Our Journey with Jesus

Children’s Music Ministry Handbook2011-2012

Our Journey with Jesus

for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged,

Cherub Choir An introduction to group singing and movement for children who are age 3 by September 1, 2011.

SonShine Choir Beginning children’s choirs includes singing and movement activities for 4 year olds by September 1, 2011.

Joy Choir Focuses on beginning vocal development and movement activities as preparation for learning musical concepts for kindergarten age children.

Lyric Choir Focuses on expanding singing skills and basic musical concepts for 1st and 2nd graders.

Celebrate Choir Focuses on singing skills, part-singing preparation, and music reading preparation for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

Lyric Chimes An introduction to tone chimes and rhythm exploration for 1st and 2nd graders.

Celebrate Chimes Focuses on learning the basic techniques of tone chime ringing and music reading preparation for children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

2011-2012 Children’s Choir Schedule and Staff Chart

CHOIR TIME DIRECTORS & ACCOMPANISTS

ROOM #

Cherub Choir(3 years olds by Sept. 1. 2011)

5:15-5:45 Catherine WarnerLiz MayLaura LoweryCharlene Martin Alex CollinsErin McCollumParissa SheddSavannah SmithMadeline Brady

Preschool Room 154

Sonshine Choir(4 year olds by Sept. 2011)

5:15-6:00 Jennifer MannTina LordMadeline JacksonJennifer GoldenVirginia Beth Butler

Preschool Room 155

Joy Choir(Kindergarten)

5:15-6:00 Sarah LawingMatthew LawingMorgan MaxwellSamantha HarvelMary Carroll Waller

Preschool Room 157

Lyric Choir(Grades 1 & 2)

4:30-5:15 Carol ReevesCathy FeltonBetty ChapeauKatie McCollumMorgan MaxwellLauren CovingtonMary Carroll WallerMillican Jarrett

Music Suite Room 166

Celebrate Chimes(Grades 3, 4, & 5)

4:30-5:15 Janis MaxwellAmy McCollumErin McCollumToby Chapeau

Music Suite Room 162

Lyric Chimes(Grades 1 & 2)

5:15-6:00 Olivia GreeneDebbie GoldenMartha BeesonToby ChapeauJacob Hadden

Music Suite Room 162

Celebrate Choir(Grades 3, 4, & 5)

5:15-6:00 Carol ReevesSylvia ArantBetty ChapeauKatie McCollumLauren CovingtonMillican Jarrett

Music Suite Room 166

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

2011-2012 Calendar

August 17 (Wednesday) 1st Regular RehearsalAugust 24, 31 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsals

September 7, 14, 21, 28 (Wed.) Regular RehearsalsOctober 5 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsals—Sonshine Choir Parent NightOctober 12 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsals—Joy Choir Parent NightOctober 19 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsals—Cherub Choir Parent NightOctober 23 (Sunday) Stewardship Begins—Joy, Lyric, Celebrate SingOctober 26 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsal

November 2, 9, 16 (Wednesday) Regular RehearsalsNovember 13 (Sunday) Stewardship Celebration—Joy, Lyric, Celebrate Sing Sing at both 9:45 and 11:00 ServicesNovember 23 (Wednesday) NO CHOIR REHEARSAL (Thanksgiving)November 27 (Sun. Night) Lyric & Celebrate Choirs rehearse with Adult and Youth

Choirs—4:30-6:00 November 30 (Wednesday) Regular Rehearsal (Lyric & Celebrate rehearse in Sanctuary

for Lessons and Carols Service)—Last Chime rehearsal until January 2012--Bring SOCKS for Community Meal

December 4 (Sunday Night) Lyric & Celebrate Choirs ONLY sing this night“Lessons in Carols” Service 5:00-6:00 pm Be at church 4:15--come to Choir Room #166

December 7 (Wednesday) Technical rehearsal for Christmas Eve in Sanctuary4:30-6:00 for older choirs; (4:00 for narrators)5:00-6:00 for younger choirs (see director for times)

December 14 (Wednesday) Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Eve Service 4:30-6:00 for older choirs; (narrators at 4:00)

4:45-6:00 younger choirs (see director for times)Run through begins at 5:00 (Younger children will portray Nativity in costumes & robes)

December 21 (Wednesday) NO choir rehearsalsDecember 24 (Saturday) Christmas Eve Services 4:00, 6:00, and 11:00

Children’s Choirs participate in 4:00 service w/costumes & robes; Lyric & Celebrate be at church at 3:15 Joy, Sonshine, & Cherub be at church at 3:30

NO CHILDREN’S CHOIR REHEARSALS UNTIL JANUARY 11!January 11 (Wednesday) Children’s Choir and Chime Rehearsals Resume January 15, 22, 29 (Sunday) Choral Festival Rehearsal for members in Celebrate Choir participating 4:30-5:30—Children’s Choir RoomFebruary 4 (Saturday) Celebrate Choir participates in Choral Festival in AtlantaFebruary 12 (Sunday) Sonshine Choir sings in 11:00 WorshipFebruary 19 (Sunday) Wesleyan Youth Choir Variety ShowFebruary/March (Sunday) Joy/Lyric/Celebrate Choirs sings in Worship TBAFebruary 29 (Wednesday) Cherub Choir Parent Night April 1 (Sunday) Palm Sunday—Lyric/Celebrate Sings at both 9:45 & 11:00 Services [Sunday School Children at 11:00 only]April 22 (Sunday) Children’s Spring Program AND PARTY following ProgramApril 25 (Wednesday) Celebrate Choir & Mother’s Day Rehearsal 5:15-6:00May 2, 9 Celebrate Choir & Mother’s Day Rehearsal 5:15-6:00 May 13 (Sunday) Mother’s Day: Celebrate Choir and Mothers sing 11:00 Worship

Why Sing?We sing for many reasons. The most important one is because God commands us to sing. God created music and He wants each of His children to sing praises to Him. 267 times in the scriptures, singing is used to express praise to God. Singing communicates texts. We can learn about history, scripture, and doctrine through singing a song. Colossians 3:16 admonishes believers to communicate and instruct one another in the faith through singing hymns and spiritual songs “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col 3:16.)

