The Choir Handbook copyright 2001 by Paul E. Kealy permission granted for ______________ to use or modify for local church use. 1. Our Mission The mission of the Celebration Choir is: 1. Lead the congregation in worship through music in the worship services of our church 2. Provide meaningful and inspirational music a) for the worship services b) through special event performances c) for outreach opportunities 3. Set a standard of excellence in worship and musical performance 4. Provide a common ground of fellowship, spiritual growth and ministry for those who participate as performers. Accomplishment of this mission depends on the commitment of each team member. All aspects are equally important. Our combined commitment and concern will result in the most effective performance for ministry effort. -2- The admonition of excellence in Colossians 3:23-24 is required of each member: "Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Jesus Christ." Ministry through performance and technical arts requires as great a commitment as teaching a Bible study class, serving as a Deacon, having membership in civic clubs or doing anything significant. The commitment of every team member to the stated purpose cannot be overemphasized. II. Our Membership Requirements Membership in Celebration Choir is on a volunteer basis. No auditions are required. Advanced music training, solo voice or great music reading ability are not pre- requisites, although excellence in music is encouraged. Because today's worship and performance ministries depend upon state-of-the-art technology, great concern is exercised in selection of those who serve in the areas of lighting and sound, as well as other technological demands of ministry. Church membership is not required. A lifestyle consistent with the message of ministry is expected. Everyone on the platform is considered a minister: preacher ... worship leader ... choir member ... soloist ... instrumentalist ... actor ... everyone! We do not just act out a part ... we live a consistent life. As vessels of honor, we lead people together in moments of worshipping Almighty God. -3- III. Our Attendance Requirements Attendance of each member at each rehearsal and performance is of vital importance in achieving excellence. Anything less than full attendance results in a performance which is less than our best ... absence from rehearsals results in lack of preparation to do our best. As the choir grows it may become easy for members to feel they are not as important as they were when the choir was smaller. The "I'm not needed" syndrome should never be experienced by any choir member. Each individual is important. The talent and spirit of each member participating together in ministry to the group as a whole, and to the church body is needed. Each member's talent and spirit is vitally important to our total team effort. It is expected that every member of the Celebration Choir will be at every regularly scheduled rehearsal and performance unless Providentially hindered. If a choir member is ill, out of town, working, attending a child's back-to- school nite or any such scheduled event, it is considered a providential act of God and a responsibility of the person's priority without guilt. Where a person is on Super Bowl Sunday is another matter. -4- ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE The section leaders for (1) Sopranos, (2) Altos, (3) Men and (4) Orchestra members will maintain attendance forms with the attendance secretary. Members will notify Section Leader in advance of any anticipated absence. NEW MEMBERS New members should attend two (2) rehearsals before singing on Sunday morning. During this time it is helpful to observe the choir in rehearsal and performance, and to assist in adapting to choir etiquette. WHEN ABSENCE IS NECESSARY At times trips, work schedules, sick children, illness, etc. will result in members periodically not being able to attend rehearsals or services. Members who are unable to attend the rehearsals or performances are asked to notify their section leader in advance. The section leaders will inform the attendance secretary. Absentee slips are available. A member who misses three (3) consecutive rehearsals should attend one (1) rehearsal before performing on a Sunday. -5- OCCASIONAL ABSENCES An occasional absence from rehearsal should not prevent a member from performing on Sunday morning. Since service music is rehearsed weeks in advance and much of the repertoire is available on rehearsal cassettes, absence from one rehearsal will not prohibit participation in a worship service, especially if the performer is familiar with the music. A member should not be afraid to sing on any Sunday merely because a previous rehearsal was missed. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES Leaves of absence will be granted upon request through the Attendance Secretary or Choir Director. When a member finds that other areas of life prohibit regular choir attendance, another ministry within the church should be investigated which does not require the commitment of time that choir membership necessitates. -6- IV. REHEARSAL, PERFORMANCE PROCEDURES REHEARSALS Celebration Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Every minute of rehearsal is important. Members are requested to commit the weekly time. The objective of rehearsal is to prepare the scheduled musical selections for the coming weeks or events and for worship the following Sunday. All available time must be directed toward a well-organized and managed rehearsal. Audible, idle conversation during the rehearsal is distracting as well as time- consuming. The time required to redirect the attention of the choir back to the music becomes unnecessarily wasteful. Because of ambitious undertaking of program and desire to keep rehearsals at a minimum, consistent attendance and punctuality are critical for all choir members. SPECIAL REHEARSALS In addition to leading worship services, our church presents several "special events" such as at Christmas and Easter and for other special events. Participation in these is a responsibility of the Department of Performing Arts. There are occasions when a choir member is unable to participate, and also times when a non-member is able to join a special performance as a short-term singer. As much as possible, preparation will be done in regular Wednesday rehearsals. Extra rehearsals or performances will be scheduled from time. to time during the year with advance notice. -7- REHEARSAL PACKETS, PRAISE PACKAGES AND PERFORMANCE FOLDERS All music required for practice will be placed in assigned and numbered in the choir room for choir members to pick up and use during rehearsals. Rehearsal packet envelopes contain