You + Us = We
Membership Drive Begins
for Adult Choir

Now that the Adult Choir is on a short break, it is time to let the rest of you know that we are seeking new members for the upcoming Fall season. That’s right, we would love to have You be a part of Us so that WE (you and us) can serve together in helping our congregation worship every Sunday morning. The choir is a great place to serve and build meaningful relationships. Currently we have  about 40 people in the choir. We would like that number to increase to at least 50. So, you see, there is plenty of room for You.

Whenever unexpected company comes to my  mother-in-law’s house, she will often say, “There’s always room for one more plate at the dinner table!” (or something like that). Well, to paraphrase that just a little bit, “There’s always room for more people in the choir loft.” Our choir is made up of people, not necessarily great musicians, with varying degrees of talent and experience. Some are very good music readers while others do not read music at all. A number of us have had previous experience singing in choirs, while for some, this is their first time participating in a choir. A few people have the talent and desire to be soloists, while the vast majority make up the “backbone” of the choir by adding their voices with all the others, contributing to the overall sound of the group. So, you see, regardless of your experience you are welcome to give choir a try. In fact, if you are interested but not sure, I would encourage you to try us out for the next four months. You can start coming to rehearsals the last Wednesday of this month and sing through the Christmas season and then make a decision whether you wish to continue. I believe that if you start you will be hooked and you will want to continue.

Anyone is welcome to join the choir. At this time we are especially in need of sopranos. We also encourage younger adults to join. The choir is open to anyone who is in 9th grade through adult.

Psalm 95:1&2 encourages us to, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord…….and extol Him with music and song.” Obviously, you don’t have to be in the choir to be responsive to that directive, but if you would talk to existing members of the choir they would tell you that being part of the choir certainly helps them in their desire to worship God in a more fulfilling way. The other tremendous benefit is the friendship that the choir provides. Here are two testimonials from choir members that reflect how  they feel about being part of this vibrant ministry:

"The choir is more than just choir to me: its friendship, fellowship, and worship.  It’s a great place to make connections with others, no matter your age.  Serving God through the choir is an amazing experience and I have grown so much as a Christian because of it." —Bobb Shank

“I LOVE Otterbein Choir!  Why?  Because there’s room for folks blessed with awesome voices and there’s room for those whose voices blend best with others around them.  I can use my voice to blend in worship with people who have become my dearest friends.  I love the variety of music we sing.  God is honored when we use our gifts to serve others…that’s the heart of Otterbein Choir.” —Jean Gross
Here’s the kind of people the choir needs.

• People who like to sing and can carry a tune
• People who enjoy music and believe that it is an excellent way to communicate the timeless themes  of the Bible and to inspire the church to worship God.
• People who can commit to Wednesday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning services (8:00/9:20)
• People who enjoy being part of a group and are friendly
• People who enjoy a challenge and learning new things
• People who are in 9th grade through adult

Notice, there is no mention made of an audition. All you have to do is come to rehearsal and we will plug you in. If you have choral experience and know you voice range, you can feel free to sing in the section you are most comfortable. If you do not have experience, you will be asked to try a part and we will see how it goes.

If after reading this article you are interested in giving choir a try (and who wouldn’t be?), you can call Dave Besecker at 717-762-7147, ext 227, or email him at daveb@otterbeinchurch. Our first rehearsal is Wednesday evening, August 26th from 7 until 9 pm in the sanctuary. If that day comes and you have not contacted Dave, please feel free to come that evening and you will be welcomed with open arms. If you can not make the first rehearsal, you can still join the choir at a later date, but it is recommended that you begin as early in the season as possible so that you can begin to learn the music. If you have questions, please feel free to call or email Dave.

Other Information in this Section

In this section you will find information regarding our children's choir, Friendship Co. (grades 3–5), Youth Choir (grades 8 –12), Adult Choir,Praise Team, Orchestra and Seasonal Productions. We also have a group of ladies who make up the worship dance team and participate in special events throughout the year.

If you are interested in being involved in the Music & Worship Ministies, please call Dave Besecker at (717)762-7147 or email him.