Salem Creative Arts
Salem Creative Arts and Music Ministry offers a wide variety of worship support ensembles. Gifts of music and praise enrich and enhance services as people of all ages work together to share music as their gift to God, the congregation, and community.
Intergenerational Choirs, Handbell and Puppet Teams participate in worship on a rotating basis and rehearse weekly.
Seasonal groups include Brass, Strings, Flute, Praise-style, or Vocal Ensembles and a Festival of Carols at Christmas. Individual gifts of music are most welcome as well.
Creative Arts Weekly Schedule
Wednesdays In the Choir Room:
6:00pm Celebration Voices - Anthemic (with musical scores)
7:00pm Celebration Voices - Harmonic (without scores)
8:00pm Worship Multiverse
Thursday Rehearsals:
6:00pm Puppet Praise (Choir Room)
7:00pm Sounds of Grace Handbells (Sanctuary Loft)
Sundays In the Choir Room:
10:30am Sunday School Singing (Choir Room)
Sundays In the Sanctuary:
10:30am Open Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
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Creative Arts Welcomes New Voices and Instruments
In September, our Creative Arts ensembles got off to a running start: the Sounds of Grace bells are ringing, the Celebration Voices are singing, Puppet Praise is puppeteering, and young people are enthusiastically sharing their gifts.
New singers are joining in the Anthemic (with musical scores) and the Harmonic (without scores) rehearsals. Again - music reading is not required! And, it’s ok if you can’t come to every Wednesday rehearsal.
Thank you, Jackson Lind, for playing guitar for “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” in worship, and Gus Riebe for playing an Irish jig for his Gift of Music during the offering. These represent the kind of multi-faceted faithful creativity that we are working towards, including everyone in our Christian community’s worship.
The 8pm Worship Multiverse hour on Wednesdays is available every week for any and all adults, youth and children who would like to work on something to share in worship. Please be in touch if you or your child/youth would like to work on something together, or just show up! Thanks.
Peace and adventure in Christ,
Michael Carlson
Coordinator of Music Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore IL
(503) 597-9970 mobile
Choirs
Salem Vocal Choirs gather to teach the faith in song and celebrate God's love and grace in worship. Please consider exploring the gift of music God has given you. Children meet weekly to sing at the beginning of Sunday School.
Contact Michael Carlson at michael@slcsycamore.org to get involved in any of the ensembles that interest you. Everyone is welcome and there is a place for you in one of the many music and creative arts ensembles.
Salem Children's Choir
We are going to be opening each Sunday School with some singing before breaking out into age groups for the lesson. And when the kids find a song that they love, we will invite them to present it in worship. So, the Children’s Choir now become everyone who sings! And the whole congregation will see and hear what they are learning.
For seasonal programs like the Children’s Christmas Program, we will add some rehearsals during the week for kids who are playing larger roles.
Celebration Voices
The Celebration Voices choir welcomes those 6th grade and older who enjoy singing songs of faith.
All ability levels are welcome. Sing for a month or two if you cannot commit to the whole season! All ability levels are welcome. Sing for a month or two if you cannot commit to the whole season!
Reading music is not required. Contact Michael Carlson at michael@slcsycamore.org about your interest and he will find a place for your voice.
Puppet Praise
The Puppet Praise Team meets on Thursday at 6pm in the choir room.
Salem Puppet Praise Team brings smiles as adorable people, animal, and creature puppets come to life to share faith stories and songs for worship services and outreach programs. Let your inner child shine through! Salem Puppets share in worship about once a month and prepare longer programs of faith or history for care centers, community venues, or other churches.
Have you ever watched Puppet Praise and wondered if you could do that? If you are a 5th grader or older (adults, too), you can! Experienced puppeteers are ready to hep you learn how to work the puppets and have fun on this amazing team.
Contact Michael Carlson at michael@slcsycamore.org for more information.
Sounds of Grace Handbell Choir
Sounds of Grace Bells is for middle school and older, youth and adults who enjoy the teamwork of a handbell choir and the blessing of songs of faith. Each ringer plays 2 to 4 bells and learns to ring them with various techniques The ability to read music is preferred; or we can help you learn. Ringers work with a 3-octave set of Malmark handbells and play for worship once or twice a month and for Festival services. Rehearsals are from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Thursdays in the sanctuary balcony.
Please contact Michael Carlson, michael@slcsycamore.org if you have questions or wish to participate.
Festival of Carols or Cantatas at Salem
Adult and youth singers come together once or twice a year to prepare special Christmas or Lenten programs, extended works of narration, and songs. Instrumentalists or soloists are often featured in these worship presentations. Rehearsals are held on scheduled Sunday and Wednesday evenings prior to the presentation and all singers are welcome.
Brass Ensembles
Easter and Christmas Brass Ensembles lend to the Festive atmosphere of these special services. Rehearsals are scheduled at the convenience of those participating. Please consider sharing your gift! Watch the Events pages for upcoming dates.
Individual Gifts of Praise
Singing & Ringing Memorials
Financial support for Salem Creative Arts is always welcome and appreciated. Choral or handbell anthems, musicals, or cantatas may be sponsored in honor or in memory of someone.
The generosity of Salem congregation and friends has enabled Salem Creative Arts to build a good choral library with a wide variety of traditional, historic, and contemporary hymn and song arrangements for worship.
Gifts to Salem Puppet Praise Ministry in any amount are also welcomed to purchase puppets or equipment. Our puppet inventory has grown to about 75 puppets from small bugs to full-sized people and animal puppets through special gifts and memorials.
We are grateful for all involved and extend a warm welcome to others interested.
Michael Carlson michael@slcsycamore.org
We are grateful for all involved and extend a warm welcome to others interested.
Michael Carlson michael@slcsycamore.org