Ask the Conductor!

Frequently asked questions regarding Westminster’s new approach to music for worship, with answers from Westminster’s Minister of Music Shawn McDonald.

Will we still have one traditional and one contemporary service?

During the tenure of Rev. David Lenz, Westminster shifted towards what some label as a blended worship style. The labeling of the services as traditional and contemporary is tricky and slightly inaccurate. While the first service has featured a praise set at the opening of the service, our two services have evolved to the point of being nearly identical. They share the same liturgy, musical elements (after the initial praise set), prayers, sermon, and so forth.

We are hoping to soon create a worship design team as a subcommittee of the worship committee. This group of individuals will design worship services throughout the year in consultation with the staff to create worship that is engaging, diverse, and thought- provoking while remaining rooted in the Reformed Presbyterian tradition. I envision that the musical styles at both services will be eclectic, with a focus on lifting our spirits and prayers rather than being committed to a particular musical style.

Will the choir wear robes?

Several people from both of the choirs have asked me this question. While a final decision has not been made, from my conversation with our elders currently serving on the worship committee (Sharon Flynn and Richard LeSueur) it was thought that a good compromise might be to utilize the robes Westminster currently owns until they are worn out. At that time a discussion would occur regarding the value of using robes versus the cost of replacing this expensive item.

Will the choir process and recess or stay in the choir loft?

When the format of the worship service might be enhanced by a choral processional or recessional, we will certainly think about utilizing this tradition. Some of our current members are unable to process. While I am not trying to be critical of any other director’s choice, I strongly believe that singling out individuals with a handicap is awkward and not expressive of the spirit of love and fellowship. Depending on the membership of these individuals in the choir, I may choose to not have the choir process or recess. By beginning our Sunday morning rehearsal at 8 am I hoping to alleviate any haphazard appearance by having the choir seated in the loft before the prelude if we are not processing.

Will the choir be known as the Celebration Singers or the Chancel Choir?

Since we are combining two choirs that have substantial histories at Westminster, I feel that it would be best to move forward under a different name. A suggestion from Richard LeSueur is that we be known as the Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir. This is an item that I plan to open to discussion with all who choose to participate in the new choir.

How was the decision made to eliminate a choir for the late service attendees and not the other way around?

There are many factors that influenced this decision. I’d like to first clarify that while I do not plan to have a formal choir in regular attendance at the second service, I do plan to have a vocal worship team that will lead the congregational singing in harmony each week in addition to an instrumental ensemble. Of course, for festival Sundays (Advent, Easter, and others) the various ensembles of the music ministry will combine for both services.

I have expressed to both worship committee and staff that the main reason to have the choir at the first service is logistics. With our current worship and education schedule, it is difficult to accomplish my vision in any other order. To rehearse a choir sufficiently before the second service means that I would routinely be pulling choir members from adult education classes (or have many choir members arriving late to the pre-service rehearsal). Also I would be limited to only 30 minutes if I was to be reasonable to anyone who wished to attend Sunday School (otherwise they would miss at least half of the class each week). I have found that 30 minutes is insufficient time to rehearse the anthem, go over the details of the order of worship, touch on any newer hymns and lead a time of prayer. I also hope that the choir’s role in worship will increase: singing descants and introits, benedictions, and so on. This would necessitate a longer rehearsal on Sunday mornings.

For what I hope to accomplish at the second service, I need ample time with the sound, video techs to set up the worship space and sound and video equipment. Having this time each week will help to create a smooth worship experience for the congregation at the second service. Since all of the people who assist are currently volunteers (many of them younger), having it between services will make it easier to ensure they are on time (as opposed to expecting them to come in at 7 am!).

Another consideration is that when I was looking at combining choirs, I needed to be realistic about the overall membership. While the Chancel Choir has traditionally been larger than the Celebration Singers, this past year the Celebration Singers were consistently larger and better balanced than the Chancel Choir. Also, the Chancel Choir has aged, with many members retiring and becoming snow birds, or feeling that they no longer have the vocal stamina to make a contribution. If I were to ask the Celebration Singers to come to the second service, I felt I would likely lose many more potential members from the new choir.

I have wanted to join the choir, but I don’t read music–will I fit into the new choir?

Yes–the choir is a place for all types of voices and levels of abilities. We do music in a wide variety of styles and levels of difficulty. Some pieces may stretch your abilities, but we will provide you with the tools you need to participate fully.
For the first seven weeks of Wednesday Night Live! I will offer a Music Reading 101 class from 6:30 to 7:30 in the choir room for those who would like to learn the basics of reading music and expand their musical vocabulary. It is open to singers, instrumentalists, bell ringers or any congregant who wants to learn to read music.

How do I get involved in the choir or one of the other ensembles?

You can contact me via e-mail or speak to me personally following a worship service. I would love to include as many of you as possible in the joy of worshipping God through music making.

When will the various groups rehearse?

The new choir will rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm. The first week of rehearsal, the choir will rehearse on Tuesday, September 7, from 7 to 9 pm.

The bell choir will begin rehearsing on Tuesday evenings in October from 7 to 8:30 pm.

The instrumental and vocal ensembles utilized for the second service will meet on the Tuesday evening before the Sunday they lead from 7:30 to 9 pm.

Children’s choir and bells will be part of the Wednesday Night Live! rotation, rehearsing from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, starting in November.

If you have comments, suggestions or further questions, email Shawn or speak with Rev. Carl or Rev. King.