CHANCEL CHOIR

The Chancel Choir requires of its members a serious commitment of time and talents, but the rewards can be great. In addition to singing each week as part of our worship services, choir members spend 90 minutes in rehearsal every week, plus 20-30 minutes for warm-up and a final run-through before Sunday services. Choir members must sit apart from their families for the first half of the service, must have a new anthem (or two) ready each week. They attend hour-long Saturday morning rehearsals in the fall and spring to prepare our Christmas and Easter cantatas; they sing for the Carols and Choirs celebration in early December, and for two services on Christmas Eve; they join with singers from other Troy churches to provide music for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services during Lent. They also sing for our SOS guests during their week at our church. Choir members come together with willing and expectant hearts, contributing their good spirits and warm hearts to the fellowship of friends that is our choir family. Being a church choir member is another kind of challenge as well. For some members of the congregation the music provides the deepest spiritual experience of the service. For most people it sets the mood for worship; it presents an idea to ponder; it enhances the beauty and meaning of God's Word and man's search for a closer fellowship with God and with his fellow man. Those who sing in the choir have a responsibility to our church and to our God to provide the best performance and singing they can achieve.

We give God thanks for the dedication and commitment of the members of the Chancel Choir.

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP TEAM

 Our Contemporary Worship Service at 8:30 has grown about 50% since it's beginning in the fall of 2003.  This team-led worship experience is dependent on the gifts and graces of singers and instrumentalists as well as people proficient in the use of sound equipment and computers.

The musicians meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. to rehearse the music for upcoming Sunday morning worship services.  The musicians share the task of introducing the music and leading the worship service.  Members of the worship team are often at the church at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings to set up for the service and do sound checks. 

The people responsible for sound and visuals used in worship rotate on a weekly basis.  The words for songs are compiled during the week and finalized after the Wednesday rehearsal.  Our projection software package easily allows for changes prior to the service on Sunday morning. 

On the second Monday of each month there is a 7:00 p.m. meeting of all available team members.  The purpose of this meeting is to select the music for the following month.  Pastor Jack provides the message titles and scriptures for each week in addition to a theme that reflects the emphasis for each Sunday.  Given this information, the team then selects appropriate music for each Sunday.

All are welcomed to be a part of this team experience that allows for our contemporary praise of God through praising Jesus Christ.

God has blessed us with the musical ministry of those on the Contemporary Worship Team!

The Praise Team is directed by Suzanne Bianchi, who has been our church's Organist since 1992.

PRAISE BAND

Our multi-generational Praise Band offers an enjoyable opportunity for a friendly group of instrumentalists of all ages. Even those who haven't touched their instruments in years come together to perform music for God's glory. The group is open to all players who are willing to attend the rehearsals and learn the music. We welcome "outsiders." (Bring your friends!) We perform for worship services four or five times during the year. A Sunday target date is selected and three rehearsals are scheduled (usually late Sunday afternoons). Members help set up and take down the stands and chairs for each rehearsal and on days when we perform. The rehearsals last 45 minutes; players attend as many of these as they can. This can add up to 15 rehearsals in a year's time, plus performances. If you have an instrument lying dormant at home, you should consider joining us for the next outing in August. See Keith or Larry for details.

Keith Kohring, our Volunteer Band Director, is a gifted and perceptive musician who knows how to "make it work" with a random group of instruments and with players of diverse ages and experience. A professional musician and band director in the Royal Oak Schools, Keith brings, along with his expertise, a friendly, helpful manner.

We give God thanks for Keith's musical ministry as leader of the Praise Band! .

VESPER BELLS

Members of the Vesper Bells rehearse each week on Sunday morning from 10:00-10:30 in the sanctuary balcony. They come early to help haul four large cases of bells from the storage area near the balcony to the performance area, and then set out 3-4 bells at each of the eleven stations around the bell tables. The process is reversed at the end of each rehearsal or performance. Once the rehearsal begins, they must use music reading skills and careful concentration to maintain the flow of the piece, following the printed music, playing their bells on time, in rhythm, and with the proper type of stroke. They are a friendly team of people who enjoy one another's company and help each other when needed, such as calling out the measure number when someone has gotten lost. They perform at our services once a month and they perform quite well!

