Choir
As St. John Chrysostom writes: “When we sing church hymns, we must be careful that we do not pronounce only the words with our tongues while our hearts wander elsewhere.” Every hymn, every phrase, every verse of the church service must be rendered clearly and fittingly. This requires singers who are inwardly committed not just to the music, but also, and primarily, to the Faith.
Participating in divine worship services as a choir member is a sacred responsibility. Choir members, as other church musicians, offer their God-given talents to the faith as a part of their stewardship – the giving of their 'time and talents.' In Orthodox services, choir members represent the laity, responding to the liturgical dialogue set by the priest. This places a sacred responsibility on them during our worship services. They are called to be knowledgeable not only of the hymns and responses, but also about the correct order of the worship services. The choir is entrusted to be a participating part of the worship service and its members must respond to that trust accordingly.
Our Choir
Our choir at Sts. Peter and Paul is a group of faithful parishioners who chant during the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and on great feasts of the Church, from September to the end of June. All are welcome to join our choir; no experience is necessary, only commitment and a willingness to learn.
Unless otherwise notified, practices take place weekly each Sunday following the coffee hour in the church choir loft. Attending practices is mandatory for anyone singing in the choir to ensure that everyone is on the same page (i.e. hymn substitutions, new music, adjustments, hierarchical liturgy preparations), thus avoiding any potential disruptions during the services.
If you are interested in joining the choir, please get in touch through the church office.