We prepare one month in advance in order to ensure that the message and the music work in an harmonious whole. Each Friday morning, we meet to review that Sunday’s service and to explore long-range plans.
On Sunday morning, the doors to the hall are open generally by 8:30, so that the preparations for that morning’s service can begin. Bulletins have been prepared, copies have been left in the MacKinnon Room for the choir’s use, and sets of anthems have been located from the files – their numbering system matches a particular person in the choir. Then choir members start arriving around 8.45 to locate their gowns, to arrange their new collars so that the proper colour, according to the church calendar, is displayed, and to gather their hymn books, psalm books, sheet music, a bulletin, too, and then it’s off to rehearse with me by 9:00 sharp!
The Sunday rehearsal is one hour long. We begin by reviewing the hymns for the service, then the psalm response when one is called for, the anthem selection, and the meditations used during collecting of the offertory—all for a single service! Although few of our members ‘read’ music, many are beginning to acquire the skill. I try to teach a point or two each week that will make it easier to learn unfamiliar music or for the harmony parts to follow their lines. The members, too, ask questions as we work. Then we look ahead to the services of the next month. Some of our anthems take many rehearsals to perfect!
Life is never dull when you are a choir member.
Perhaps you would enjoy becoming a member of St. Matthew’s, joining the choir and helping us to provide the musical/vocal support in the church service.
St. Matthews’s Choir maintains a steady 20 + singers each Sunday morning.
Sopranos (12)
- Frances Bedingfield
- Joan Boyd
- Ann Bruining
- Wendy Froats
- Verla Gallinger
- Cathy Grant
- Marilyn Leach-Duck
- Sharon McIntyre
- Annie Runions
- Sybil Shaver
- Norma Stewart
Altos (4)
- Mary Ann Doyle
- Darlene McIntyre
- Shelley McIntyre
- Joan Thomson
Basses (1)
- Ross Walker
Tenors (3+1)
- Jim Duck
- Bob Bedingfield
- Jimmy Johnsen
- *Alex Thomson