Welcome!
Upcoming Rehearsals
Next rehearsal is:
Wednesday, Sept 3rd from 6:00 – 7:30pm in the Sanctuary
Weekly Choir Update
- Aug. 31st Morning Worship Music
- Call to Worship
- NONE
- Anthem:
- Precious In My Sight
- Hymns:
- Jesus Calls Us – hymnal pg# 398 vs. 1, 3, 4, & 5
- Take Time to Be Holy – hymnal pg#395
- Call Times:
- 7:10am – Dan & Katrina – Sound Check 7:15am
- 7:15am – Choir – Sound Check @ 7:20am
- Call to Worship
- What to be working on for the next rehearsal:
- O For a Heart to Praise My God
- Hallelujah
- O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
- Psalm 40
- Psalm 16 (My Refuge)
- New Information:
- Updates:
- O Love That Will Not Let Me Go anthem:
- I have revised the Alto and Tenor parts for the section on Page 5 to what we decided at last night’s rehearsal and added them to PlanningCenter and SoundCloud.
- All Tenors sing the bottom tenor part on that page
- Remember the Treble Clef is for the Tenor parts on that page.
- 1st and 2nd Altos take the top two Tenor parts on that page.
- the rest of the song is as written.
- I have removed all of the extra part dominant mp3’s that are not needed for every section. So what is on PlanningCenter and SoundCloud is what you need to learn your parts.
- All Tenors sing the bottom tenor part on that page
- I have revised the Alto and Tenor parts for the section on Page 5 to what we decided at last night’s rehearsal and added them to PlanningCenter and SoundCloud.
- CHOIR Protocols:
- We have had some issues of late with people coming in very late for the 11am service and not being in their seats and ready to sing before worship starts.
- If you are late, please do not enter the choir loft when something is happening in worship, like the another group leading worship or hymns being sung. It is disrupts worship for those leading and for those who are participating.
- Please wait in the wings and enter when the choir stands to sing for the hymns or the anthem.
- Please always check this site so you are prepared for Sunday morning on what we are singing.
- Also, please remember to not wear perfumes, colognes or any flowery scented lotions when you are in the choir loft. We have had allergic reactions becuase we tend to forget about that when getting ready to leave the house.
- We have had some issues of late with people coming in very late for the 11am service and not being in their seats and ready to sing before worship starts.
- O Love That Will Not Let Me Go anthem:
- Rehearsal Information:
- I have added some information about some upcoming rehearsals in the “Upcoming Calendar Dates” section towards the bottom of the page. Please look those over and mark your calendars.
- MISSING MUSIC:
- for those who are missing music for whatever reason, please print off the PDF version that is attached in PlanningCenter so you have it for rehearsals. Also, let me know if you are missing your copy so we can track which numbers those are.
- PLEASE do NOT take someone else’s copy. This is becoming a problem and is not good stewardship of our resources.
- for those who are missing music for whatever reason, please print off the PDF version that is attached in PlanningCenter so you have it for rehearsals. Also, let me know if you are missing your copy so we can track which numbers those are.
- Updates:
Prayer Requests
8/27
Carolyn & Jeff – continued prayers for peace and comfort. But thankful 3 lives were saved from Zane’s organs. His funeral is in Minneapolis next week.
Jan– going to Zoom soon for rehearsals 😊
Connie – Joe needs a CPap soon
* Minneapolis school shooting
* Suicidal man on 20 this morningÂ
* Plew Elementary – thankful that man chased by police did no harm
Michelle – going to Albuquerque to see Monty
Judy – a victim’s impact will be read tomorrow to man who killed a swat team member, Sherriff’s will all attend
Melody– babysitting grandchildren 😊
Shelly – celebrating new granddaughter Maggie CarolineÂ
Libby – ablation on back on Sept 12
Leroy – back surgery delayed 6 weeks
Amanda – Continued prayers for peace and comfort.
Planning Center Links
SoundCloud Links
Link to access SoundCloud link or access on soundcloud.com (You do NOT need to sign in or create an account to listen just download the app onto your device or access online.)
