Music

Music is vital to our worship.

Adult Choir –

The adult choir sings an introit and anthem at the 10:15am service during most Sundays of the program year, with a vacation during the summer. We also lead the congregation in the singing of the liturgy and hymns. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings 7:30-9pm and warmup briefly on Sunday morning at 9:45am.

We sing a wide variety of styles including spirituals, contemporary, and traditional accompanied and a cappella anthems. Occasionally we are accompanied by instrumentalists from our congregation. Some examples include:

God So Loved the World by John Stainer

Praise the Lord in His Holy Place by L. Lewandowski

O Magnum Mysterium by Tomás Luis de Vittoria

Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light by J.S. Bach

I’m Gonna Sing All the Way to Heaven by Pepper Choplin

Thy Holy Wings by Emma Lou Diemer

Jazz Gloria by Natalie Sleeth

Shall We Gather at the River arr. by Donald Busarow

Solo and Ensemble Opportunities –

Our church is blessed with lots of musical talent. Musicians within our congregation are encouraged to share their talents during worship. There are opportunities to perform special music during preludes, postludes, offertories. Occasionally a choir anthem calls for an instrumental obligato. We also enjoy instrumental accompaniments to some of our liturgy settings and hymns. All of these are ways to share the musical gifts God has given members of our congregation.

Youth Chamber Music –

Several of our youth are fine musicians. This year we are forming small chamber ensembles comprised of these youth instrumentalists. Groups are formed according to ability, age and interests. The groups will perform at various times throughout the year.

Chicago Folk Service –

Occasionally our congregation celebrates special festival days by singing the contemporary liturgy of the Chicago Folk Service by Art Gorman. When we worship using this liturgy, typically the youth singers and instrumentalists lead the congregation in worship.