Welcome!
Upcoming Rehearsals
The next Rehearsal is Wednesday, Nov 20th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Weekly Choir Update
- Nov 17th WORSHIP MUSIC:
- Call to Worship
- Chamber group
- Anthem – My Soul Will Wait
- Hymns:
- Now Thank We All Our God – Hymnal pg 101
- For the Beauty of the Earth – Hymnal pg 92 vs. 1, 2, 5 & 6
- Sound Check Times:
- (7:05) 7:10 am – Dan & Katrina’s duet
- (7:10am) 7:15 am – Choir & Orchestra
- Call to Worship
- New Information:
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- Christmas Party information:
- Thursday, December 19th from 6-8pm in Fellowship Hall
- Link to sign-up and choose your meal: RSVP Link
- the Meal is $15 per person choices are: Prime Rib, Chicken San Marino, and a Vegan option. (Please see me if you need assistance financially – CONFIDENTIAL)
- Please bring your spouse or a guest.
- We are doing a fun gift exchange where you can choose to open the gift you choose or “steal” a gift from someone else and then they choose another gift. For those who want to participate (I hope you all choose too, it will be fun!), it is a $20 limit (please no white elephant gifts)
- We will also be doing a silly/goofy awards as part of the event as well.
- I will have the questions out soon for you to vote on and the awards will be presented that evening at the end of the evening.
- Attire is dressy casual
- Link to sign-up and choose your meal: RSVP Link
- Thursday, December 19th from 6-8pm in Fellowship Hall
- Christmas Concert Attire
- Semi-Formal
- Women in dresses or skirts and can be colorful and have sparkle.
- Men in coat and tie. Can be a colorful shirt and/or tie.
- (Christmas Colors are great, but not necessary)
- Semi-Formal
- Christmas Concert order:
- Please see below (next to the anthem schedule) for the order of your music for the Christmas Concert
- Christmas Party information:
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- Meal Train for Renee
- Here is the link to the updated Meal Train for Renee’: Meal Train Link
- Sectionals – Zoom links offered and are attached to the sectionals.
- General Anthems to be working on for upcoming rehearsal:
- My Soul Will Wait – Thomas Grassi
- CHRISTMAS MUSIC to be working on for upcoming rehearsal: (We are down to our last couple of rehearsals before we have our tech rehearsal)
- O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- O Bethlehem
- Tis a Wonderful Thing
- Hope of the World (especially 1st sopranos on the descant)
- Christmas Concert & Christmas Eve information:
- Christmas Concert date and info:
- for those who like to plan, the Christmas Concert will be held on Sunday, Dec 15th – 4pm & 6pm Concert times
- Dress rehearsals will be on Sunday, Dec 8th from 2:00 -4:00 pm & Wednesday, Dec. 11th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
- Christmas Eve worship services:
- 2:30pm; 4:00pm; & 5:30pm
- Call time TBD
- We will be staying in the choir loft for all three services. Let me know if you can’t be there on Christmas Eve or can only sing 1 or 2 of the services.
- Christmas Eve Run Through:
- we have a run through for Christmas Eve on Monday, Dec 23rd from 6-8pm
- Christmas Concert date and info:
- Older Information:
- Choir Tour update:
- It is not too late to still sign-up if you are wanting to go.
- Trip Site Link
- Choir Tour update:
Prayer Requests
11/13
* Kay Yount – for answered prayers on finding out what is causing her pain and for peace as she prepares for her upcoming surgery to remove the cyst that is causing the pain.
* Renee Johnson – Continued prayers for her healing as she recovers from her surgery and the rehab to follow. She will need to completely stay off of her feet for 6-12 weeks while she is recovering.
* Carol – for her nephew who was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
* Beth – for pain relief from either kidney stones or a strained back from lifting boxes.
Mary H. – for her mom, who will be having shoulder surgery on the 19th after months of waiting to see if she would heal on her own.
Shelly – prayers for her mom, Carol as she is back in the hospital trying to recover from pneumonia.
Katrina – prayers of protection over our whole choir as we move into the Christmas season and are under more stress and busyness.
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.)
Anthem Schedule
Nov 24th
My Will Wait – with Orchestra
Dec 1st
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – with Instrumental soloist
Dec 8th
Hope of the World, Emmanuel – with orchestra
Dec 15th – Morning
O Bethlehem – with Instrumental Soloist
Music List
Christmas Concert Music Order
- Angels We Have Heard On High
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- Sleep Little Lion, Sleep Little Lamb
- Tis a Wonderful Thing
- O Bethlehem
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas
- Hope of the World, Emmanuel
Christmas Eve Music Order
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Sleep Little Lion, Sleep Little Lamb
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Sunday, Dec 8th – 2-4pm Christmas Concert tech rehearsal with orchestra
- Wednesday, Dec 11th – 6-8pm Christmas Concert run through with all of the groups who are participating
- Monday, Dec 23rd – 6-8pm Christmas Eve services run through
- Tuesday, Dec 24th – 2:30pm, 4pm, 5:30pm worship services (we will be staying through all of them)
Getting to know our choir members
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, Nov 17th @ 9:30am
Chamber Choir Update
- For your information:
- The Music for Jonah is in and will be on the Piano to pick up on Sunday morning.
