Adult Handbell Choir
The Youth and Adult Handbell Choir is open to anyone in seventh grade and beyond. The choir is a group of adults and youth that includes both highly experienced ringers and beginners. You need only be able to ring a bell to join. The handbell choir plays music during various parts of the service, including the prelude, congregational hymns, and in collaboration with other choirs.
Rehearsals are Mondays at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary. The handbell choir plays every 6-8 weeks during the 11:00am worship service.
Upcoming Youth and Adult Handbell Choir Events
Latest Youth and Adult Handbell Choir News
Music is one of the United Parish's core values. We believe that everyone has musical ability, and that music is one of God's greatest gifts to us as human beings. Live music making (singing in a choir, singing in the congregation, playing handbells, drumming...) has been shown to actually heal the body and the mind, and we know that music can move and inspire us when words fail. Music binds us with our fellow humans like nothing else, and can even be an act of justice. In the words of St. Augustine "She who sings prays twice." There are many ways to participate in music here at the United Parish - including just coming to worship and singing with your fellow congregants - but if you are interested in doing more, please read on!
Adult Choir (aka the "Chancel Choir") rehearses on Thursdays from 7-8:45pm starting Thursday, September 7, and welcomes both teens and adults. They sing choral music in a variety of styles, from Baroque to gospel, and provide music for worship 2-3 times a month from September to June. With the help of professional section leaders, adult choir members have the opportunity to develop better vocal technique and musicianship while serving the church community. Introductory training is offered for new singers starting at 6:15pm every Thursday in September. New singers should reach out to susan@upbrookline.org for more information.
Children's Choir (grades 1-6) begins rehearsing this year on Sunday, September 24 at 9am in the Choir Room. Directed by Susan DeSelms, the children receive musical and vocal training, and sing in worship 5-6 times a year. They are a vibrant, welcoming, and delightfully musical group of children who are always ready to sing! Parents should reach out to susan@upbrookline.org for more information, or to confirm their child's interest in participating.
Handbell Choir (aka, UP Ringers) directed by Tricia Kopko, meets on Mondays from 7:30-9pm starting in September, going until May 19. Teens and adults, from the very experienced to the novice, are welcome to join. They are hosting an "Open Ring" on Monday, September 18, from 7:30-8:45pm for anyone interested in trying out the handbells. Regular rehearsals will resume on September 25. For more information, contact Tricia Kopko bellchoir@upbrookline.org.
Teens and young adults are invited to join an acoustic band that will help lead the music in our new cross-generational worship services on October 29, November 26, and December 24. These worship services will feature storytelling, joyful music making, art, and movement, and are designed to be engaging for all ages. Several rehearsals will be scheduled in collaboration with interested singers and instrumentalists in the weeks leading up to each cross-generational worship service. For more information, please contact Susan DeSelms, susan@upbrookline.org.
There's a lot going on in music at the United Parish this fall! If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Minister of Music Susan DeSelms, susan@upbrookline.org.
Dear Church School Families,
In this electronic packet, you will find the following materials, which we hope will help you and your child(ren) ease into this brave new church year:
- A link to our Registration and Field Trip Permission Form for each child or youth in your household. It is imperative for reasons of safety as well as communication that you fill out a new registration form for each child or youth.
- An Optional Photography Opt-Out form for anyone wishing to make sure pictures of anyone in their family do not get used in United Parish publications or publicity materials.
- A Church School Calendar that you might want to print and hang on your refrigerator or keep in a handy spot.
- An Acolyte flyer for all children entering 5th grade and higher.
- A helpful handout: When to Keep Your Child Home from Church
...Congratulations on making it even this far into a letter that I imagine is one of many you’ve already received from schools, daycares, you-name-it. We had all hoped that life would feel a little more stable and predictable by this point, and then “delta” entered our everyday vernacular.
We’ve heard your concern about indoor gatherings, and for the fall, church school will be held masked, outdoors, and under tents in the case of light rain or on very hot sunny mornings. We will not hold church school on days where there is truly inclement weather (windy rain and/or thunder), and will post the announcement by 8:30am on the church website, as well as notify you via text and on Realm. As we move toward the winter we will keep you updated on any adaptations we make for weather and pandemic changes.
We have also heard your desire for time to safely worship together as a family, and are delighted to invite you to a “Family Reunion” outdoor worship service on September 12th, at 9:45am, on the front lawn of the church. We are open to making this service a somewhat-regular offering, and therefore would welcome any feedback you have!
Music for children and youth will be continually adapting to CDC guidelines. In September, we'll begin our outdoor church school classes with song. For children and teens who are interested in helping Susan lead the songs, she will be having a short rehearsal starting at 9:30am to go through the chords and tunes. Guitars, drums, basses - singers - ALL welcome to be in our ad-hoc band! In mid October, Susan will offer a 6-week handbells program for grades 6 and up, and drumming/singing program for elementary-aged children. Rehearsals will be 9:00 am-9:45 am on Sunday mornings, and will culminate with a presentation in one of our Advent worship services. Vena and Deb will continue to sing with our littlest ones in their outdoor classrooms for as long as the weather permits!
Our curriculum this year is called Current: Seeking Justice Together. This curriculum has material tailored for all age groups, and will also inform our worship services in the fall, so that children and parents will be hearing the same lessons as one another, hopefully spurring some engaging car-ride-home conversations!
As we say in Rite 13, “nothing goes without saying”. So let me be clear when I say this: your children are ALWAYS welcome in the United Parish community, no matter what they believe (or don’t believe), no matter who they are or where they are on their journey.
Parents, you are always welcome here, no matter how many times your child has made it to church school (or not), no matter what your own comfort or familiarity with religion or the Bible is, no matter who you are or where you are on your journey. Know that United Parish as a whole will always be here to serve as a quirky, loving, spirit-filled co-parent, and it is an honor to be part of the village that helps raise your children.
I am always praying with you. I am available Sundays-Thursdays to pray, listen, and dream with you (or your kids) as you navigate this year- the best ways to reach me are via email at amy@upbrookline.org, or by leaving a voicemail at 617-277-6860 x2.
I look forward to traveling this road with you and your children, as we deepen in our faith and our community together.
Peace,
Amy Norton, Associate Pastor
Susan DeSelms, Minister of Music
This year, a Wish Tree will be added to our Marion Street lobby decorations. This is a tree of wishes for the various choirs we have at United Parish. What better time of year than now to put forth wishes for our choirs! There are color coded ornaments on the tree – Red for the Children and Youth Choirs wishes, Gold for the Bell Choir wishes, and Purple for the Adult choir wishes. Descriptions of what is wished for are on the back of the ornaments. Please feel free to look them over, and take any ornament with the wish item you would like to donate. Donations can be dropped off at the Church Office or Choir Room. Thank you for your support – it is greatly appreciated! Contact the Church Office at office@upbrookline.org.
