Swift Church choirs
lift joyful sounds
to the Lord

 By LISA CARDWELL | music director 

Swift Presbyterian Church has choirs to praise God and to enhance the worship experience. The chancel choir continues to work weekly to bring worshipful music for our Sunday services. The advanced and beginner handbell choirs and the Joyful Tones chime choir play for services from time to time.

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Here’s what our choirs
are working on now

Chancel choir will be singing a new anthem on Oct. 13, “I Know Your Heart of Grace,” which was purchased in memory of Rick Jensen. This is a change from the September newsletter. Due to some changes in Lisa’s work schedule in Pensacola this fall, the chancel choir rehearsals will remain on Sunday mornings at 9 until further notice. We will be singing some previous and current favorites. We would love to have some additional singers.

You won’t want to miss worship on Oct. 27! The handbell choir will be playing two new anthems: “Rhythmic Rejoicing” and “Be Thou My Vision.” “Rhythmic Rejoicing” implements some unusual percussion instruments as we praise God in an unconventional way! “Be Thou My Vision” is a beautiful arrangement of this beautiful hymn, and includes another lovely hymn tune, Thaxted. They were purchased in memory of Barney Miller and Rick Jensen respectively.

Our Christmas program is Dec. 15. As in the past two years, we ask for vocal and instrumental soloists, small and large ensembles, and readers to join in the spirit of the season. If you are interested, please notify Lisa. We hope to have as varied a program as we did last year.

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HERE’S A DESCRIPTION of our choirs:

♪ The Joyful Tones chime choir — This is an intergenerational group that plays three or four times a year. No music reading skills are necessary. This is a beginner-level group created to introduce people to playing tone chimes, as well as the fun and fellowship that church music offers. Rehearses four or five weeks prior to playing in worship services (usually after 10:00 Sunday services).

♫ Chancel choir prepares 2-to-4-part choral music for weekly worship leadership. This group also welcomes singers to join us as we prepare special programs for Holy Week or Christmas. We also enjoy fun and fellowship, supporting each other through prayer and friendship. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 5:45 during the school year, and on Sunday mornings at 9 during the summer.

♪ Handbell choir — We started our handbell choir in summer of 2013 on a trial basis with a borrowed set of bells and chimes. The interest in handbells grew with enthusiasm, and with the help of our generous congregation we purchased a three-octave set of handbells and tone chimes in fall of 2014. Our group has developed skills in techniques and teamwork as we learn anthems and play in worship about every six weeks. We rehearse at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. We welcome people who are willing to start as substitutes for rehearsals, or be a part of ensembles. We take a break for several weeks during the summer.

♫ Intergenerational handbell choir — This is our newest choir and it is for beginners of all ages.

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WANT TO JOIN one or more of the choirs at Swift? Talk with Lisa Cardwell, music director. Her email is lisacardwell62@gmail.com and her telephone number is (251) 767-0777.