- General Anthems to be working on for rehearsal:
- Ding Dong! Merrily on High
- Joy to the World! The Lord is Come
- A Thanksgiving Gathering
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 on to your device or access online.)
Anthem Schedule
Nov 24th
A Thanksgiving Gathering
Dec 15th
Sing We Now of Christmas
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next rehearsal is Monday, Nov 18th @ 5:15pm (in the Friendship Hall)
Handbell Update
- Upcoming information:
- We are going to start meeting at 5:15pm to help give us a little more time on our music.
- I will be determining after practice on Monday, if we can get both pieces ready in time.
- Also, will be figuring out when we can schedule an extra rehearsal or two as well on Monday.
- Reminders:
- Please check out the “Important Calendar” section below and get the dates and times on your calendars.
Planning Center Links
SoundCloud Link
Anthem Schedule
Dec 15th – Morning
O Come Little Children
Dec 15th – Christmas Concert
1. O Come Little Children – with Percussion
2. Away in the Manger – with Instrumentation
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Wednesday, Dec 11th – Christmas Concert run through from 6-8pm
- Sunday, Dec 15th – Christmas Concert at 4pm & 6pm
- Monday, Dec 23rd – Christmas Eve Run Through from 6-8pm
- Christmas Eve Schedule – 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next full orchestra rehearsal, is Sunday, Nov 17th @ 12:15pm
Orchestra Update
- Upcoming information:
- Music:
- SoundCloud Playlist update:
- I have updated the SoundCloud playlist with the correct mp3’s (somehow the Tenor parts for my choir were in that playlists) and I have arranged them in the order of when they are done.
- I have also created a 80% speed reduction in “Every Light That Shines at Christmas” and have added that as well. It follows the normal speed track.
- Your new folders will be arriving this week and they will have your names on each folder. You can three hole punch your music to add them in in the correct order of performance to make it more manageable.
- SoundCloud Playlist update:
- Music to focus on:
- Please really work on “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Hope of the World” and “Every Light that Shines at Christmas”. Those are the three that are giving you the most trouble.
- Christmas Concert Order for the orchestra pieces:
- A Christmas Collage for a Midnight Clear
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Sleep Little Lion, Sleep Little Lamb
- Tis a Wonderful Thing
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas
- Hope of the World, Emmanuel
- Music:
- Christmas Concert & Christmas Eve date and info:
- for those who like to plan, the Christmas Concert will be held on Sunday, Dec 15th – 4pm & 6pm Concert times
- Dress rehearsals will be on Sunday, Dec 8th from 2:00 -4:00 pm & Wednesday, Dec. 11th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
- Christmas Eve run through – Monday, Dec 23rd from 6-8pm
- Christmas Eve Schedule: Call time 1:00pm
- 2:30pm
- 4:00pm
- 5:30pm
- What to be working on:
- My Soul Will Wait – with choir for Nov. 24th
- Christmas Music to focus on:
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- A Christmas Collage for a Midnight Clear
- Hope of the World, Emmanuel
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas
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
November 24th
1. My Soul will Wait – with choir
December 8th
Hope of the World – with choir
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- December 8th – 2-5pm Tech rehearsal for Christmas Concert (Sanctuary)
- December 11th – 6-8:30pm Christmas concert run through (Sanctuary)
- December 15th – Christmas Concert – Call time 2:00pm
- 4pm & 6pm Shows
- December 23rd – Christmas Eve run through (Sanctuary)
- Christmas Eve Schedule: 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 5:30pm
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next Jazz Band rehearsal is Sunday, Nov 17th @ 1:30pm
Next Jazz Choir rehearsal is Monday, Nov 18th @ 7:00pm
Jazz Groups Updates
- Combined Sound Rehearsal:
- We will be doing a combined band and choir rehearsal with microphones in the Sanctuary on Wednesday, Dec 18th from 6-7:30pm
- Please mark you calendars for this important rehearsal.
- When we play
- We will be doing this music on Sunday, December 22nd for all three Sanctuary services that day.
- 8am, 9:30am & 11am services
- Call time: 7am
- I will have refreshments for you all in the choir suite in the time when you are not playing and between services.
- We will be doing this music on Sunday, December 22nd for all three Sanctuary services that day.
- Music listening links
- I have attached a section below to SoundCloud so you can listen to the mp3’s of the music.
- for the Jazz choir:
- Parts are done and the links are below
- for the Jazz band:
- I will have separated parts for the trombones to give you on Sunday at regular orchestra practice.
- Songs list:
- From the book:
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- Joy to the World
- Seperate song sheet:
- Swing a Christmas Carol
- Jazz band only piece:
- Jazzin’ Merry Gentlemen
- From the book:
- Jazz Choir – No rehearsal dates:
- Monday, Nov 25th
- Dec 9th
- Dec. 16th
- (Will do a make up time TBD for the missed Dec 9th date and may need one more extra rehearsal)
- Jazz Band – No rehearsal dates:
- Sunday, Oct 27th
- Sunday, Dec 15th
- What to be working on:
- Jazz Band:
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Angels from Company C
- Joy to the World
- Swing a Christmas Carol
- Jazz Choir:
- Swing a Christmas Carol
- Angels from Company C
- Joy to the World
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Jazz Band:
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.)
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- December 22nd – 8am, 9:30am & 11am Worship services in the Sanctuary
- December 18th – Combined sound rehearsal for band and choir in the Sanctuary