by Anita Benedict
How many of you went to church in your youth, and were told to sit still and be quiet?
How many really had a hard time with that and now avoid church like the plague? The big kicker was the monotonous hymns sung with screechy voices accompanied by a loud organ.
My church going years were not any of these things. After Sunday School I became a member of the choir so I could sing. I loved to sing old country but if a hymn was the only way to sing with music, that was it.
The thing about choir, it taught me control of the upper ranges, it stretched my voice to be able to sing in many registers. Here was nothing more powerful than hitting a high note and letting it trill. I loved our choir directors, they were perfectionists and while pretty traditional, one of them had us singing in various languages and singing the “odd” hymns churches usually avoid. Grace and Ruth were fantastic influences on my young self, but still have an impact today.
Noel United had a great choir in those days, the seats were filled in the choir loft. We had fun too, the naughty ones often sitting in the back. I know one member is still in the choir with me and she was always able to make me laugh, while looking innocent. There were some ladies that we avoided sitting beside because they truly embodied “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”, but on the whole it was pretty good.
My greatest role models are now gone, but I can still hear Joan McLellan singing out "How Great Thou Art" and in that instance, I knew I was hooked. She was powerful and in tune. Myrtle White added harmony to the music and made it fun and uplifting and so with all those individuals singing in my head, I returned to the choir last year.
I was asked to be the choir leader and took on the job with glee. We sing the usual hymns, but Noel’s little choir is not to be underestimated! It took a bit to convince them for some pieces but with a little eye rolling, they are simply the best little group to work with. We sang in Latin at Christmas, some version of "Hosanna" at Easter, and have taken traditional hymns and jazzed them up! We are currently working on some new ones for our anthems.
It helps that our church is fun. We are serious when it is needed, but are willing to share jokes, and encourage youth participation. We are not your totally traditional Sunday morning service, and we are a little family. Where else could you get away with singing "Jingle Bells" on a music Sunday, and throwing snowballs (fake) at the minister?
I am looking forward to what our little choir produces over the next few months. We practice on Thursday nights and I think we spend more time chatting than singing, but we have fun. Funnily enough, not all have watched the Sister Act movies. Perhaps it is time they did, to be forewarned! Just call me Whoopi!
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