Welcome!
Upcoming Rehearsals
The next Rehearsal is Wednesday, Sept 18th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Weekly Choir Update
- Sept 15th WORSHIP MUSIC:
- Call to Worship
- NONE
- Anthem – Unstoppable God – with orchestra
- Hymns:
- God of Grace and God of Glory – Hymnal pg#577 vs 1 & 2
- How Great Thou Art – Hymnal pg#77 vs. 1, 3. & 4
- Sound Check Times:
- (7:05am) 7:10 am – Choir & Orchestra
- Call to Worship
- New Information:
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- Swing Choir with Jazz Band on Sunday, Dec 22nd
- Rehearsals start, Monday, Oct. 14 from 7-8pm
- Swing Choir with Jazz Band on Sunday, Dec 22nd
- Christmas Music Parts
- If you have not already done so, your music is in your new hanging folder on the cart.
- The Links to PlanningCenter and SoundCloud for Christmas have been added below.
- If you have not already done so, your music is in your new hanging folder on the cart.
- Choir Bible Study starts this coming week!
- Our first class for this new bible study starts on Tuesday the 17th at 4pm or Wednesday, the 18th in room 400 (at the end of the Choir room hallway)
- You will need the Book and the Study Guide for this series
- “The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise” by Chris Hodges. Here is the link to order: Amazon Link
- Awaken Vision Night, Sept 29th at 4pm
- Call time is 1:30pm in the Community Life Center
- Choir Member Highlights
- Leak Thornal is our choir member to highlight this week. See his picture and information below.
- NEW EVENTS for your information and calendaring
- International Choir Trip (June 2025) NEW Updates.
- They have found cheaper prices for the flights and now the cost is lowered by $200 per person. The price is still based on how many people go and it gets cheaper the more people sign up.
- If you are planning on signing up for the trip, now is the time. We should make our numbers, but I need to get an overall count. d
- Robin, our tour representative will be coming for a visit on Oct 2nd to give an in person presentation to our group and anyone outside our group who would like to get more information.
- If you have friends and family interested, please pass this along to them.
- Link to the Choir trip site for all information and where to register:
- Link to info
- Older information:
- Old Music:
- Continue to put older music in your cubbies to be collected and not in your new hanging files.
- 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.
- Old Music:
- General Anthems to be working on for upcoming rehearsal:
- Awake My Soul – Elaine Hagenberg
- King of Kings – Heather Sorenson
- Have You Not Heard? – Craig Courtney
- Bless God – for Commitment night on Sept 29th
Prayer Requests
9/11
Annie with Dwight’s passing
Larry Lord and Pam Ellison surgeries tomorrow
Linda’s surgery on 23rd
Karen Schutt had a successful quintuple bipass surgery
Beth – bad reaction to antibiotics, sick for a week
Mackenzie – family needs another car
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
Sept 15th
Unstoppable God– with Orchestra
Sept 22nd
Awake, My Soul
Sept 29th – Morning
King of Kings – with Orchestra
Sept 29th – Evening Commitment night
All Hail King Jesus – with Orchestra
Holy Forever – with orchestra and praise team
Bless God – with praise team and band
Oct 6th
Have You Not Heard – with Violin
Oct 13th
The Greatness of Our God – with Orchestra
Oct 20th
The Heritage Hymn – with Orchestra
Oct 27th
We Gather Together – with Orchestra
Nov 3rd
From Earth to Heaven – with String Quartet or Keyboard Strings
Nov 10th
My Soul Will Wait – with Orchestra
Nov 17th
Now Thank We All Our God
Nov 24th
Hallelujah – with Orchestra
Music List
Old Music to be left in Cubbies to be collected.
New Fall Music List to be kept in folders:
- It Is Well with My Soul
- Unstoppable God
- Awake, My Soul
- King of Kings
- Have You Not Heard
- The Greatness of Our God
- The Heritage Hymn
- We Gather Together
- From Earth to Heaven
- My Soul Will Wait
- Now Thank We All Our God
- Hallelujah
Christmas Music List
- Hope of the World, Emmanuel
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
- O Bethlehem
- Angels We Have Heard On High
- Sleep Little Lion, Sleep Little Lamb
- Every Light That Shines at Christmas
- Tis a Wonderful Thing
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- Sunday, Sept 28th – Awaken Vision Night Worship service @ 4pm. Call time 1:30pm
Getting to know our choir members
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 8th @ 9:30am
Chamber Choir Update
- For your information:
- Christmas Music
- Ding Dong! Merrily on High – Parts are done and I have added the PlanningCenter Link.
- I will finish the other two songs next week and create SoundCloud playlists for you.
- don’t forget to pick up your Christmas packets on the piano.
- Ding Dong! Merrily on High – Parts are done and I have added the PlanningCenter Link.
- Christmas Music
- General Anthems to be working on for rehearsal:
- Amazing Grace
- Jaya Ho
- Ding Dong! Merrily on High
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
Sept 22nd
Jaya Ho (The Solid Rock)
Oct 27th
Amazing Grace
Nov 24th
A Thanksgiving Gathering
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next rehearsal is Monday, Sept 16th @ 5:30pm
Handbell Update
- Upcoming information:
- Reminders:
- None at this time
Planning Center Links
SoundCloud Link
Anthem Schedule
Oct ??
??
Upcoming Calendar Dates
Upcoming Rehearsal
Next full orchestra rehearsal, is Sunday, Sept 15th @ 12:15pm
CALL TIME FOR SUNDAY, SEPT 15TH PERFORMANCE IS 7AM
Orchestra Update
- Important Calendar date for Sept
- Sunday night, Sept 29th at 4:00pm. It is a worship service for our Capital Campaign. The orchestra will be playing for that event. So please mark your calendars!
- Call time is 1:30pm
- Sunday night, Sept 29th at 4:00pm. It is a worship service for our Capital Campaign. The orchestra will be playing for that event. So please mark your calendars!
- Upcoming information:
- Performance Schedule:
- I have updated the performance schedule below. We will be playing more often than we have been and we will discuss this at Sunday’s practice.
- New Music:
- Will be out to you on Sept 8th, if not before.
- Looking into a way to have the PDF’s on this page for you to access and print off.
- I created a SoundCloud Playlist for the Fall and the link is below
- I will be creating a new SoundCloud Playlist for Christmas and will add the link soon.
- Will be out to you on Sept 8th, if not before.
- Performance Schedule:
- 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.
- What to be working on:
- Unstoppable God
- This is My Father’s World
- King of Kings
- All Hail King Jesus – music to be rehanded out this coming Sunday
- Holy Forever – music to be rehanded out this coming Sunday
- Bless God – Music to be handed out this coming Sunday
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 15th
1. Unstoppable God – with choir
September 29th – Morning worship
1. This Is My Father’s World – Orchestra only
2. King of Kings – with choir
September 29th – Evening Commitment night
1. All Hail King Jesus – with choir
2. Holy Forever – with choir & praise team
October 13th
1. The Greatness of Our God – with choir
October 20th
1. Hymn Tune Rhapsody – Orchestra only
2. The Heritage Hymn- with choir
November 10th
1. Majesty – Orchestra only
2. My Soul Will Wait – with choir
November 24th
1. Hallelujah – with choir
Upcoming Calendar Dates
- September 29th, 6pm Awaken Worship Service in the Community Life Center