Welcome!
Upcoming Rehearsals
Next rehearsal is Wednesday, March 12th from 6:00 -8:15pm.
Weekly Choir Update
- Mar 16th WORSHIP MUSIC:
- Call to Worship
- NONE
- Anthem – What a Savior, What a Friend with Instrumental Ensemble
- Hymns:
- Come, Ye Sinners Poor and Needy – Hymnal pg# 340 vs. 1-3
- Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross – Hymnal pg# 301 vs. 1-3
- Sound Check Times:
- Choir – 7:15am arrival; 7:20am sound check
- Call to Worship
- What General Anthems to be Listening to and working on:
- Listening & Working on Parts
- Same Power
- Who you Say I Am
- Jesus Paid It All
- Lonesome Valley
- Hosanna in the Highest
- Until You Save the World
- Listening & Working on Parts
- What Palm Sunday concert anthems to be working on for upcoming rehearsal:
- (we will continue working on the same ones from this past week’s rehearsal)
- Lest I Forget Thy Love
- O Sacred Head
- Holy
- A Song Unending
- (we will continue working on the same ones from this past week’s rehearsal)
- Easter Anthems:
- Listening and getting familiar with:
- He Lives
- Risen, Just As He Said
- Listening and getting familiar with:
- New Information:
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- Next Week’s Rehearsal during Spring Break
- We talked about meeting earlier, but we will keep the same time so those who are working can still be at all or most of the rehearsal.
- What to Wear for Palm Sunday and Easter:
- Palm Sunday cantata:
- concert black
- Men with coat and tie
- Women in dresses, skirts or dress pants with nice blouse
- Easter Sunday:
- Colorful and dressy
- Men in Coat and Tie
- Women in dresses, skirts or dress pants with nice blouse
- Palm Sunday cantata:
- GMC Annual Conference Choir, Monday May 5th @ 7pm:
- We have room for 4 more people if anyone would like to still join.
- We have 8 people going up on Monday so far.
- We are reserving the Church Van so you can all ride together.
- please let me know if you are interested in being a driver so we can get your license on the insurance information for the church.
- Please let me know if you are planning to be a part of this so I can make sure we are good with the van or need additional transportation.
- Plan on leaving the church parking lot by 1:30pm. Call time is 5:30pm
- Next Week’s Rehearsal during Spring Break
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- France Trip Rehearsals:
- Music update
- Music you will need to have on Monday night and what you will be receiving as well is listed below in the column next to the anthem schedule. – I have added two more pieces and taken two out.
- Choir rehearsals for those going to France will be starting up shortly on Monday’s from 7-8:30pm. Here is the schedule so far:
- March 17th, 24th, 31st
- April 7th, 28th
- May 12th, 19th
- June 2nd 9th
- Music update
- Older Information:
- Choir Tour update:
- It is still not too late to still sign-up if you are wanting to go. We are approaching that mark soon. This is going to be an incredible tour!
- Trip Site Link
- Choir Tour update:
Prayer Requests
3/12
*Carol – surgery on March 14th, prayers they get the all of it and that it is still contained
*Kay – for her brother who is dying and will be the first sibling of 8 to pass away.
– Continued prayers for Kay and her husband and the health journey they are still on.
* for Jimmy Summerlin, Elaine’s husband. Continued healing from the stroke and brain bleed. A joy that he has been moved to a regular room.
* for Al Niedbalski and the bleeding that won’t stop from a nose procedure last week.
* Prayers for Crosspoint, specifically North Crestview and it’s leaders and all of the people involved.
* Safe travel mercies for Spring Break travelers
* joy for Pace Campus getting their new campus pastor, Brandon Acree.
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.)
- Winter/Spring ’25 Listening mp3’s
- Winter/Spring ’25 Alto mp3’s
- Winter/Spring ’25 Soprano mp3’s
- Winter/Spring ’25 Tenor mp3’s
- Winter/Spring ’25 Bass mp3’s
Anthem Schedule
March 16th –
What a Savior What a Friend – with String Quintet
March 23rd –
Same Power – with Orchestra
March 30th –
1. Who You Say I Am – with Orchestra
2. Jesus Paid It All
April 6th –
Lonesome Valley
April 13th – Palm Sunday morning
1. Hosanna in the Highest – with Orchestra
2. Until You Save the World
April 13th – Palm Sunday Concert
Cantata – In My Place
April 20th – Easter
1. An Easter Celebration – with Orchestra
2. He Lives – with Orchestra
3. Risen, Just As He Said – with Orchestra
April 27th –
1. Dead Man Rising – with Orchestra
2. Beauty of the Cross – with Orchestra
May 4th –
What a Savior, What a Friend – with Instrumental quintet
May 11th –
As Loud As He Is Worthy – with Orchestra
May 18th –
Sing Rejoice and Sing Praise – with Brass and Handbells
Music List
- Music that should be in your folders:
- General anthems:
- Come, Worship God
- River Glorious
- Come Find His Rest
- This Is My Father’s World
- Beauty of the Cross
- What a Savior, What a Friend
- Same Power
- Who You Say I Am
- Jesus Paid It All
- Lonesome Valley
- Rejoice and Sing Praise
- Wade in the Living Water
- As Loud As He Is Worthy
- Palm Sunday morning
- Hosanna in the Highest
- Until You Save the World
- Palm Sunday concert
- In My Place
- A Choral Amen (not in folders yet)
- Easter morning
- An Easter Celebration
- He Lives
- Risen Just As He Said
- General anthems:
France Choir Trip Music
- From Music in Your Folders:
- Lonesome Valley
- So Be It
- Wade In the Living Water
- A Song Unending
- Come Find His Rest
- Until You Save the World
- Beauty of the Cross
- The Blood of Jesus Medley
- Music you will get from me:
- This Train
- Reign
- Fill-a-Me Up
- He Is the Everlasting God
- Doxology
- Bless the Lord
- Precious in My Sight
- Jesus, Firm Foundation
- We Are Not Alone
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Palm Sunday & Easter Dress rehearsals:
- Sunday, April 6th: 2:00 – 4:00pm Tech Rehearsal for Palm Sunday concert
- Wednesday, April 9th: 5:30 – 8:00pm Palm Sunday concert Run Through Dress Rehearsal
- Sunday, April 13th: 4pm Concert (1:45pm Call Time)
- Wednesday, April 16th: Easter Dress rehearsal 5:30 – 8:00pm
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, Mar 9th @ 9:50am
REMINDER – NO REHEARSAL THIS COMING SUNDAY
Chamber Choir Update
- For your information:
- We will be singing “Child of Wonder” and “O Sacred Head” from the Cantata for the Good Friday service on April 18th.