- Summer ’25 Listening mp3’s
- Summer ’25 Alto mp3’s
- Summer ’25 Soprano mp3’s
- Summer ’25 Tenor mp3’s
- Summer ’25 Baritone/Bass mp3’s
Anthem Schedule
August 31st –
Precious in My Sight
September 7th –
O For a Heart to Praise My God
September 14th –
Hallelujah – with Orchestra
September 21st –
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
September 28th –
Psalm 40 – with Orchestra
October 5th –
Psalm 16 My Refuge
October 12th –
What a Friend – with Orchestra
October 19th –
Here Comes Moses – with Children’s choir
October 26th –
That’s My King – with Orchestra
November 2nd –
Fly Away
November 9th –
O Praise Him, Alleluia! -with orchestra
November 16th –
O For a Heart to Praise My God
November 23rd –
Praise – with Orchestra
November 30th – 1st Sunday of Advent
Advent of My Heart
December 7th –
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – with Children’s choir
December 14th – Morning
Noel – with Orchestra
December 21st – Jazz Sunday
MAIN CHOIR OFF – JAZZ CHOIR AND JAZZ BAND
December 24th – Christmas Eve Worship services
Selections from the Christmas concert
Music List
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Rehearsal Date Information:
- NO rehearsal on Wednesday, Sept 10th (I will be away for my sister’s internment ceremony)
- Wednesday, Oct 15th rehearsal will be moved to Monday the 13th.
- Christmas Concert rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, Sept 28th
- Christmas Music rehearsal: 6-7:00pm
- Regular Music rehearsal 7:00 – 8:30pm
- Christmas Concert information:
- Christmas Concert, Sunday December 14th @ 4pm & 6pm
- Big Rehearsals:
- Tech Rehearsal with all groups – Sunday, December 7th @ 2-5pm
- Dress Rehearsal with all groups – Wednesday, December 10th @ 6-9pm
Getting to know our choir members
Link to the choir member information spreadsheet: Link
This week’s choir member highlight is Shelly Elbert
Shelly recently joined the Chancel Choir but you all know her from the orchestra and the flute choir. She began playing the flute in fourth grade. She was a military dependent so the family moved a lot, but flute was a staple. She didn’t sing until her senior year in the choir at school. She also played piccolo during the marching season. Multi-talented as are all our orchestra members!
Shelly is married to Tim, her high school sweetheart, who she met in band. They have been together for 40 years and have three sons. Jason (and Jennifer), who have two children – Blakely and Brooklyn; Ryan (and Tori), and Tyler.
The Elberts have been in the area since 1988. Shelly is a tennis player with the Top Spins and also likes to play bridge. She also likes to have fun. One of the things she had fun with was as the Children’s Supervisor for Bible Study Fellowship with pre-schoolers.
Her favorite Bible verse is Psalms 46:10 and loves Christmas songs all year round!!
We are so blessed to have Shelly and her talents in choir, flute choir, and the orchestra!!
This week’s choir member highlight is Renee Johnson
Renee Johnson was born and raised in Pennsylvania. At church, she sang in the children’s and adult choir. She also sang in her high school chorus. No matter where she lived, she always sang in a church choir.
When she graduated, she joined the Marine Corps. Being stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC., there she worked as an administration clerk.
She married a Marine from Alabama. They have 2 sons. Steven, a 26 year Vet, USN. He lives in Jacksonville, FL and works for NorthThrope, Grumman. And Charlie is a Flight RN with Life Saver Air Rescue, in Auburn, AL. She has 5 grandchildren
Renee retired after 30 years from General Electric Crop in Decatur, AL and with her husband moved to Defuniak Springs. Last year they moved to Niceville and she joined Crosspoint Church and is now singing 1st Tenor in our choir. Renee also volunteers at the Bargain Box. She enjoys being a Watercolorist, reading and quilting.
One of her favorite songs is: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
We are so happy to welcome Renee to our choir!!
This week’s choir member highlight is Wes Turner
Wes is one of our new basses. He was born in Roanoke, VA. He began his singing career at the young age of about 8 singing with his church choir. That has been his venue of choice most of his life. And now we are blessed to have him singing bass in our church choir!
We graduated from the Air Force Academy. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and flew the F-15. He currently works for Boeing.
He has been married to Chelsey for 11 years. They have 4 children: Penelope, Axel, Sabrina, & Harrison. Raising four children doesn’t leave much time for hobbies but he does find time to work out, run and lift some weights. If he is really lucky, he finds time to make bread.
One of his favorite songs is “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.”
Welcome Wes! We’re glad to have you singing with us!!
