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Music Ministries
Has God given you a specific gift of music? Has He given you a deep love of music and a desire to learn how to express it? Mt. Auburn is a place you can participate. It is a place to exercise and develop your musical gifts.
God has given all of us the capacity to offer praise in song, to one degree or another, and our church thrives on that strength—the power of our corporate voices lifted to God in praise. Some of our voices are vocal, some are instrumental. Some are developed through specialized training, some are in auxiliary extensions of God’s gifts to us in other areas of life. These musical expressions are given to us, not for entertaining the congregation or impressing the person next to us in the pew, but for God’s pleasure as they are offered in worship. Whatever your musical voice, there is a place for it to be used and heard at Mt. Auburn. Please contact us if you have questions about any music ministry.
Karen Hetrick John Skaggs
Director of Music Ministries Director of Worship Evangelism
317-535-8555, ext. 1311 317-535-8555, ext. 1308
karenh@mtauburnumc.org johns@mtauburnumc.org
- Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir is open to adult and youth men and women. The Chancel Choir sings Sundays from September through May at the 9:00 a.m. worship service. The choir also participates in cantatas and other special services during the church year. This choir provides a valuable service to our worship as it sets the tone for congregational singing, supports the worship emphasis of the day with the presentation of anthems in a variety of musical styles and generally enhances the worship experience with a fragrant offering of music to God.
Participation in choir offers our musicians an opportunity to use and expand their musical gifts and interests, as well as providing spiritual encouragement and fellowship with others who share a common love for music. Solo and ensemble opportunities are available through the entire year.
Choir Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings, 7-8:30 p.m., Choir Room. Child care is provided.
- Handbells
Mt. Auburn is blessed to have five octaves of Schulmerich handbells, three octaves of Malmark choir chimes, and ringers who love to ring. The Handbell Choir rings on a regular basis during the church year. At times we invite other ringers to participate in special ringing experiences, with little to no experience necessary. Solo and ensemble offerings are welcome.
Handbell Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings, 6-7:00 p.m., Choir Room
- Orchestra
The Mt. Auburn orchestra is a “church orchestra,” which means if you have an instrument you want to play, there is a place for you to play it. This small group plays in worship once a month and rehearses as needed to prepare for those times. Instrumental soloists are asked to support the choir ministry on occasion, and soloists and ensembles are always welcome in our worship.
- Praise Team
A praise team of vocalists and instrumentalists leads music in the 10:30 a.m. worship service with its emphasis on contemporary music. The praise team participates in worship throughout the year.
Praise Team Band Rehearsal: Thursday evenings, at 7 p.m.
CHILDREN’S MUSIC MINISTRIES
- Cornerstone Music
The children of Mt. Auburn have the opportunity to experience music in the context our “Cornerstone Program” which meets concurrently with the 10:30 a.m. worship service. During this time, children ages 4 yrs. To 4th grade (divided into three age groups) meet to sing and explore various music and worship activities. Children have the opportunity to find the voices within them, move and explore music in a whole body context, be introduced to rhythm concepts, play rhythm instruments, melody bells, choir chimes, and sing songs that help them learn about God’s love and the church, be introduced to hymns and the importance of music in worship.
The purpose of Cornerstone Music is three-fold:
- to give children opportunities to make music on a regular basis;
- to provide basic experiences in music concepts; and
- to help children learn about the place of music in worship.
The goals of the Cornerstone Music are that children will:
- know they are valued and active members in the church’s worship life as they both learn about music and share their songs with the congregation on an occasional basis.
- have the music of the church sink deep into their beings so they know they have a song to sing for the Lord that will take them into adult life, perpetuating vibrant worship in the church for decades to come.
- AND MUSIC FOR ALL. . .
There’s a fun worship song that says: “All God’s critters got a place in the choir.” Every one of us has a place together in the “choir” of our worship together. Singing praise to God is not a personal choice. Did you know that 262 times in scripture God commands us to sing praises and make music? If music is not your gift or interest, God still desires us to sing praise in worship with our best effort. So, whether or not you are in a choir or a music group, join the whole congregation in singing together, and God will be glorified with our corporate sacrifice of praise!
