First Unitarian New Choir Member Guide - Service Particulars


CLICK HERE FOR GENERAL NEW MEMBER INFORMATION

CLICK ON THUMBNAIL FOR LARGE IMAGE

Item Where What/When Comments

Thursday Choir Rehearsals



Wall portraits of previous ministers look on to make sure our diction is correct

Bancroft Room
Most Thursday nights
7:30 - 9pm
 
Sunday Choir Warm-up Meet:
Choir loft, sanctuary
Sundays prior to service
9-10:00am
Choir sings typically 3 out of 4 Sundays each month; Easiest to get your robe ahead
Prelude/Announcements/
Musical Interlude

Collect in the front narthex (be there by 10:30ish after having coffee break and socializing)
prepare for introit  
Choral Introit

In narthex, a cappella
Front hallway
After candlelighter speaks, pitch pipe will sound the tonic of the key, someone will direct "from above" typically no organ accpt involvement
Doxology

Lining Up in Narthex, enter for Dox.



Doxology from the back of sanctuary
During covenant, file in to the back of the sanctuary
Sing Doxology with congregation, including Amen  
Processional Hymn


In Center Aisle during introduction


2nd verse, split left & right


Continuing in balcony

During organ introduction, file out into the center aisle, 2 at a time, spacing yourselves approximately 2 pews apart.

 

Begin processing as prescribed by the organist's prior instructions. During the introduction, process in pairs up to the front row (down the center aisle) and stop, typically sing the first verse stopped in the aisle. At the beginning of the second verse, resume processing (right foot leads) and split to turn right right or left and proceed up the spiral stairs. Once in the balcony, head along the side to the choir loft and find your seat, remain standing until after the hymn.

Help keep the tempos brisk.

Sometimes the tenors and sopranos will have a descant to sing on the last verse (and/or an altered last few notes of the last verse).

We generally sing A-mens if they're printed in the score.

Sing unison on the first and last verses, and 4 parts on the inner verses.

LP Amen "forever and ever Amen" remain seated Chord from the organ and begin singing 2 beats after the notes are given (there'll be no pause in the organ's chord, it'll fade away once you start singing)  
Ushers traveling music

"will the ushers come forward"

Choir stands at the direction of the organist

  Hopefully organist remembers to give you the cue to stand while the ushers are coming forward
Offertory Anthem Choir is standing Anthem begins immediately after the minister's sentences  
Anthem Choir is standing    
Choral benediction ("outtroit")   chord from organ to give notes  
Postlude Choir is dismissed but can linger if interested Please return robes to hangers and pass in music to the top of the organ console  
       

Typical Order of Service

(choir involvement in red)


Please ask the usher about hearing amplifiers
For those whose young children are unable to be quiet during worship:
- The service is broadcast in the Bancroft Room
and on to the hearing amplifiers in the Narthex.
- Child care is available in the Nursery downstairs

SUNDAY May 00, 1900 10:30 A.M.

"Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." YODA

PRE-PRELUDE      "Prelude and Fugue in b minor"     J.S. Bach

CONGREGATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS DAVID RYNICK

ORGAN PRELUDE      Air, from Orchestral Suite in D       J.S. Bach

CANDLELIGHTER

CHORAL INTROIT             [choir is in narthex]

CALL TO WORSHIP

*COVENANT

In the love of truth and in the spirit of Jesus
We unite for the worship of God and the service of all.

*DOXOLOGY

*RESPONSIVE READING 530 (gray)

*HYMN 203 (gray) "All Creatures of the Earth and Sky" WILLIAMS

BELOVED COMMUNITY REV. BARBARA MERRITT

(Children in the 4th grade and younger, and their teachers, may go to their classes)

COMMON PRAYER (insert) ROBERT MERRITT

SILENT MEDITATION

THE LORD'S PRAYER

CHORAL AMEN

OFFERTORY ANTHEM

BIBLE READING Proberbs 4:7-16, 18-21, 26-27

ANTHEM

READING

*HYMN 295 (gray) "Sing Out Praises for the Journey" WESTMINSTER ABBEY

SERMON

*HYMN 302 (gray) "Children of the Human Race" SERVETUS

*BENEDICTION TOM OLLILA

CHORAL BENEDICTION

ORGAN POSTLUDE Toccata LOUIS VIERNE

 

Visit our web page hosts:

SherwoodHosting.com

Bershad Design Associates - Architects, and Virtual Gallery Bershad


First Unitarian home page     Music at First Unitarian

E-mail: info@firstunitarian.com
Phone: 1+508.757.2708
Fax: 1+508.753.9332
Mail: 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608-1173  USA


The Reverend Barbara W. Merritt, Senior Minister

The Reverend Thomas Schade, Associate Minister

Diane Mirick, Religious Education Director

Will Sherwood, AAGO, ChM, Director of Music & Organist

Justine Beaudoin, Moderator

Gordon T. Gurney, Jerry Bellows, Music Committee Co-Chairs