This week’s choir member highlight is Reneé Gutierrez
Renee is in the soprano section of our choir. She was born in Galveston, Texas, but moved to Niceville at age 2. She’s been here ever since. She graduated from Niceville High School. Her first outing as a soloist was at age 5 at the Rocky Bayou Kindergarten graduation ceremony. She sang with the Youth Choir at church and recently sang a solo with our choir. We are grateful she is sharing her talent with us! (And is one of the ones helping to lower the average age of our choir members.)
Renee has 2 children. Bianca and Topher. She has a varied work history. She’s worked in a few restaurants and worked her way up to General Manager of Hungry Howie’s in Niceville. She likes to experiment with new dishes. Too bad Hungry Howie’s is a corporate entity or she may have transformed their menu with her experiments in the oven. Renee now works at Super Cuts in Niceville. She has found her calling and loves cutting hair. She also has earned a Cosmetology license.
According to Renee, God is always there and holding us up. She likes the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar tried to force them to worship his gods and threatened to throw them into the blazing furnace. But their answer was Daniel 3:17-18, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even it he does not, we want you to know, 0 king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
This week’s choir member highlight is Maxine Spence
Maxine was born in California and grew up in Pensacola, Florida. After the death of her father her mom, who was from Pensacola, moved them back to Florida. She began singing at an early age-—5! She sang in high school and the Pensacola Christian Chorus, Christian High Singers, and Sugar Beach Acapella Chorus and for many years was a baritone in barbershop quartets. She is one of our faithful and wonderful altos. She plays a little piano and the recorder.Maxine attended the University of West Florida and majored in medical laboratory technology and criminal justice forensic studies. She spent six years in the Air Force. She was a radio maintenance tech stationed at Upper Heyford AFB in England. She spent time in Hahn, Germany before ending her career at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma.
Maxine has been married to Walter Spence for 22 years. She has a son, Richard, and a stepdaughter, Vicki. She and Walt have an affinity for birds and bird photography. And are both very good at it! She works as the treasurer of Spence Brothers Properties.
She likes Roman 12:2 bible verse among many others.
Two of her favorite hymns are The Old Rugged Cross, and O Holy Night.
This week’s choir member highlight is John Pruitt
John was born in Terre Haute, Indiana and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, majoring in Education. He attended college on an ROTC scholarship and joined the Air Force after graduation. He was in the Air Force for 28 1/2 years.
While in high school John sang with the chorus, played the trumpet in the band and was the drum major. One of his favorite musical memories was singing with his sisters. They put him on a chair when he was little, turned on the radio and while they washed and dried and he rinsed, they all sang together!
John is lucky enough to be married to the lovely Martha. They have three young ad Its. Joshua is a senior at FSU, Elizabeth is a sophomore. The oldest, Emily is married with a daughter Avery and a son Atticus.
After retiring from the AF, John worked as a contractor on base. He’s retired from that and now volunteers at the Hurlburt Thrift Shop. He began singing with the Crosspoint Choir in the bass section about 14 years ago when he joined to sing One Christmas concert. He has graced us with a number of solos over the years and we are grateful to him for sharing his talent.
A favorite hymn is Amazing Grace.Favorite Bible verse: John 3:16
This week’s choir member highlight is Leak (Leroy) Thornal
Col (Ret) Leroy Thornal was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1930 during the Depression.
His first professional singing job was at age 10. He got 10 cents for singing in his Uncle Russ’ talent show.
Leroy joined the National Guard in Charleston, SC when he was 16. After just over a year he joined the regular Air Force as an enlisted man for three years, nine months and 17 days. He attended the University of South Carolina on the Korean GI Bill and received a BS in Civil Engineering. He got an MS from Troy University. He became a fighter pilot and flew the T37, T29, T28, T33 and the F4 Phantom. His career included flying in the Korean War and 100 missions over North Vietnam. One of his favorite memories was being an Air Force Escort Officer that picked up POW’s in Hanoi and brought them home. He told one friend’s wife he would bring hers home and he did!
Leroy is married to Joyce and their children are Lana, Mike, Kris, and Wes. They have 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
In addtion to singing in our bass section for many years, he has written 5 songs: Faith of a Child, The Lord Has My Soul In His Hands, Salvation Train Leaves at Midnight, This I Believe, and Little Babe from Bethlehem. He sings them all a capella. Not bad for a gentleman who does not read music!
