Notions

When you start a new position at a church, you take time to analyze and review the things that you inherit and how you might like to transform them. I say, “transform,” because some things you keep and others you don’t.

At some point in the history of Kingwood Methodist Church music ministry, the director decided to rotate the monthly singing schedule. The way this works is that the Chancel Choir sings twice a month, the Men’s Ensemble (male voices of the choir) sing once a month and the Women’s Ensemble (female voices of the choir) sing once a month. This means that every singer has the opportunity to worship from the pew one time per month.

In order for this all to work, I have to create a workable schedule for all involved. I have to communicate that out to my singers so that they know when they are to show up ready to sing and lead worship.

How do we get all of our music rehearsed?

This rotating schedule means that I have to work diligently with the Chancel Choir on fewer anthems. I typically work on four-to-five anthems, utilizing about an hour and twenty minutes in our evening rehearsal. Following a brief break for joys, concerns, and prayers, I rehearse either the men’s or women’s ensembles at the end of rehearsal for about 25 minutes or so. The challenge is that I have to choose selections that can be learned by the ensemble in two rehearsals and a Sunday morning.

How does that happen? State tuned and I’ll tell you in a later post. However, a look at the typical Sunday schedule that they receive . . .

March 9	Sunday	Women	9:30 & 11
March 15	Saturday	RUTTER REH.	9:00 to 11
March 16	Sunday	CHANCEL	9:30 & 11
March 23	Sunday	Men	9:30 & 11
March 30	Sunday	CHANCEL	9:30 & 11
April 6	Sunday	Women	9:30 & 11
April 12	Saturday	RUTTER ORCHESTRA	10:00 – Noon
April 13	Sunday	CHANCEL	9:30 & 11
		RUTTER CALL TIME	3:00 PM
		CONCERT	4:00 PM
April 15	Tuesday	CHANCEL	7:00 PM
April 16	Wednesday	NO CHOIR REH.
April 18	Good Friday	CALL TIME	7:00 PM
	Good Friday	CHANCEL	7:30 PM
April 19	Saturday	CHANCEL	10:00 to 11
April 20	EASTER	CHANCEL	9:30 & 11