United Methodist Church

MUSIC MINISTRY

Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament!  Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lyre and harp!  Praise Him with the tambourine and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!  Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.            (Psalm 150: 1,3-6)

Music is central to our worship here at Severna Park United Methodist Church.  Our Music Ministry, under the direction of Laura Davis provides an excellent opportunity to sing in a choir from ages 3 and up.  Handbell choirs using 5 octaves of Schulmerich handbells and 5 octaves of Malmark handchimes fill our sanctuary with the sound of music.  We are blessed with a wonderful Wicks/Daffer pipe organ and a Yamaha Grand piano to also fill our sanctuary with glorious music as we praise the Lord.

The SPUMC pipe organ, designed by Wicks Organ Company and upgraded by Daffer Church Organs, has a 3 manuals (3 keyboards) and a full pedalboard with 37 pipe ranks (sets of pipes).   That's a lot of technical jargon that means that our organ produces the full range of sounds from the deep sounds produced by the tall pipes to the tinkle of bells from the smaller pipes.  All working harmoniously together in unison to lift our spirit to God as we praise Him.

Nicola combines her musical talent together with the beautiful sounds of our magnificent pipe organ to enhance the songs of praise of our choir as they raise their voices in praise to the Lord.  Listen as Nicola plays "The God of Abraham Praise"  by Michael Burkhardt

If you enjoy singing or playing a musical instrument, join a choir and share your musical gift.

VOCAL CHOIRS

Sanctuary Choir
The Sanctuary Choir is a traditional adult choir which provides musical leadership for the traditional 11a.m. service on each Sunday and pursue the following styles of music: classical, spiritual, folk, cantatas, and joint works with other churches.  The Sanctuary Choir also performs larger choral works with orchestra and soloists.  Practice is on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00pm in room 110, no audition is required and all parts are welcome.  Enjoy hearing our Sanctuary Choir as they sing We'll Be There  (MP3 Audio File 3.6MB).   If you have an interest in this choir contact Laura Davis at 410.987.4700, or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org.

Contemporary Choir
The Contemporary Choir is part of the Contemporary Ministries and occasionally sings for 9:30am worship service.  They sing in the following styles of music: gospel, praise and worship, spiritual, contemporary Christian, folk, jazz and cantatas.   The Contemporary Choir also performs a staged cantata once a year.   Practice is on Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:00pm in room 110.   All parts are needed and no audition is required. Enjoy hearing our Contemporary Choir as they sing  In the Name of the Lord  (Helvering/Gaither; MP3 Audio File 4.5MB) and Down to the River to Pray  (MP3 Audio File 2.7MB).  If you have an interest in this choir contact Laura at 410.987.4700, or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org

Early Risers Choir

The Early Risers choir sing every other Sunday at the 8:00 AM service.  Practice in Sunday mornings from 7:30 to 8:00 AM.  If you have an interest in this choir contact Laura at 410.987.4700, or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org

Youth Choir
Enjoy hearing our Youth Choir as they sing He Is The Rock  (MP3 Audio File 2.9MB).  If you have an interest in this choir contact Laura at 410.987.4700, or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org

Church Youth also form a Praise Band to provide music for Youth Fellowship on Sunday evenings and play occasionally for Sunday morning worship services.  Rehearsals most Sundays at 11:00AM; always looking for singers, guitarists, and especially a drummer!  Enjoy hearing our Youth Praise Band as they perform Jesus Is Alive  (MP3 Audio File 2.1MB) 

Junior Choir
The Junior Choir, consisting of boys and girls in the 4th grade through 6th grade.  They participate in Advent, the Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve and are the leading choir in the Children’s Musical every spring.   They practice weekly on Sundays from 9:00 to 9:30 and 10:30 to 11:00am in Room 108.  All parts are needed. No audition required.  Enjoy hearing our Junior Choir as they sing Sing It!  (Joanne Brown LeDoux; MP3 Audio File 1.4MB).  If you have an interest in this choir contact Joanna Ostrowski at 410.315.8596, or email  jostrowski@severnaparkumc.org.

Primary Choir ~ Under the direction of Joanna Ostrowski 
The Primary Choir, consisting of boys and girls in the 1st grade through 3rd grade. They participate in Advent , the Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve and and in the Children’s Musical every spring.   They practice on Sundays from 9:00 to 9:30am in Room 108.  All parts are needed. No audition required.  Enjoy hearing our Primary Choir as they sing Every Day and Night The Lord is With Me  (MP3 Audio File 2.0MB).  If you have an interest in this choir contact Joanna Ostrowski at 410.315.8596, or email  jostrowski@severnaparkumc.org..

Cherub Choir ~  
Boys and girls, ages 3 through kindergarten have fun learning about music through marching, dancing, rhythm imitation and of course singing.  They sing once every six weeks at 9:30 or 11a.m. worship.   The Carol Choir participates in Good News Festival during Advent as well as the Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve and the Children’s Musical in the spring.  Practice is Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM in room 110.  All parts are needed. No audition required.  Enjoy hearing the Cherib Choir as they sing O Lord Open Our Lips (MP3 Audio File 1.3MB).  If you have an interest in this choir contact Jill Helwig email jhellwig@severnaparkumc.org.

HANDBELL CHOIRS

Sanctuary Bells
Sanctuary Bells is an intermediate level adult  handbell group which plays 5 octaves of Schulmerich handbells and five octaves of handchimes.   If you can read sheet music and would enjoy ringing with a group, you should try it!    Enjoy hearing the Handbell Choir as they perform Hymn to Joy (MP3 Audio File 4.3MB)  We could use a few more ringers and substitutes.  If you have an interest in this choir contact Laura Davis at 410.987.4700, or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org.

PRAISE BANDS

"Two or More" ~ Under the direction of Rick Schaefer and Rob Smith
SPUMC's standing praise band "Two or More", provides musical leadership for worship and praise for Sunday services as well as for special events.  The band chose the name "Two or More" because they truly  believe the words Jesus spoke to his disciples long ago still apply today; for when we are together in worship, when we share our praise in music, truly He is among us! ... more information on the Praise Band

"Lost and Found” ~ Under the direction of Barry Thurston
The Lost and Found praise band was formed in the fall of 2008 by worship leaders Vickie Farmer and Judy Plymyer to lead worship on alternate Sundays at the 9:30 a.m. service  The praise team’s name was inspired by the words from John Newton’s hymn Amazing Grace, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”  This praise team is actively seeking additional musicians and vocalists. … for more information on “Lost and Found”

Worship Ensembles - Under the direction of Rob Smith and Rick Schaefer
Mixed groups of adults and youth (7th through 12th grades) musicians and singers provide special music as well as musical accompaniment and leadership for congregational singing as part of our Contemporary Music Ministry.  The instrumentation is piano/keyboards, guitar, drums, bass guitar, and sometimes other instruments such as flute and saxophone.  Vocal arrangements are most often unison for leading congregational singing and 3-part (soprano, alto, tenor/baritone) for special music.  All parts are needed.  For more information please contact:  Rob Smith, 410.360.2649,  rsmith@severnaparkumc.org,  Rick Schaefer, 410.647.3148 rschaefer@severnaparkumc.org

For further contact Laura Davis at 410.987.4700,

or email  ldavis@severnaparkumc.org.