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.

I continue to feel blessed and honored to participate in music and creative arts programming with people of all ages at SLC.  Everyone is welcome to try singing, ringing, puppeteering, and moving to praise God! No strings, no obligations. Find what brings you joy in the Creative Arts at SLC!

Peace and adventure in Christ,

Michael Carlson

Celebration Voices:  A Brand New Year With More New Ways For God to Hear Our Voice of Praise

I am so excited to invite you to come and sing with us in February!  We are trying something new in our rehearsals that I hope will help everyone feel comfortable giving it a try.  As you may know, singing does present a greater risk to release germs in the air, but as long as you are vaccinated and boosted, you are welcome!  And we do have a good air cleaner that is always running in the choir room to reduce the risk.

Starting in January, only the first part of our weekly Wednesday choir rehearsal (7:00 to 7:45 p.m.) will be mask-required.  In this part of the rehearsal, we will read from music and take a more traditional approach to choir. If you like that kind of choral experience, you are welcome!

In the second part of the Wednesday rehearsal (8:00 to 8:45 p.m.) masking will be optional.  The use of a score won't be necessary, because the music will be easier to learn by listening and watching than by reading music. The music may also include more multi-cultural styles with a beat.  I hope some of you will give this a try!  There are others who have expressed interest in this sort of singing, so you won't be alone.  You are welcome!

Whether you want to mask or not, read music or not, whether you are a high school youth or adult, if you seek an inclusive, safe place to raise your voice with others, I hope you will be found singing at Salem.  See you soon!

P.S. ... Please Note: 

During Lent (February 22 thru Easter), rehearsal times will be different to work around the 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening services.  The first part of rehearsal (masks required, as described above) will be at 6:00 p.m., and the second part (masks optional) will be at 7:45 p.m.

Thanks!

Michael Carlson

Coordinator of Music Ministry

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.

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 5^th 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 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.

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.