Leroy is partial to Proverbs 3, 5, & 6. One of his favorite songs is The Canticle of Praise that the Chancel Choir has performed a number of times.
Upcoming Rehearsal
Sunday, Sept 7th @ 9:50am
Chamber Choir Update
- For your information:
- NO REHEARSAL ON AUG. 31
- All of the Christmas Songs parts are now completed and on PlanningCenter and SoundCloud. New links are below.
- All of the Fall part dominant mp3’s are completed and the links are below for both PlanningCenter and SoundCloud.
- Anthems to be working on for rehearsals:
- Behold, I Stand at the Door
- Nearer, My God to Thee
- Let There Be Light
SoundCloud Links
Link to access SoundCloud link or access on soundcloud.com (You do NOT need to sign in or create an account to listen just download the app on to your device or access online.)
Anthem Schedule
September 21st
Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock
October 19th
Nearer, My God to Thee
November 16th
Sun of My Soul
December 14th
One of the Christmas songs
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next rehearsal is Tuesday, Sept 2nd 5:30pm – 6:45pm
Handbell Update
- Upcoming information:
- Calendar schedule is filled out below with dates and what we are playing.
- Christmas Concert & rehearsal information is below in the important calendar dates as well.
Planning Center Links
SoundCloud Link
Anthem Schedule
Sept 21st
1. New Day Fanfare
Oct 12th
1. Fanfare of the Faithful – SMALL HANDBELL ENSEMBLE WITH PIANO FOR PRELUDE
Oct 19th
1. Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?
Nov 16th
1. Echoes from a Weary World
Nov 30th (beginning of Advent)
1. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
December 14th – Christmas Concerts at 4pm & 6pm
1. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
2. God Rest Ye, Swingin’ Gentlefolk!
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Christmas Concert Information:
- Concert is on Sunday, December 14th @ 4pm & 6pm
- Big Rehearsals:
- Tech Rehearsal with all groups – Sunday, December 7th @ 2-5pm
- Dress Rehearsal with all groups – Wednesday, December 10th @ 6-9pm
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next orchestra rehearsal, Sunday, Sept 7th at 12:15pm
Orchestra Update
- Upcoming information:
- UPDATED rehearsal schedule:
- We will start back to our regular rehearsal schedule on Sunday, Sept 7th from 12:15pm – 1:45pm
- Christmas Concert schedule is down below. Please make sure you have these dates on your calendar.
- Update on Music listening links:
- the new SoundCloud links for Fall & Christmas are now ready to go and you will find them below in the “SoundCloud Links” section.
- We have some really great music for the Fall and Christmas and I am very excited about it!
- UPDATED rehearsal schedule:
- What to be working on for upcoming rehearsal:
- Upcoming Sundays – Music is in your folder in the box
- Please see the below calendar to know what music to be prepared for.
- Upcoming Sundays – Music is in your folder in the box
SoundCloud Links
Link to access SoundCloud link or access on soundcloud.com (You do NOT need to sign in or create an account to listen just download the app on to your device or access online.)
Anthem Schedule
September 14th
1. Hallelujah – with choir
September 28th
1. Holy, Holy, Holy – orchestra only
2. Psalm 40 – with choir
October 12th
1. What a Friend- with choir
October 26th
1. Revelation Song with Holy, Holy, Holy – orchestra only
2. That’s My King – with choir
November 9th
1. O Praise Him, Alleluia! – with choir
November 23rd
1. God of Our Fathers with Faith of Our Fathers – orchestra only
2. Praise – with choir
December 14th (Morning)
1. The Hope of Christmas – Orchestra only
2. Noel – with choir
December 14th (Christmas Concert)
1. The Hope of Christmas – Orchestra only
2. A Christmas Festival – Orchestra Only
3. O Come, All Ye Faithful – with choir
4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen – with choir
5. Angels (Glory to God) – with choir and kids
6. Sing a Merry Christmas – with choir
7. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – with choir and Kids
8. Noel – with Choir
December 24th (Christmas Eve Worship services)
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Christmas Concert Information:
- Concert is Sunday December 14th @ 4pm & 6pm
- Big Rehearsals:
- Tech Rehearsal with all groups – Sunday, December 7th @ 2-5pm
- Dress Rehearsal with all groups – Wednesday, December 10th @ 6-9pm