Singing is fun and brings about joy!. Singing can change people’s moods and emotions. It brings pleasure. There is reward in singing. “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; be jubilant,shout for joy, and sing.” (Psalm 98:4)

God created man to have a need for beauty. One way we can worship God is through beauty. Singing puts people in touch with beauty because through singing beauty can be created. It is an aesthetic experience. Each of us has a desire to see and create beauty. Singing allows us to express our need to make something beautiful. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness.” (Psalm 29:2b)

God created man to fellowship with Him as well as with others. God made music to be enjoyed by many; singing is a social activity. It unites us through the experience of emotion or mood. Singing is one of the gifts that God gives us, not only so we can enjoy it, but so we can offer it back to Him. “Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises to the Lord.” (Psalms 68:32)

Our children are the next generation of worship leaders. Only after they truly experience God and sincerely worship Him will they be willing to serve Him. So, we must do more than teach children good music fundamentals and skills. We must teach them how to worship. “My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.” (Psalms 103:1)

(The above excerpts are quoted from Sing Out Loud and Beat Activity by Pamela Calmpitt Vandewalker and Does Singing Matter to God by Melodie Cunningham))

Children’s Choir Philosophy and Goals

PHILOSOPHY—The congregation is the primary choir. All people are given a voice and need the opportunity to use it well. FUMC music ministry is designed to provide both regular and special opportunities for church members and those in the community without a church home, to express their faith through song. The very best time to begin to make a joyful noise is as a child. Thus, in worship services, our children’s choirs take turns presenting selected and rehearsed anthems and hymns.The concept of praise and service also includes spiritual development. Each rehearsal has the overall goal of Christian education. Music is our tool. In this regard, our work is different from school or community singing groups. FUMC children’s choirs’ focus is that of praising God and leading people in worship. All are welcome to find a place in the music program. As the noted hymnologist and composer/arranger Alice Parker has said, “Singing is a primary gift of God. It gives us a way of communicating with each other that words alone cannot come close to.” GOALS—Children are trained in the development of their musical skills in a graded program of reading music, ear training, vocal development, pitch acuity, etc. But more than this, they are developing a sense of Whose they are and what they can become within the context of the Christian faith. Through carefully chosen scriptural and poetic texts, the basic beliefs of the Christian faith are taught. (After all, we remember what we sing!) With each age group comes the attempt to teach responsibility, professionalism, and commitment through the discipline inherent in achieving high calibre performance standards, with a focus on process as equal in importance.

Children’s Choirs Procedures

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES—A choir is a team effort in every sense of the word, so an individual absence effects the whole group. Likewise, with our very limited rehearsal time, punctual presence at rehearsals and on choir Sundays is essential. The vocal warm-ups and listening exercises which are done at the beginning are crucial to a successful choral rehearsal. In a handbell choir, missing people means missing bells. Therefore, in the event of absence from vocal or bell choirs, please contact us. This may be done by calling the church office (543-1442, ext. 213). ATTIRE ON SUNDAYS—Each choir wears robes for Sunday morning worship services. The Celebrate Choir (grades 3, 4, and 5) will wear robes throughout the entire service. They are responsible for hanging them on the appropriate hanger at the conclusion of the worship service. The younger choirs will wear their robes until they are dismissed for Children’s Church. Our parent volunteers can assist the young children in taking off their robes after they leave the Sanctuary. Parents are asked to encourage the proper care of the robes and to assist where appropriate.

SUNDAY RESPONSIBILITIES—Choirs from grade 3 and older sit together for the entire worship service. Please do not request to be dismissed early. When individual choristers get up and leave after singing, it gives the impression that what we do is merely for show, or performance, instead of being an integral part of the experience of worship. When everyone remains in the service, leading the hymn singing, listening to the scripture, focusing on the sermon, participating in the prayers, our contribution is more meaningful to us, individually, as well. Please plan accordingly on the Sunday mornings your child sings.Our younger children’s choirs will sit together until the conclusion of the Children’s Sermon. At that time, the children will leave the sanctuary to attend Children’s Church or the nursery.

DROP OFF/PICK UP— Because your child’s safety is important to us, we ask that you bring your child to the designated choir room and that you pick them up at the conclusion of the rehearsal.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS— Children involved with music often have parents who want to be as well! Please contact us (543-1442, ext. 213) if you would be willing to help with choir activities!

CARPOOLS— If you need assistance with getting your child to rehearsals or if you would be willing to help bring other children to choir, please contact us(543-1442, ext. 213).

CHURCH POLICY— Please take note that it is a church policy that there will be no flash photography during worship services.

“A vital choir program trains up children with hearts and hands and voices secure in the knowledge of their faith tradition, and sets their mind on an ever growing spiritual journey.”

--- Sue Ellen Page