Choirs

The Chancel Choir, an enthusiastic ensemble of singers, is the main worship choir at St. John’s. A broad spectrum of Christian music is rehearsed weekly, Wednesday evenings September through May from 7:00-8:00, in preparation for Sunday morning services. The Chancel Choir leads worship three Sundays each month and festival services such as Easter, Lent and Christmas. Sing your faith! Tell the Story! To God be the Glory!

Directed by Deborah Helland 

• Rehearse Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., September-May

• Sing at the first, second and third Sundays of each month and special services 

The Praise Singers involves singers in grades 7th -12 grade. As our Sonshine Singers and GRACE Singers “grow up,” our Praise Singers continue to grow in numbers! These young men and women rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-7:45 p.m., September - May, and sing at one Sunday service, twice monthly. New members are always welcome. !

• Sing at the 10:45 worship service the second and fourth Sunday of each month 

The GRACE Singers (God's Really Awesome Children's Ensemble) is made up of a really fun group of 4th -6th grade volunteer singers. GRACE Singers learn about God's love through song, worship and friendship. GRACE Singers sing at one Sunday service twice monthly. We rehearse weekly Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m., September - May. Not only do we sing together on Sundays, but we also assist the pastor by leading the liturgy and congregational hymns. New members are always welcome!

• Sing at the 10:45 worship service the first Sunday of each month and the 8:00 worship service the third Sunday of each month 

Contact Jamye Casperson for more information at: greggndeb@frontiernet.net

The Sonshine Singers share their love of Jesus and grow in faith through song and fellowship. This lively choir of children, K-3rd grade, rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m., September - May. The Sonshine Singers "sing to the Lord" at the 10:45 service on the second Sunday of each month at St. John's. New members are always welcome.

• Sing at the 10:45 worship service the second Sunday of each month 

Contact Barb Ross for more information at: greggndeb@frontiernet.net

ST. JOHN'S YOUTH CHOIR INFORMATION
2008-2009

One of the goals of St. John’s music ministry is to teach our children to sing their faith and how to worship God. Even the youngest of our singers (kindergarten) can be active participants in worship by following in the hymnal, singing the liturgy and hymns, saying the spoken responses, praying the prayers, standing and sitting at the appropriate times as they are developmentally capable.  Our goal is to start to give each young choir member a “voice” to express their faith.

Along the way, we will also teach:
 ♪ How to use one’s singing voice,
 ♪ How to sing as a choir
 ♪ Appropriate anthems for the Sunday they are singing
 ♪ How to work together as a group, respecting and supporting each other through prayer, song and laughter

And, as along the way, YOU, as parents, will be their most important teachers as you lead by example. When you pray, they will watch and follow by example. When you sing the hymns (even during communion J), they will follow by example. In other words, when you as parents are actively involved in the worship experience, you will be not only worshipping yourselves, but teaching your children “how to worship.”
“Teach them to your children” Deuteronomy 6:7
”The best teacher in the world is example” Harvey Mackay, Star Tribune August 18, 2008

Rehearsals
♪ Choir rehearsals begin promptly at 6:00 p.m (Sonshine Singers and GRACE Singers) or 7:00 p.m. (Praise Singers) on Wednesday.
♪ Wednesday night rehearsal sites are:
Sonshine Singers – Sanctuary
GRACE Singers – Music Room
Praise Singers – Music Room

♪ If your child is ill or will be absent, please notify us by calling the church office at 952 469 4916 or emailing: greggndeb@frontiernet.net
♪ During rehearsals, parents are welcome to read, chat, work on their computer, assist in worship preparation or catch a few winks of sleep in the:       
Reception area by the offices
Narthex
Fellowship Hall by the kitchen (where Pizza, Subs and More is served)
Please respect the sanctuary area as a space for rehearsal
♪ Because of the prevalence of food allergies, treats will not be handed out at choir rehearsals.
♪ Sonshine Singers will be dismissed by the “organ door” of the sanctuary. Please meet your child at this door by 6:45.
♪ GRACE Singers will meet parents in the narthex area.

Dress for choir Sundays
By requesting similar attire on the Sunday mornings that the choir is singing, our hope is that the choir will look and sing like a “unit” and that discussions about “what is appropriate church attire” will be a thing of the past!
Sonshine Singers and GRACE Singers:
    Black or dark pants or skirt
    White shirt, top or blouse
    Dark shoes
 Praise Singers
    Red Praise Singers shirt
    Black or dark pants or skirt

Sunday Mornings
8:30 service: Please be in the music room for warm-ups at 8:00
10:45 service: Please be in the music room immediately after Firelight or GAP (10:30)
Please arrange your schedule to worship at the same service that your child is singing at, if possible. Many of our families are involved in more than one choir making this impossible. 

Sonshine Singers  instructions:  Sonshine Singers  will process to the front of the church  (the chancel area) on the opening hymn, sing the beginning liturgy, pray the “Prayer of the Day”, sing their anthem, and then will be seated with their families for worship.
GRACE Singers and Praise Singers instructions: The singers will worship and sing from the music area in the back of the sanctuary. Their directors will assist in training the singers to lead the liturgy and the hymns. This is an excellent opportunity for these young singers to develop themselves are leaders in the church.

The members of St. John's are excited to hear you sing this year!
Thank you for sharing your God-given gifts at church!




THE CHORISTER’S PRAYER

Bless us, O Lord,
Your servants who work in this place,
That what we SING with our LIPS,
May we BELIEVE in our HEARTS,
And what we BELIEVE in our HEARTS,
May we SHOW in our LIVES.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Amen.

The Cantata Choir and Orchestra presents a Christmas Cantata in December. Singers who are unable to participate in a St. John's choir on a regular basis but enjoy singing are invited to join with the Chancel Choir in presenting a cantata. The Cantata Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 p.m. from mid-October through mid-December. The cantata is presented on  Saturday , December 20, 7:00 PM and Sunday, December 21, 4:00 pm. Contact Debbie Helland for information at:  greggndeb@frontiernet.net

Christmas Cantata "Journey of Promises" rehearsal schedule

The Solo and Instrumental Music Ministry offers solo and ensemble singing and playing opportunities at worship services. Contact Debbie Helland at greggndeb@frontiernet.net for information. Special music opportunities are available during the summer months for interested soloists and instrumentalists.