Sunday Morning
Services
10:30 am
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CALLING ALL KIDS AGES 6-12: WE NEED YOU!! Do you like to sing...play instruments...eat snacks, act in plays...enjoy being with other kids your age? If the answer is YES!, then do I have a group for you - THE CHILDREN'S CHOIR! Join us on Sundays, after church until 12:30pm in our beautiful, new practice room here at the Conservatory, just behind the front stage area. Singing, playing and acting awaits you there. Just speak to me, Ray the "Choir/Piano Man". I would like to extend an invitation to all young adults and older ones too who might like to "Make A Joyful Noise" in our Adult Choir. We are in need of more voices, especially in our male section. If you are interested but feel that the commitment is rather daunting, please speak with me anyway. As my new saying goes, difficult times require more creativity. The Choir offers tremendous music leadership in a congregation. Its importance cannot be overstated. It empowers, inspires, reflects a congregation's positive attitude toward the importance of music in its worship, fosters friendships and offers a great measure of pleasure and enjoyment. If you are interested in talking about this, please speak to me after the morning service. Adult Choir - Thursday, 7:30 - 9:30pm. The ministry of music provided by the adult choir at St. John's United is vibrant and multi-faceted. The choir prepares anthems for the Sunday morning worship services, offering the congregation the praise and contemplation found within the music. As well, the choir serves in a leadership role with additional music in the service, such as sung responses and hymns. 
Throughout
the year, the adult choir participates in other musical activities,
most notably Christmas and spring concerts, Holy Week services, the
RCCO carol service, and fund-raising cabarets.
Members of the choir form the base
of volunteers organizing the behind-the-scenes work for the St.
John's Series. Through these efforts, the choir has been able to
make artistic and financial contributions to the life of the church. Part of the fun and challenge of being in the adult choir is learning and singing the wide range of music prepared through the year. From Renaissance to gospel, classical to modern, all is offered to the glory of God. Membership is open to anyone. Previous singing experience is an asset, but not a prerequisite. Please contact Ray Grant - 464-8574 or 423-8498. Our Adult Choir performs
on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
Our Director of Music Ray Grant conducts the choir as they perform 'Come Sing Alleluia', accompanied by Nancy Nelson /piano, and Chad Barkhouse /drums. Handbell Choir - Thursday, 6 - 7:15pm. Glance up to the south side of the balcony and you will see a collection of tables, music stands and large black boxes. This is the home of the St. John's Handbell Choir. Opening the boxes reveals the 5-octave collection of hand bells and hand chimes used by a small but faithful group of ringers.
Children's Choir - Sunday, 11:45am - 12:30pm. This choir provides a musical learning experience for children ages 6- 12 (grade 6). The choral repertoire consists of sacred music, classical to modern, suitable for use in our Services of Worship. Lectionary-based dramas are occasionally included in the Sunday presentations. Our music often includes Orff instrumentations and creative movement. 
The year's activities usually include
the presentation of a musical during the Christmas period and in
the Spring with a monthly involvement in the Sunday Worship service.
New members are welcome at any time!
 Children's Handbell Choir Information to come. Youth Choir - Sunday, 11:45am - 12:30pm This choir provides a singing experience for young people ages 12 and up (grade 7 - high school). We prepare music for SA, SSA and SAB (when male voices are available). The choir attempts to sing at least once a month in the Worship Service. Music from the Classical to Contemporary makes up the repertoire. New members are always welcome! 
Sanctuary Band is an
ad hoc group of musicians including djembe, flute, guitar and piano,
who play at our "less formal" Services of Worship. The ensemble
also plays at our monthly Taize Prayer with the addition of violin
and cello. The Sunday Strings + Flute 
This ad hoc ensemble of string players (5 violins, 1 viola,
1 cello) with flute which offers an opportunity for orchestral players
in our congregation to use their musical talents in our worship practises.
It meets for one rehearsal during the week prior to the Sunday Worship.
New members with a reasonable degree of playing ability are welcome.
St John's Concert Series- In the fall of 1994, the Adult Choir at St. John's inaugurated a concert series designed to bring amateur and professional talents to the church in a concert format. With the gifts of a wonderful church acoustic and a new baby grand piano purchased at the time, the series began. The series continues as an ongoing fundraising project for our church. Please support this entertaining project! St. John's United Church Scholarship for the Performing Arts- Several years ago a fund was established to honor Ray Grant and his contribution to music in the Church and to the community at large. To date this fund totals approximately $3,600 and will be used to grant scholarships to studies in the Performing Arts. A committee has been established to oversee the review and selection of applications for scholarships. The scholarship is usually $400.00. Applications and guidelines for a scholarship from The St. John’s Scholarship For The Performing Arts are available from the Church Office and must be returned not later than July 31st for possible award in mid September. The scholarship application will be open to members of St. John’s Church or resident children of parents/ grandparents who are members or adherents. A Sunday in the early fall is planned to announce the award and to solicit additional contributions to the Fund. |
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Two
traits that are assets in bell ringing are the abilities
to read the rhythmic component of music notation, and to have fun.
Bell choir members share a strong sense of camaraderie and accomplishment
after working on complicated pieces, particularly in light of the
fact that the individual notes must fit smoothly together despite
being played by several players.