Membership in the choir is open to all volunteers in the congregation. There is no audition. A pleasant singing voice and a willing spirit are all that is needed. Basic sight-reading ability is helpful, but not required. Some members have more extensive background and training in music. Consequently, the group is made up of individuals with varying degrees of both ability and experience. The choir of dedicated and fun loving people provides anthems for many, but not all, 11:00 a.m. Sunday worship services from August through May. In addition, the choir provides a program of music for several Lovefeasts at Christmas and the Good Friday Lovefeast as well as other special services during the church year. Occasionally the choir participates in a special event, the Song of Salem Concert, which is presented at the Old Salem Visitor Center. Rehearsal are held from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings, August through May.
The Men’s Chorus consists of tenors and basses singing two, three, and four part anthems.
Men’s Chorus sings once a month (September through May) and every Sunday during the month of June. In addition, the chorus sings for Lovefeast at Christmas and during Holy Week. Rehearsal is generally held on two Thursday nights each month, scheduled according to the presentation schedule. The Men’s Chorus wears a dark suit, white shirt, and tie.
The Women’s Chorus is made up of all the women in the Choir and is open to participation by all women in the congregation. The chorus sings on an occasion basis. Rehearsals are held as needed on Sunday nights along with the regular rehearsals of the Choir.
This group of volunteers provides hymn leadership for funeral services held in the church and at funeral homes at the request of families. There are no rehearsals, and only rarely does this group sing a prepared anthem in the funeral service. Only occasionally, the regular Choir is requested to participate in this activity.
Anyone may volunteer to participate in this choir by notifying the Director of Music or by calling the church office and asking to be put on the list. Members receive notification of funerals or memorial services via email. Those who do not have email receive a telephone call. All are asked to respond to these contacts as to their availability each time. Singers arrive 20 minutes prior to the service, robe, and gather in the hall outside the robing rooms. If there is an anthem, singers will be contacted about an earlier time to arrive for a brief rehearsal.
Established as an outreach program to the inmates at the Forsyth County Jail, the Jail Choir provides music leadership at their Sunday afternoon worship services about twice per year. Before joining, singers are required to complete a training session provided by the jail administration. The training is offered at different churches in the city, and lasts about 2 hours. Interested singers may contact Paul Morse, coordinator, for information about upcoming training.
The Sanctuary Ensemble is a small group of invited singers who participate in at least one of the other choirs. Other small ensemble opportunities are offered to other choir members on a time by time basis.
Fellowship and fun are an important part of the choir membership
experience. The choir holds Christmas parties and
other potluck gatherings during the year. In addition,
all singers gather for a Retreat in the fall. This “kick-off” for
the music year is a day of singing and fellowship - often with
a guest speaker to set the tone for the coming year.
Music Calendar
November Music Calendar
The Music Program Calendar is now routinely posted on the church website!
(Click on Ministries tab at the top, then Music and Music Calendar)
Rehearsals from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. on all Sunday evenings except:
11/9 Different Time - 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
11/30 No evening rehearsal
Services: 11/2 - Off/Men’s Chorus sings
11/9 - Communion - 8:45 and 11 a.m. Services
Plans for this day will be announced in rehearsals.
11/16 - Anniversary Lovefeast - 11 a.m.
Early Rehearsal - 10:15 a.m./Rehearsal Room
Anthems: Blessed the People
Jesu, Joyous Treasure
Hearken, Stay Close to Jesus Christ
11/23 - 11 a.m. Service
Anthem - Join We All with One Accord
11/30 - First Sunday of Advent/Thanksgiving Weekend
8:45 Service - a small ensemble will be invited to sing
Praise Ye the Lord of Hosts
11 a.m. Service -
Anthems: Leinbach Hosanna
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
12/7 - Off/Men’s Chorus sings
12/14 - Full Choir will sing for 8:45 a.m. Service
Looking Ahead:
Lovefeasts:
12/21 at 7:45 p.m.
12/24 - All are asked to select 2 out of the three lovefeasts at 2:30, 5, and 7:45 p.m. Sign up poster will be available after Thanksgiving.
All are welcome to join the Choir! All you need is a pleasant singing voice and a willing spirit! Please contact Lynda Alexander for information.
Rehearsals will be held on:
Sun., 11/2 - Different Time 6:30 to 6:45 p.m. due to Youth practice before regular Choir.
Sun., 11/9 - Different Time 7 - 7:15 p.m. due to Choir rehearsal at 7:30 p.m.
Sun., 11/16 - 5 p.m.
Sun., 11/23 - 5 p.m.
No rehearsal on 11/30
Sun., 12/7 - 6:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Sun., 12/14 - 5 p.m.
Next Anthem Presentation: Sun., 12/21 - 11 a.m. Service (10 a.m. Rehearsal) (Full Choir will also sing this service.)
Rehearsals will be held on Thursday nights from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on 11/13,
11/20 (yes, 2 weeks in a row), Dec. 4, and Dec. 18- Longer Rehearsal (7:30-9 p.m.).
Services: Nov. 2
Dec. 7
Christmas Lovefeast - Sun., Dec. 21 - 5 p.m.
Are you going to be absent from choir? All singers are encouraged to indicate expected absences from rehearsals and services as soon as possible via the sign out calendar in the rehearsal room, phone, or lalexander@homemoravian.org
Presentations will be made during worship at the:
Anniversary Lovefeast – November 16
Children need to come to the Rehearsal Room by 10:30 a.m. to robe and get ready to sing. Parental assistance will be needed for robing. sitting with the children during the service, and disrobing afterwards. Those who can assist may call Lynda Alexander during the week before the presentation, please.
