The church choir of St John's Castleside, in the Diocese of Durham, plays a very active part in church services. We are a dedicated choir fully committed in helping to enrich the worship through our music. We lead the worship on Sunday mornings and take part in all the important church services throughout the church year. We are also available for weddings.
At present our choir has eleven consisting of six sopranos, two tenors,one alto and two trebles. The 'Two Bettys' also join us for special occasions. Our choir mistress and organist, Mrs Avril Wallis L.R.A.M., is a well known music teacher from the Consett area. Our choir practice is held every Thursday night in church at 7.30 pm. We are always looking for new members and they can be sure of a warm welcome.
We have been involved in various kinds of musical events. Our choir has
taken part in Songs of Praise services, and on several occasions joined in with
the local Methodist Church at their Songs of Praise as well as their Flower
Festival celebrations. See Churches Together
page. Our church is developing and exploring different kinds of worship
music. In November 1999, we had our first encounter with
Taize music, something very new to all of us. As well as the 9.30 am Communion
Service on Sunday mornings in which we usually sing a 'choir item',
we take part in Evensong which is held on the last Sunday of every month in
church. As well as carol singing for the senior citizens at Christmas
we sang a wide variety of music at our own Carol Service. We have been asked
to take part in various concerts and have enjoyed singing in them.
In November last year, the choir went to Shepherd's Dean for our 'Choir Day'. We had
use of the chapel and were able to put together the new Common Worship liturgy and
practice the music chosen for Advent. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and culminated
in us using everything we had practiced in a Eucharist service.
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December saw us having a Choir Party, for members and partners, at the Vicarage! Unusual games, like manouevering an electric car, carpet bowls, putting (golf), safety darts, scoring points by tossing toilet rolls up the stairs, were enjoyed by all and led to a great deal of fun. Plenty of 'refreshments' and a wonderful buffet ensured a thoroughly good evening was had by all. |
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'Bless, O Lord us thy servants who minister in thy temple, Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, And what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord'. Amen.
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