If you are a long-time participant in COS music, we look forward to seeing you again this year! If you’ve never been a part of the music ensembles but are interested in joining, we would love to welcome you to one or more of the below groups. The schedules below are to help you as you plan your schedules for this coming year. Please add these dates to your calendars.
If you have any questions about this schedule or about COS worship in general, please don’t hesitate to contact Maria Stapert Vander Berg, Minister of Worship, at maria.stapert@coscrc.org.
Choir
The COS choir is comprised of singers of various ages and abilities and aims to be a liturgical choir that will support and adorn the congregation’s voice. Often the choir will introduce new songs, add descants and harmonies, sing portions of the liturgy, and assume the cantor’s role in responsive psalmody. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, the choir will participate in the “O Antiphon” service on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 15. Melissa Janes will be conducting the choir this year. Plan to attend the Wednesday rehearsal prior to the service in which you intend to participate.
| Worship Service Dates: | Rehearsal Dates: |
| Sunday, September 15 | Wednesday, September 11, 6:30–8:00pm* Sunday, September 15, 9:00am |
| Sunday, October 27 | Wednesday, October 23, 6:30–8:00pm* Sunday, October 27, 9:00am |
| Sunday, December 15 6:00pm O Antiphon service | Wednesday, December 11, 6:30–8:00pm Sunday, December 15, 4:30pm |
| Sunday, January 12 | Wednesday, January 8, 6:30–8:00pm* Sunday, January 12, 9:00am |
| Sunday, March 16 | Wednesday, March 12, 6:30–8:00pm Sunday, March 16, 9:00am |
| Sunday, April 20 Easter Sunday | Wednesday, April 16, 6:30–8:00pm Sunday, April 20, 9:00am |
| Sunday, June 1 | Wednesday, May 28, 6:30–8:00 pm* Sunday, June 1, 9:00am |
*Choir will meet for dinner at 6:00pm.
Other Wednesdays, church dinner is provided from 5:30-6:30pm
Joyful Noise Orchestra
The Joyful Noise Orchestra (JNO) is for anyone who plays a band or orchestra instrument. This is a wonderful way for newer musicians to get their feet wet in participating in the music of our worship services. All ages and abilities are welcome to come together to make a joyful noise before our Lord! JNO will be led by Maria Stapert. Attendance at the Wednesday rehearsals is strongly encouraged for everyone, especially for newer musicians.
| Worship Service Dates: | Rehearsal Dates: |
| Sunday, November 24 | Wednesday, November 20, 6:30pm Sunday, November 24, 9:00am |
| Sunday, December 22 | Wednesday, December 18, 6:30pm* Sunday, December 22, 9:00am |
| Sunday, March 2 | Wednesday, February 26, 6:30pm* Sunday, March 2, 9:00am |
| Sunday, May 11 | Wednesday, May 7, 6:30pm* Sunday, May 11, 9:00am |
*No Wednesday night church dinner or programming
Guitarchestra
Guitarchestra began as an ensemble for guitarists of varying abilities to gain experience in leading our congregational song. It has since grown to include as many other folk instruments! If you play mandolin, banjo, fiddle, accordion, hand percussion or another folk instrument, you are welcome to join the ensemble. Ron Rienstra will lead the Guitarchestra. Music will be ready a week in advance so you can practice on your own before the 9:00am rehearsal on Sunday morning. Those rehearsals move quickly through a lot of music. So that advanced preparation is important.
| Worship Service Dates: (Rehearsals at 9:00am) |
| Sunday, October 6 |
| Sunday, November 17 |
| Sunday, December 15 |
| Sunday, January 26 |
| Sunday, March 9 |
| Sunday, April 27 |
| Sunday, June 15 (tentative) |
Wednesday Evening Jam Sessions
Back by popular demand, we will have Jam Sessions once a month on Wednesday evenings. All are welcome to attend: guitarists (or guitar-hopeful-ists), ukulele-ists, singers, fiddlers, other instrumentalists. We will play mostly folk music, not necessarily church music. Chords and lyrics will be provided, but not necessarily melodies. There is no age or ability requirements. Come as you wish. Newer musicians are welcome to bring their instruments, do some listening, and attempt to play along as they can. This can be a good place to work on your musical chops before jumping into playing with Guitarchestra. We hope this can be a fun time enjoying music together and giving people an opportunity to play in a group in a no-pressure environment.
| Wednesday Jam Session Dates: (6:30 – 8pm) |
| Wednesday, September 25 |
| Wednesday, October 2 |
| Wednesday, November 6 |
| Wednesday, December 4 |
| Wednesday, January 15* |
| Wednesday, February 5 |
| Wednesday, March 19 |
| Wednesday, April 2 |
| Wednesday, May 14* |
*No Wednesday night church dinner or programming