Salem Creative Arts

Hello Friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Day. The snow has certainly been beautiful!

I would like to let you all know what Pastor Preston and I have discussed regarding planning for the next few months for the Celebration Singers, Puppet Praise and Children’s Choir. Although I had planned for a pause in January and to start rehearsals again in earnest in February, that will now be extended a month due to personal health challenges and needs of my extended family to which I need to attend in California. The highly contagious nature of the current strain of the virus, even to those who are vaccinated, has also played a part in this decision.

So, we will extend our evaluation and planning into February, and primarily do this through email, phone and possibly Zoom conversations at our regular rehearsal times. This may also include discussion and work to create some more space in our rehearsal and storage spaces. In March, we plan to once again start rehearsing ensemble anthems, scripts, and other creative worship presentations.

The next season for creative arts and ensembles will be focused on preparing expressions of praise and to God, as well as challenge and encouragement to the congregation during Lent, Holy Week and Easter.

We have built great momentum in our creative arts programming through the Christmas season and I look forward to building on that through the Spring.

Thank you all for your understanding, and your commitment to the creative arts at SLC.

Peace and adventure in Christ,

Michael Carlson

Salem Creative Arts/ 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.

Adult and Children's Vocal Choirs and Intergenerational Handbell and Puppet Teams participate in worship on a rotating basis and rehearse weekly.

Seasonal groups include Brass, Flute, Praise-style, or Vocal Ensembles and a Festival of Carols at Christmas. Salem Children's Choir shares an annual Spring Musical.   Individual gifts of music are most welcome as well.

Salem Vocal Choirs gather groups of children and adults 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 or your child.

Talk to Michael Carlson about how 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 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. Learn to be a puppeteer Tuesdays from 6:00 -7:00 p.m. in the Choir Room, September 14 - May, and let your inner child shine through! Youth and adults, grade 5 and up, make a great intergenerational team ministry. Salem Puppets share in worship about once a month and prepare longer programs of faith or history about three times a year for care centers, community venues, or other churches.

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 as indicated in the score. The ability to read music is preferred; others can 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 Balcony.

Please contact Michael Carlson, michael@slcsycamore.org if you have questions or wish to participate.

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.