Chancel Choir

Chancel Choir Spring Cantata

The Chancel Choir is the adult choir of the First United Methodist Church, Downers Grove. It provides music each week for the 10:00 a.m. service and performs two Cantatas each year, one at Christmas and one in the spring. New members are most cordially invited!

The Chancel Choir goals are to:

  • Provide music for Christ-centered worship that stimulates the hearts and minds of singers and congregation.
  • Provide service opportunities for singers to give of their talents to the church community.
  • Include a variety of choral styles of quality choral literature which accommodate the talents and limitations of the choir membership.
  • Feature anthems and responses that address sermon themes and liturgical seasons.
  • Provide two special services (cantatas and themed programs) annually.
  • Provide a supportive, friendly social community for choir members.
Age Range: 
Adult
Choir Director: 
Diane Hires
Accompanist: 
Pattie Barnes
Rehearsal Time: 
Beginning September 5, 2021 - Thursdays, 7:30pm to 9:10pm
Rehearsal Room: 
Fellowship Hall
Performance Dates: 
Sunday, September 8, 2019 - 10:00am
Sunday, September 15, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, September 22, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, September 29, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, October 6, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, October 20, 2019 - 10:00am
Sunday, October 27, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, November 3, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, November 10, 2019 - 10:00am
Sunday, November 17, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, November 24, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, December 1, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, December 8, 2019 - 9:30am
Sunday, December 8, 2019 - 11:00am
Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 11:00am
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - 9:00pm
Sunday, January 12, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, January 19, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, January 26, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, February 23, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, March 1, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, March 8, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, April 5, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, April 12, 2020 - 9:30am
Sunday, April 12, 2020 - 11:00am
Sunday, April 19, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, April 26, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 3, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 10, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 17, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 24, 2020 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 19, 2019 - 10:00am
Sunday, May 24, 2020 - 10:00am
Rehearsal Schedule: 
Repeats every week every Thursday until Thu May 14 2020 except Thu Nov 28 2019, Thu Dec 26 2019, Thu Jan 02 2020. Also includes Tue Nov 26 2019.

News and Events

Ain'a That Good News! The Voice of Spirituals

Chancel Choir Christmas ConcertOn Sunday, December 15, the Chancel Choir will present a program of most beloved spirituals at the 9:30 and 11am services. Hear soloists, chorus and congregation trace our spiritual journeys. Musical themes include Sanctuary, Freedom and Deliverance, Witness and The Coming of the Birth of Christ.

Please plan to make this special service a part of your Advent experience, and bring other music lovers!

Date: 
Sunday, December 15, 2013 - 9:30am

Chancel Choir Cantata - John Rutter's "Psalmfest"

PsalmfestThe Chancel Choir will be presenting Psalmfest by John Rutter with a special guest orchestra ensemble on Sunday, April 21 at the 9:30 and 11:00 worship services. This cantata contains psalm settings written by Rutter over a twenty year period, with the addition of two settings written especially for this work. They contain some of Rutter's most attractive music, with a mix of rhythmic vitality and melodic beauty, finishing with a sparkling rendition of Psalm 148.

This presentation provides an ideal time to invite family and friends to visit our church and enjoy the beautiful sounds of choir and orchestra.

Do You See What I See? - A Family Service

Advent - our time of waiting and preparing for the birth of Christ - is celebrated by our lighting candles of the Advent wreath during the first four Sundays in December. This year, we look forward to a special service at the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Family Services on December 2, "Do You See What I See?" prepared by the Children and Family Ministries and the Chancel Choir. Carols, stories, and gifts for the children will light our way to the true meanings of our journey to the manger.

Everyone is encouraged to bring gifts of food, which the children will proudly deliver to the stable for a People's Resource Center offering.

With music and meditations for all, the whole church family is invited to share in this service as we welcome the Advent season.

Choir Dedication Sunday

Music for worshipOctober 28th - 9:30 & 11:00 Worship Services

Angel, Cherub, Chorister, Connection, Chapel and Chancel Choirs will be singing!

Bells will be ringing!

Please come and enjoy a wonderful service filled with music

IL-ACDA Community/Church Honor Choir

On Saturday, October 20th, several Chancel Choir members attended the Illinois-American Choir Directors’ Association Community/Church Honor Choir held at North Central College in Naperville, IL. The program included 3 hours of rehearsal on Friday evening, 4 hours on Saturday, and concluded with a concert on Saturday at Wentz Hall on the campus of North Central College.

Our Chancel Choir was represented by Melinda Bergstrom, Pennie Crinion, Bill Crowther, Allen DeBraal, Sally DeBraal, Scott Hudson, Jim McDonald, Karen Owen, Jamie Postlewait, and Dave Sandfort. Our own Brett Goad served as Conference Chair for this event, and is very active in the IL ACDA, having served as president of the board last year. The director of the Honor Choir was Paul Rardin, Director of Choral Activities at Temple University and a wonderfully creative and talented director, whom all enjoyed very much. The repertoire was varied and wonderful, from Mendelssohn to "Camptown Races".

Thank you and congratulations to our church choir members who well-represented our church and Chancel Choir and I’m sure had a great time while learning wonderful music and making new friendships.

Pages

Copyright © 2023 First United Methodist Church, Downers Grove. Please report any problems to webmaster@dgfumc.org.