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Music At the United Church of Christ in Norwell, we believe that music is an integral part of worship, as it is a vital and unique expression of praise and prayer to God. Whether you choose to join our ministry or prefer to listen from the congregation, the music we offer each week is diverse and designed to inspire, from classical music to jazz, from contemporary Christian songs to traditional anthems and plainsong chants. Each of our four choirs is comprised solely of volunteers; there are no auditions. All that is required is a willing heart and a desire to make music to the glory of God. Whether you last sang in a high school choir thirty years ago, or have never experienced the fellowship and exhilaration of being in a musical ensemble, there is a place in the Music Ministry at UCC Norwell for you.
Sanctuary Choir (back to top) Open to high school-aged youth through adults, this 40-member volunteer ensemble provides a wide variety of inspiring choral music for virtually every worship service of the year. More than merely a musical group, the Sanctuary Choir is perhaps the most enduring ministry team in the church, sharing common bonds of friendship, fun and love of singing while uniting in the call to praise God through music. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from September-June and Sunday warm-ups before worship. All who love to sing are welcome. An annual choir retreat is usually scheduled each October, and the Christmas Celebration Concerts are performed each December. Additional events include a community song-fest in the spring every other year, Music Appreciation Sunday (where we set aside time to highlight music and thank our musicians), andoccasional visits to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to share our music with those who are unable to come to us.
Youth Choir (back to top) Originally formed at the request of several teens in 1998, this ensemble is open to all youth in grades 4 through 8. Rehearsals have been either on Thursday afternoons or on Sunday evenings, immediately following Middle School Youth Group. While the emphasis is on singing, participants occasionally supplement other choirs by playing percussion or handbells; generally, they sing in worship at least once a month and participate in Music Appreciation Sunday and the annual Christmas Celebration Concerts. Cherub Choir (back to top) This lively bunch of enthusiastic young singers was originally intended for children of Kindergarten age through 3rd grade (4th grade optional), though we have had determined participants even younger join in the singing! Our current rehearsal time is immediately after Sunday worship, although it has also been on Thursday afternoon. Like the Youth Choir, the Cherubs generally sing in worship at least once a month and participate in Music Appreciation Sunday and the annual Christmas Celebration Concerts. Celestial Ringers (back to top) Our handbell choir currently utilizes three octaves of Schulmeric Handbells, supplemented at times by a three-octave set of Malmark Chimes, and we just celebrated our tenth anniversary! Like all other choirs here, this is a volunteer, non-auditioned group of approximately eleven people of various skill levels. Rehearsals are usually on Tuesday evenings, with the occasional Wednesday rehearsal. In addition to the Christmas Celebration Concerts each year, the Celestial Ringers play approximately once every six weeks during worship, and are featured in our Easter services and on Music Appreciation Sunday. Because of the unique charm and mystique of these instruments, we are often invited to perform for local charities and gatherings, especially in December! Most of our ringers have attended several AGEHR conferences, and we are again looking forward to participating in the upcoming conference at the University of Maine at Orono in June, 2009. Christmas Celebration Concerts (back to top) Our annual free concerts in celebration of the birth of Jesus are a long-standing tradition at UCC Norwell, and attract hundreds of people from our local community each year. As a result, we offer two performances on the first Sunday of December, which feature all four of our choirs, accompanied by professional instrumentalists. The concerts are a wonderful opportunity for people who don’t normally sing in our choirs to join us; hence, the adult Concert Choir swells to nearly 50 members. (There is no audition.) Besides incorporating all of our church musicians, the Christmas Celebration Concerts offer a wide variety of musical styles, and include an invitation for the audience to sing the Hallelujah chorus at the conclusion of each concert.
Memory Lane Singers (back to top) Created and organized by church/choir member Kay Spurr, the volunteer members of the Memory Lane Singers visit Norwell Knoll and the Scituate Life Care Center each month (on various Monday afternoons at 2:00pm), delighting residents with their hymns, seasonal favorites and “oldies but goodies”! There are no formal rehearsals, and singers are encouraged to participate whenever their schedule allows. This is a wonderful opportunity for those not already in a choir to just get out and sing!
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