present repertoire and may be taken home for personal practice. On Sundays the choir meets on the platform at 10:10 AM for a brief rehearsal and to tune up with the orchestra to double-check cues, segues and notes, and to become familiar with the praise package. This is an important time for the Celebration Choir to become spiritually in touch with the morning activities, rehearse the cues and arrange location on platform. The praise package score is available for this rehearsal in the choir loft. Following this, the choir moves to the choir room (with praise package score) to robe up and line up and rehearse the anthem. Assigned *choir performance folders* are in the choir room with anthem for service. -8- WORSHIP LEADING Congregational singing is a vital part of our worship experience. The difference between a small anthemy-type choir and a praise Celebration Choir is immense. One causes people to observe, one motivates people to participate in song. Our choir should lead people to worship God in expression, attitude and voice. WORSHIP SERVICE PERFORMANCE Excellence and uniformity are the goal of the choir while occupying the platform. Being highly visible, it is imperative that a pleasing atmosphere is created, without distracting from the worship environment. Many elements combine to present the program each week, and the robed Celebration Choir is the catalyst. The Praise orchestra, various vocal ensembles and drama will all contribute to the overall performance, but the dynamic of a praise choir goes far to establish the atmosphere of the morning service. Although we aren't perfect, and our style isn't for everyone, we work hard and pray hard to be the best we can be to lead our people in meaningful worship experiences. People have been blessed with our format. -9- CHOIR PLATFORM ETIQUETTE Since the choir room is locked and guarded during the service, members are encouraged not to carry bulky items on to the choir platform. (It is understood that we do need Bibles, and purses, etc.). Gaudy jewelry, hats and other items which would call attention to an individual in a robe should be avoided. Appropriate shoes should be worn. Performers without robes should dress appropriately to a worship service. Please: No colognes or strong perfume. Some people are highly allergic and have reactions that are literally incapacitating. Such advice applies to rehearsals, as well. Breath mints are highly recommended, or a squirt of something to mask onion-breath. Beware of mints that turn the tongue green or white. No chewing gum, of course. -10- ADMINISTRATION The Celebration choir functions as an active part of the Department of Worship and Performing Arts. In addition to the Minister of Music, team support is provided through: Secretary Works with Minister of Music to expedite duties of maintaining Choir ministry, including personnel and schedule, coordinating Celebration Choir functions with Praise Orchestra and other performing groups including instrumental and vocal ensembles and outreach gospelteams. Furnishes attendance secretary and section leaders with roll sheets. Keeps an updated directory of all choir members. Maintains archival records. Librarian Maintains music in rehearsal packets and performance folders. Prepares music folders and packets for issue to new members. Supervises storage and maintenance of music library, including printed and recorded materials. Attendance Secretary Maintains records of rehearsal and performance attendance. Keeps conductor aware of pending attendance patterns. Section Leaders Provide information from choir members to attendance secretary. Choir members will inform their respective section leaders of any anticipated absences in advance. Software Tracking of people, attendance, resources, library, budget and calendar is accomplished through Tempo CHURCH MUSICIAN software. -11- Prayer Ministry Prayer is an integral part of the ministry of music and worship. Occasionally there is need to communicate special prayer requests quickly to all choir members. The Prayer Coordinator contacts each prayer leader who in turn makes phone contacts to energize individual telephone prayer chains. V. FINAL NOTES FROM DIRECTOR Celebration Choir leads worship for the second service each week. Rehearsal: 10:10 AM; Performance: 10:45 AM. On special occasions, choir members will also be asked to sing for a duplicate program at the early worship service. Rehearsal: 7:30 AM; Performance: 8:00 AM. Rehearsals are extremely important to Celebration Choir. It is my desire to record audio and videotapes and feature recording sessions during the rehearsal time. Microphone placement can be maximized, and recording techniques will not interfere with the structure of the Sunday worship performance. We need good attendance to get the best sound recorded. Our church is blessed with a variety of musical groups, and we always have musicians standing by to share their musical ministry. We don't take our role of ministry lightly. Our musical ministry has grown tremendously in the past five years. Our prayer is to increase even more effectively in music worship ministry. Our graded children and youth choirs will participate on a regular basis. -12- In addition to the Celebration Choir, various other musical ensembles are featured, including the Praise Orchestra and instrumental groups and vocal and instrumental soloists. To better facilitate and coordinate the worship program, it is desirable for all musicians who participate in the worship service to be a member of the Celebration Choir or Praise Orchestra. It is mandatory for Praise Team. Wednesday rehearsals are the primary forum for discussing music activities with all the various participants. We all interface primarily at the Wednesday rehearsal time for spiritual filling, communication and fine tuning our calendar of activity (although we do postal and e-mailings and make phone messages when necessary). Over the past few years we have grown tremendously as a church through meaningful worship emphases and Big Event ministries. Such growth always requires inspection, introspection and fine-tuning. I welcome and value your suggestions. Our worship format is vastly different than when I first came to minister here. It has grown in a wholesome manner as we have progressed to find a fit. There are many worship styles available, and as many different formats. We can't do it all, but God has led us into a musical blended framework of contemporary and traditional that is uniquely ours. With God's help, we will accomplish more through continued growth as we all learn how to maximize our musical talents for His sake. Paul E. Kealy PO Box 3890 Del Rosa, CA 92413-3890 kealypaul@MediaExcellence.com WWW.MEDIAEXCELLENCE.COM