

Youth Choir

Youth in grades seven through twelve are invited to join the Youth Choir. Alumni often add their voices at festival services and other times throughout the year. The choir rehearses from 5:30-6:30 pm most Wednesdays of the school year. These rehearsals focus on bringing great texts and music off the page and into our very lives through ever-developing voices, open hearts and active minds. In so doing we grow in our understanding of music, ourselves, and our faith, enabling us to offer these gifts at worship. The choir sings at the 8:30 a.m. service about once each month September through May, on Christmas Eve and during Holy Week.

Chancel Choir

Director: Beth Ann Bonnecroy

Chancel Choir is for adult singers who enjoy leading in worship with the classic music of the church. Choral masterpieces from the Baroque to the present, as well as Psalms, hymns, Spirituals and world music are part of the Chancel Choir repertoire. The Chancel Choir leads congregational song and sings an offertory anthem for 11:00 am worship most weeks, and rehearses Wednesdays, 7:30-9:00 pm, September through May. Previous choir or music-reading experience is helpful but not required. New singers are welcome at any point in the year.

Choristers

Choristers are on hiatus this year until it is considered safe from a standpoint of public health to resume.

The Choristers choir is for children in grades 3-6. We rehearse weekly from 6:30-7:10 pm and prepare to lead worship once a month. Our rehearsals focus on healthy vocal production, reading and interpreting music, and understanding our faith through music. We sing hymns, descants, Psalms and anthems that connect to the weekly lectionary. Our rehearsals close with playing handbells, praying by candlelight, or singing in the sanctuary.

Handbell Choir

Director: Beth Ann Bonnecroy

Handbell Choir meets for 5-6 weeks in the fall and 5-6 weeks in the spring. Each 5-6 week session includes Sunday rehearsals, 4:00-5:15 pm, and ringing in several worship services. The Handbells ring an offertory anthem or pre-service music as well as accompanying Psalms and hymns. No handbell experience is necessary, but some music-reading ability is required.