FAQs

What is the Celebration Choir?
The Celebration Choir is the largest and primary music group at Northpoint. Although we sing, we are not principally a group of singers and musicians. We are first brothers and sisters in Christ, gifted musically, using these gifts to lead others in worship and proclaiming the Gospel. We do this out of a profound sense of thanks for what God has done for us.

When does the Celebration Choir meet?
Our ministry begins with each other, once a week on Wednesday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. These rehearsals are where we learn the music that will communicate God's truth to those for whom we sing. They are times to come together trying to internalize the truths contained in the songs. It's a place where we can share what is going on in each other's lives, nurturing relationships as we grow together. Contact Joy for more information.

When does the Celebration Choir perform?
From rehearsal, our ministry spreads out to the rest of the congregation of Northpoint as we feed them in song and lead them on worship normally on two or three Sundays of each month. Because music always adds an air of celebration, we perform numerous times during Christmas, Easter and other special times and occasions.

Is this a big commitment?
All of this performing and rehearsing is a lot of fun, and yet there are times when it is much work and takes a lot of time. Through it all we are constantly surprised by the joy described by the Lord in Luke 6:38, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Objectives
The Celebration Choir is a ministry of music to the Lord and to His saints. As a group of singers and musicians we are striving to reach the following objectives:

1. To provide strong music leadership for our corporate times of worship, special functions and special events such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

2. To develop the spiritual gifts and instill eternal Christian character qualities within the members of the ministry.

3. To provide opportunities for as many people as possible to participate in the presentation of music for the edification of the saints and the Lord.

4. To be eclectic in our use of musical styles in order to minister to a wide spectrum of ages and cultural groups. Seasonal concerts are presented to give our church body an opportunity to invite friends to Northpoint in a setting other than Sunday mornings.

5. To train those gifted with musical talents to do the work of the ministry as it applies to music.

6. To communicate the truths of God in such a way that we are never to be ashamed of our performances, but have given our best to the Master and His people.

That's the overall picture, our hopes and dreams, objectives and our goals... Still interested? Read on, here are fine tuned details...

Faithfulness
Part of the Celebration Choir experience is learning to be faithful. Although we strive to make good music unto the Lord, we primarily have eternal goals in mind. Faithfulness is an eternal character quality that God Himself demonstrates to us.

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy name, O Most High; to declare Thy lovingkindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness by night." Psalm 92:1

Faithfulness is characteristic of God. When God says He is going to do something, He does it. 1 John 1:9 further illustrates this:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Certainly God is faithful to cleanse us from our sins. He is faithful! Faithfulness is also one of the marks of a good servant. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servants who were faithful to wisely invest what the master entrusted to them were rewarded.

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!"

With God as our example and our helper, let us strive to be faithful in the following specific areas:

Rehearsal and Performance Attendance
"As each one has received a special gift; employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

When a rehearsal is missed, several things happen. First, the group suffers. The Holy Spirit has given each one of us special and unique gifts that contribute to the success of the Celebration Choir and to the body of Christ in general. When you are missing, the members of the Celebration Choir miss your spiritual gifts. You may be the one with the gift of encouragement that will minister to someone who is needy.

When you miss a rehearsal you also slow the group's musical progress down. Each time we have to go over and rehearse parts for those who were missing means less time to rehearse new music that we can present to the Lord and to the body.

Our desire is to nuture excellence, which comes from the discipline of good habits. Being at rehearsal each week is a good habit. Make a habit of helping to keep the rhythm of rehearsal going. Make a habit of trying to memorize the music quickly. Make a habit of praying for our times together. Make a habit of getting to know those that are new to the group.

Within a larger group like the Celebration Choir, love does not just happen; it must be nurtured by each and every person. Make a habit of love. Invite someone that you don't know well out to lunch after church on Sunday, or coffee after rehearsal.

If you do have to miss (as we all do from time to time), please call the church office at 951.734.1335 ext. 2812 and let Joy Engstrom our secretary know. She'll gladly relay the messages each week to Glenn Pickett, our director.

Being On Time
"Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner." 1 Corinthians 14:40

In order for a group as large as the Celebration Choir to run smoothly, being on time, starting on time and finishing on time is a must. All of us can grow in this area. Take this matter of promptness unto the Lord and be faithfully on time, Sunday mornings (7:45 am.) and Wednesday nights (7:00 pm.)

Prayer
"I thank God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all." Phillipians 1:3-4

We are much more than a glee club or mere choir, we are children of the Heavenly Father. We are spiritual beings that will live for eternity. We do battle in places that are unseen by earthly eyes. Let's be faithful to pray for each other as we minister together and that God would use our music. Don't get up off of your knees too quickly.

Rehearsal Helps...
Although a high commitment ministry like the Celebration Choir can require some self-discipline, (those dark rainy Sunday mornings in the winter when your bed is so comfortable) it also brings great rewards. Learning the music is one of those areas that require some work outside of rehearsal. To facilitate this when possible a mixer arrangement will posted on the choir's website practice page allowing you to hear each voice part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) for you to practice time away from the Wednesday night rehearsal. If so inclined, you might want to bring a small recorder to rehearsal to make your own tapes of our time together.

The printed choir music is also available in order to help you learn the parts. We re-use the music for different occasions so please be sure to return it as directed, or at the end of each season.

Clothing and Appearance
We know that we do much more than lead music on Sunday mornings. Our genuine demeanor of thanks can create an atmosphere of joy when the rest of the body gathers. Therefore, when we stand up front of five to six hundred people ask to focus them on God, we do not want anything about us to distract them from that attention. Start your "sabbath" on Saturday evening by choosing the clothes you will wear to minister to the Lord and His people.

Clothing should be modest, clean, neatly pressed, and (if applicable) tucked in. If a man wears a tie, it should extend about an inch below the belt. Shoes should be polished. Somehow our clothing and grooming should prepare us for doing something "special." These clothes are not necessarily what we would wear everyday. This is Biblical.

Celebrating the return of the ark to Jerusalem, King David and the singers were "clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod..." 1 Chronicles 15:27.

Worship is "special," so what you wear as you lead should be "special."

Because of those who are scent sensitive, please refrain from wearing heavy perfumes and colognes at rehearsals as well as performances.

What does it take to join the Celebration Choir?

Pretty much just show up to a Wednesday night rehearsal and we'll get you set up with music. We'll also a schedule a meeting with our director so he can get to know you.

Do I need to audition?

There are no auditions required to sing in the choir.

Do I need to be able to read music?

It's not required to be able to read music, but of course it is helpful.