Through our incredibly rich music program, we extend an extravagant welcome to all – people of all ages, backgrounds, musical tastes, and abilities – to participate in our ministry. We have seven ensembles that meet weekly (or almost weekly), each seeking to feel how the Spirit is working through us to inspire and move people, bringing people together, and engaging us to feel God’s presence in our daily lives. We are a congregation that sings with joy, finding new depths to our faith through music. Whether singing a hymn in the pews during worship or listening to the Bozeman Organ in concert, we hope you will be uplifted and nourished, feeling better for having attended.
Interested? Questions? All of our ensembles and music are led by Cathy Meyer, Minister of Music.
Sanctuary Choir
The primary role of the Sanctuary Choir is to inspire and encourage
congregational participation through strong leadership and enhancement
of hymns and service music. Our repertoire encompasses a wide variety
of styles, including everything from the great works in the classical
canon, to spirituals of the twentieth century, to fresh arrangements of
favorite hymns. The Sanctuary Choir often collaborates with guest
musicians and other ensembles from within the church. All are welcome
to rehearse with us on Thursdays, 7:30-9PM.
Pick Up Choir
Approximately three times each year, the Sanctuary Choir extends an extravagant welcome to anyone who might like to join! Instead of coming at a separate time during the week to rehearse, the Pick-up Choir meets at 8:45AM to sing for that morning’s worship service at 10AM. All are welcome!
The Crossroads band
The Crossroads band is an eclectic group of musicians with influences ranging from Noel Paul Stookey and The Beatles to Alison Krauss and Lauren Daigle. Crossroads draws upon a diverse musical repertoire to find the place where music and scripture meet, complementing the message of worship using a combination of folk and acoustic contemporary Christian music.
South Church Ringers
The Ringers play a 5 octave set of English handbells and handchimes, sometimes using mallets and additional percussion instruments, playing for worship approximately six times each year. Members range in age from high school students to retirees and everything in between, providing a true intergenerational experience. All are welcome to join in the fun, regardless of musical background or knowledge.
Youth Choir-middle/high school
This group of middle- and high-school students meets each Thursday, 4:30-5:30PM, finding community through music. We sing a wide variety of inspirational music in unison and parts, including pop and show tunes, traditional anthems, spirituals, and rounds. Youth are encouraged to find meaning through conversation in the words that we sing, giving the opportunities for faith exploration and formation.
Carol Choir-kindergarten through grade five
Children in kindergarten through grade 5 meet Wednesdays at 5:00pm for 45 minutes of singing and games, where we explore what it means to make music at church in a fun, energetic, and welcoming environment. While most of our music focuses on singing and vocal technique, we also use drums, bells, and Orff instruments to learn the basics of reading music and music theory. This groups shares what we’re learning in worship approximately once per month.
Cherub Choir-newborn through preschool age
The Cherub Choir nurtures our youngest singers in a relaxed and loving environment, together with a parent or caregiver. Using both sacred and secular music, we sing and play with movement, instruments, and a variety of musical activities. Cherubs can choose to rehearse either Wednesdays at 4:00PM or Thursdays at 11AM for 45 minutes; the two groups join together to sing an introit for worship about once every six weeks.
Chamber Choirs
For those who are looking for yet another way to participate, smaller chamber choirs form several times each year to bring special music to worship, concerts, or outreach events. These ensembles are usually project-based, often involving singers with more experience and training, and take on a wide variety of voices.
Annual Musical
The South Church Players continues its 25+ year tradition of staging a musical each year. Click here for more on the upcoming production of “Honk!”. Past performances have included Wizard of Oz, Godspell, Children of Eden, Honk, The Music Man, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie and Seussical. Come and join this long-standing, multi-generational small group fellowship . You are welcome to participate if you are young or old, new to the church or a long-time member. You are welcome if you are musically inclined, and we’ll take you if you’ve never sung a note on stage. In addition to actors, singers and dancers, this major project requires musicians, carpenters, sewers, painters, and lots of organizational people – as many as 150 altogether. Individual tryouts are held for featured parts and dance groups.
It’s times like these we learn a fundamental truth: The Church isn’t a building.
While we long for the day we can return to our sanctuary and welcome back our AA meetings and food pantry, we remember that despite the privilege of having a building to share, the Church was never about a building. It’s about the connections we make with one another and with God, and the ties that bind us together in service to the world.
Whether you are young or old – or a little bit of each, queer or straight – or a little bit of each, male or female – or a little bit of each, calm or nervous – or a little bit of each, we will continue to be faithful in finding ways to be Church for one another.
Worship
Until we are able to gather again in person, worship will be available via live-stream every Sunday at 10 AM on our YouTube and Facebook pages.
Digital Gatherings and Offerings
Just because we can’t gather in person, doesn’t mean we can’t gather together and grow in faith. From storytime to bible study featuring the staff and members of the congregation, our online opportunities to gather together are listed here.
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We are in unprecedented days. Our prayer is that each of you might find moments of peace, beauty and love in the midst of the worry and fear. And that through connecting with one another, and with God, we might lift each other up until we gather together again in body. If there are additional things you would like to share or ask, please don’t hesitate to reach out.