- Rehearsal, Monday, April 14th at 5pm.
- We sing at the beginning of the service and you will be free to leave once they get a good run through and sound check from our group.
- Most likely call time on Friday, is 5pm. Will firm up that time as soon as possible.
- Rehearsal, Monday, April 14th at 5pm.
- We will be singing “Child of Wonder” and “O Sacred Head” from the Cantata for the Good Friday service on April 18th.
- Anthems to be working on for rehearsal:
- Child of Wonder
- Have Thine Own Way Lord
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
Mar 23rd
Child of Wonder
April 27th
Have Thine Own Way Lord
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next rehearsal is Monday, March 24th from 5:30pm – 6:45pm (in the Friendship Hall)
Handbell Update
- Upcoming information:
- NO REHEARSAL next week on the 17th due to Spring Break and too many out for practice.
Planning Center Links
SoundCloud Link
Anthem Schedule
Mar 30th
All Creatures of Our God and King – with Brass Quintet
April 13th
1. All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – prelude piece
2. Hosanna in the Highest – with choir & Orchestra
May 18th
1. Kingsfold Te Deum
2. Rejoice and Sing Praise – with choir & Orchestra
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next orchestra rehearsal, is Sunday, March 16th @ 12:15 – 2:00pm
Orchestra Update
- Upcoming information:
- Sunday Rehearsal schedule update:
- Rehearsal time change is now going until 2pm to get ready for Easter and the Palm Sunday concert along with our regular music.
- March 9th rehearsal will be over for everyone, but the brass at 1:45pm. The Brass will continue until 2pm
- Rehearsal time change is now going until 2pm to get ready for Easter and the Palm Sunday concert along with our regular music.
- Upcoming Special rehearsal Schedule:
- Palm Sunday & Easter Dress rehearsals:
- Sunday, April 6th: 2:00 – 4:00pm Tech Rehearsal for Palm Sunday concert
- Wednesday, April 9th: 5:30 – 8:00pm Palm Sunday concert Run Through Dress Rehearsal
- Sunday, April 13th: 4pm Concert (1:45pm Call Time)
- Wednesday, April 16th: Easter Dress rehearsal 5:30 – 8:00pm
- Palm Sunday & Easter Dress rehearsals:
- Sunday Rehearsal schedule update:
- What to be working on for upcoming rehearsal:
- Same Power
- Who You Say I Am
- Palm Sunday Music:
- Jesus Paid It All
- All pieces from #1-#7
- Easter Music
- He Lives
- Risen Just As He Said
- Majestic Fanfare
- Brass only pieces
- Hosanna in the Higest
- An Easter Celebration
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
March 23rd
Same Power – with Choir
March 30th
Who You Say I Am – with Choir
April 13th – Palm Sunday Morning
BRASS ONLY
Hosanna in the Highest – with choir
April 13th – Palm Sunday Concert
1. In My Place – Cantata with choir
2. Jesus Paid It All
April 20th – Easter
1. Majestic Fanfare
2. An Easter Celebration – Brass only with choir
3. He Lives – with choir
4. Risen Just As He Said – with choir
April 27th
1. Dead Man Rising – with choir
2. Beauty of the Cross – with choir
May 11th
1. Mighty Fortress
2. As Loud As He Is Worthy (Psalm 47) – with choir
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Palm Sunday & Easter Dress rehearsals:
- Sunday, April 6th: 2:00 – 4:00pm Tech Rehearsal for Palm Sunday concert
- Wednesday, April 9th: 5:30 – 8:00pm Palm Sunday concert Run Through Dress Rehearsal
- Wednesday, April 16th: Easter Dress rehearsal 5:30 – 8:00pm
- Palm Sunday Concert
- Sunday, April 13th: 4pm (2:00pm Call time)