Choir meets for fun and to look ahead

On Sunday afternoon several members of the FBC choir got together to have fun in the sun at Rosie Main's house. It was our annual summer picnic. We had burgers, chips, salad, soft drinks and lots of good conversation.

The choir is one of the mainstays of our life together as a congregation. Over the years we have had many different people join the group. It is a big commitment. It means rehearsing every Tuesday night and singing every Sunday from September to June. But the benefits are well worth it.

The choir actually has a crucial role in leading worship. They provide leadership in the singing and offer an inspirational anthem each week. In recent years we have tried to be more intentional in picking anthems that compliment the message or theme of the day. Many of the members also are tapped to provide special music during the holidays and at special celebrations.

Adele DiBiagio Cofer is our director and organist. She has been with us for 28 1/2 years. Like fine wine, she has gotten better over time. She works with Cynthia Strouse to choose the anthems to plan out the schedule. The big event outside of Sunday mornings that we look forward to every Fall has been the Annual Festival of Choirs. Time goes into preparing something special for that as well as lining up the music for each Sunday.

My favorite time of year is the Advent Season. The music seems to touch the hearts and prepare us for the joy of the Christmas Celebration. We will begin working on the music in mid-October so the choir gets and extended holiday season.

There is always room for new choir members. We have fifteen returning members as we start the 2008 season. They include Rosie Main, Patricia Ohlund, Mary Brockway, Gwyn Green and Susie Rothholz in the soprano section. Our altos are Cynthia Strouse, Nancy Allen, Lori Lord, Helen Walker and Melinda Brick. Cal Lord and George Rezendes are the tenors. Fred Green Sr, Oliver Bray and Cliff Vanase sing bass.

You don't need to be a member of the church to sing in the choir. So if you have a friend who likes to sing, mention our choir to them and invite them to come with you to a rehearsal so you can introduce them to Adele and some of the members.

Choir members also have an advantage over the rest of the congregation in a few ways. First they have a ready made group of friends. Second they have the best seats in the house. The choir sits up front and they get to see who is in worship. Third, they don't have to spend a lot on their Sunday church clothes. They get to wear a robe every week. Fourth, choir members always seem to have the inside scoop on everything that goes on at church, usually before the Pastor and everyone else knows.

So if you want to get involved and have some fun this fall, come join the choir. Our first rehearsal in on Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Cal