THE
TRINITY CHOIR
Why Join?
With the addition of Jim Taylor, a gifted professional choral director, to the Trinity staff as Director of Music Ministries, a new era of music as a part of the worship experience begins. Read his thoughts on what role music plays in the worship service and how people with different voices and different levels of musical talents can work together, develop friendships and form a community of those who use their gifts to praise God and help the congregation experience those wonderful "Ah, ha!" emotional moments that glorify God.
Come be a part of this venture!
Music has always had an important place in the worship of God’s people. Choral music, in particular, is man’s natural instrument, and the ranges of our different voices combine just right to make harmony, which is itself a miracle. Even the world’s greatest secular composers have turned to choral music for their most profound expressions, because the combination of text and tune make possible a depth of communication that is not possible through instrumental music.
A church choir is made up of individuals who have been given sufficient musical ability to hold a choral part amid harmony. We need not be great soloists, but when we join together and the Spirit is working, the combined product is much greater than the sum of its individual parts. A singer with modest abilities who listens, learns, and applies himself/herself can make a very significant contribution to a good choir.
There is something about music that is able to touch our emotions deeply. When a congregation member listens to an anthem, he or she listens more emotionally than with pure logic. The Christian worshiper hears the words and the music, perceives something about the nature of God or of the Christian experience, and resonates with it, glorifying God. The job of the choir is to present the composer’s intention for the anthem as well as it can, to reproduce that “ah ha” moment when the composer thought, “I can say this about the Lord in this way, and won’t it be great!” There are four creators in this process of delivering the music to the congregation: God, who gives inspiration, the composer, the choral director, and the choir and accompanist. Talk about a cooperative effort!
But a church choir is more than just individuals rehearsing music for a worship service. It is a community of people, a fellowship dedicated to the ministry and to each other. It is our goal at Trinity UMC to have both fine music in worship and a warm fellowship marked by growing, lasting relationships of love, all in the name and for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (I Peter 4:10) What a privilege! What a call to sing! And “now is the moment to praise God; now is the day of salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2)
If you are thinking about joining the choir, I hope you will be led to add your gifts to the group.
Jim Taylor
Contact Jim for information on how you can be a part of the Trinity Choir:
Phone: 462-9484 (H)
256-797-8496 (C)