Julie Kohring, our Volunteer Bell Choir Director, is an excellent musician and an effective leader. She has good rapport with her group, who respect and esteem her highly. The music she selects can be challenging, but under her leadership the group rises to the occasion and pulls it off beautifully.

We give God thanks for Julie's music ministry as leader of the Vesper Bells!   

CRUSADER CHOIR

Crusader Choir members (grades 3-6) rehearse 45 minutes a week during the "Wonderful Outrageous Wednesdays" after-school LOGOS program that takes place at our church from October through March. Crusaders sing for a worship service once each month until January, when they begin to learn the songs and staging of the spring musical, presented at both morning services on a Sunday in March. This past year's musical, "Chimes in the Night," had a Christmas theme and was presented in December. The final rehearsal was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day before the performance (Saturday), with a lunch break for pizza!

LeAnn Wolf, our Volunteer Crusader Choir Director, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work, from her years as a successful elementary music teacher and from her many years as a volunteer director of our church's Crusader Choir. She helps the children find the beauty that God put into their voices, and selects music that will provide an opportunity for them to use their voices to give God glory. She has a special talent for finding and preparing musicals that are suitable for young singers, that give them a chance to act out stories from the Old Testament and from Jesu's life, including his parables and teachings. The children effectively learn the Bible stories and their meaning as they themselves become part of them. LeAnn has created and assembled a considerable costume wardrobe over the years and has maintained it in an orderly, accessible storage room. She also plans the stage settings, often using front and side acting areas in the sanctuary. She has adapted our choir risers to provide a raised platform/stage up front to enable the congregation to better see the drama.

We give God thanks for LeAnn's music ministry as the leader of the Crusader Choir!  

YOUTH SINGERS AND BELL RINGERS

The Youth Singers and Bell Ringers group (grades 7-12) meets weekly in the choir room during the LOGOS season (fall to spring). They provide music for worship services each month, singing or playing bells. This past year they have brought considerable musical talent, skills and commitment to the task. We are fortunate to have this group of fine young people sharing their talents in our worship services.

Julie Kohring, our volunteer "Youth Singers and Bell Ringers" Director, brings confident, loving leadership to our youth singers and has not only introduced them to the joys of bell ringing, but has brought them to an impressive level of competence. Julie, a middle school music teacher, has a special appreciation and understanding of young people and their voices, selecting and preparing appropriate music for her group, which reflects her fine work each time they lead us in worship.

We give God thanks for Julie's music ministry as leader of the Youth Singers and Bell Ringers!

MEN'S CHORUS

On November 8 and on May 9 a group of men sang for our worship services. These men had rehearsed on Thursdays after choir, on Saturday mornings, and on Sundays between services to prepare their songs. We appreciate their willingness to be a part of one or both of these groups and to provide the energy and unique sound of a male chorus for our worship services.

We give God thanks for these men who gave their time and talents to sing with this group.

CHERUB CHOIR

Cherub Choir members (grades K-2) rehearse 30 minutes a week during the "Wonderful Outrageous Wednesdays" after-school LOGOS program here at our church from October-March. Cherubs sing for a worship service once each month. Loving parents bring their children each week to be part of this group. The children bring their boisterous good spirits and willing hearts to each rehearsal and to the task of learning to sing together for God's glory.

Steve Moilanen, our Volunteer Cherub Choir Director and Tom Rosewarne, our Volunteer Assistant Cherub Choir Director, are two men who have a special love for children this age and truly enjoy working with them. The children feel and respond to this love. Steve and Tom also bring their fine keyboard and guitar skills to the group.

We give God thanks for Steve and Tom's music ministries as leaders of the Cherub Choir! .