11 a.m. Service - Sunday, December 14
11 a.m. Children’s Christmas Lovefeast on 12/24 (Christmas Eve)
Rehearsals are from 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday evenings and will continue until Christmas with these exceptions: No rehearsals will be held on 11/26 or 12/17.
Fun pieces are planned for Christmas this year! And, there will be plenty of opportunity for those who play instruments to make their contributions, too!
Your practices for Christmas are being coordinated with the Youth Fellowship Schedule this Fall. We’ll practice on the following dates and times:
Nov. 2 - 4:45 to 5:15 p.m.
Nov. 9 - 2:30 to 3 p.m.
Nov. 16 - 3:30 to 4 p.m.
Dec. 7 - 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. - Different start time!
We will present music for:
11 a.m. Worship Service - Sun., Dec. 14
and Christmas Lovefeast at 11 a.m. - Christmas Eve
The schedule for November 2008 is shown below. All rehearsals will be in RB 5 and 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Monday, November 3, Monday, November 10, Monday, November 17, (Sanctuary) Monday, November 24 -- NO REHEARSAL (Thanksgiving Week)
The next scheduled date for our worship presentations is Sunday, November 23 at both services.
Looking ahead, we are scheduled for the following dates: December 7 (both Sunday services); December 21 (7:45 Home Church Christmas Lovefeast Prelude); and December 24 (5:00 p.m. Lovefeast prelude).
If you are interested in the Gregor BellChor, please call Paul Knouse at (336) 765-1704 (home); (336) 813-4499 (cell) or e-mail: pknousejr@triad.rr.com.
Sunday, November 2: “first Sunday” prelude. Tunes selected from: 14R, 16A, 22Q, 23A, 33C, 79A, 82D, 90A, 115B, 151L, 151T, 166A, 167A, 168A, 205A, 230A, 581M, Bread of Life, Mit Freuden zart; “Blue book”: 14 Mm, 16O, 22 Nn, 46A, 90D, 581P
Sunday, November 9: Prelude before November 13 Communion service. Same Tunes listed for November 16.
Sunday, November 16: Anniversary Lovefeast prelude. Tunes for both these services selected from: 14H, 56A, 82D, 90A, 119A, 141A, 146A, 151I, 151L, 159A, 185A, 225A, Austrian Hymn, Cwm Rhondda, Gaudeamus Pariter. “Blue book”: 4A, 14 Mm, 58B, 151 Bb, 585K
Sunday, November 30: First Sunday in Advent prelude. Tunes selected from: 22R, 23A, 68A, 119A, 151G, 151I, 151R, 151 Leinbach, 167A, 230A, 342D, Monkland, Truro, How bright appears, O come O come; “Blue book”: 11D, 16T, 22B, 22 Ee, 585L
Looking ahead to December, we will play our first Sunday prelude on December 7. Please put Sunday afternoon December 14th our your calendar. Starting at 2:00 in the afternoon we plan to play for some of our shut-ins. We have the mini-bus and the van ready to take us to share our Christmas cheer.
Band Instruments Available
Home Church is fortunate to have band instruments available to loan through a new instrument loan policy recently formulated by the Band Ministry Team composed of Nola Reed Knouse, Art Sorensen, Max Brady, Allen Goslen and the Music Committee.
The instruments are available for:
a) Members wishing to learn to play an instrument by attending the beginner program sponsored by Salem Congregation and held at Home Church.
b) Members wishing to learn to play another, second instrument, attending at least one year of the band classes.
c) Home Church members already able to play an instrument but not owning their own, who play in the Home Church Band.
d) A Home Church member can serve as the responsible party for the loan of an instrument for one year to a prospective band and church member.
These instruments have recently been refurbished and are available by contacting Allen Goslen at 768-5775 (o) or 765-8657 (h).
We also ask that if you or your family have an instrument that is not being used, that you consider donating it to Home Church so that it might be made available to loan through this program.
Thank you,
The Band Ministry Team
Beginning Band
For those who have never played an instrument &/or need to learn to read music
Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. Orientation - September 2 & 9 Leader - Robah Ogburn
Materials Needed - Standard of Excellence (Enhanced Method) Instrument not necessary for first class
Class Location - Room 5, Rondthaler Bldg./Home Moravian Church
Second Year Band
For those who have played for at least 1 full year
Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 p.m. Starting Date: September 2 Leader - Connie Merritt
Materials Needed - Standard of Excellence (Enhanced Method - Book 2) & Green & Blue Chorale Books
Class Location - Stage of Fellowship Hall/Home Moravian Church
Third Year Band (Chorale Techniques Class)
For those who have played 2 or more years
Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 p.m. Starting Date: September 2 Leader - Robah Ogburn
Materials Needed - I Recommend & Green & Blue Chorale Books
Class Location - Room 5, Rondthaler Bldg./Home Moravian Church
Children from fourth grade and up are invited to participate along with Youth and Adults. Parents of fourth and fifth graders are asked to attend and sit with their children.
Loaner instruments are available to Home Church members. Please contact a member of the Band Ministry Team to find out more.
Band Ministry Team: Nola Knouse, Allen Goslen, Max Brady, and
Art Sorensen.
