Ascension offers a variety of musical opportunities to people of all ages and abilities. Whether participating in weekly services or special programs, the gifts of each person's spirit contributes greatly to the heart-filled sense of worship we pursue. We have a high standard of musical excellence that is achieved with diligence but also with a sense of excitement and joy. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to participate in any of the musical groups listed below and will be joyfully received!
Chancel Choir
Ascension's Chancel Choir is currently made up of around thirty highly-spirited adults who know how to make music, and know how to have fun doing it! The repertoire includes anything from Bach Chorals to spirituals, and occasionally praise music. Given the variety, we find ourselves singing at one time with an organ, another time with bongo drums, and still other times with full orchestra. Rather than sing every Sunday, the choir is scheduled to sing 2 or 3 Sundays a month to allow extra time during rehearslas for more ambitious, special programs we do throughout the year. The result is a nice balance between a manageable, reqarding contribution to the service and a continual sence of excitement with larger projects always on the horizon.
Rehearsal Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:30pm*
Children's Choir
The Children's Choir is a very important part of our ministry at Ascension! The children renew our spirit continually with their honesty, creativity and presence through monthly singing in the services, participation in special intergenerational programs involving drama and song, and an annual service where they lead worship for a day. The benefits of this to the congregation are obvious, but what the children take away from their experiences goes far beyond their involvement to creating a sense within themselves that they really can and do make a difference in the lives of those around them.
Rehearsal Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 to 6:45pm*
Hand Bell Choir
The Bell Choir at Ascension enhances the traditional service with its vibrant ringing. Every member of this ensemble is committed to working together to create beautiful layers of sound, rich harmonies and seamless melodies. Hand Bell Choir is a perfect choice for anyone since the bells can be played by professional musicans and amateurs alike. They are quite easy to learn and a lot of fun toplay, involving each member in a communion of heavenly sound!
Rehearsal Time: Wednesdays, 7:15 to 8:00pm*
Praise Team
Ascension's Praise Team consists of paid and volunteer musicians that do everything from leading worship to playing in the band for our contemporary service each Sunday.
Rehearsal Time: Sundays, 12:00 to 1:00pm*
Concert Series
Ascension offers concerts that are free and open to the public as part of a series called, 'One Tree, Many Branches'. The focus of this series is embracing diversity. Each concert will offer a new listening and spiritual experience as the series encompasses traditions from parts of the world other than our own; sounds from the concert hall as well as multimedia and dance. All art stems from a basic creative need to express the human condition, and the more conditions we come to appreciate - or at the very least experience - the more compassion we are capable of having towards one another. You are encouraged to come to as many concerts as you are able, regardless of whether or not you think it will be something you like as often times the best concert-going experiences happen when we are surprised by what we do like!
A free will offering is accepted at the end of each concert that supports the future of this series. Contact the church for specific dates and times. Concert accouncements can be found in several local newspapers, newsletters and online.
