Music
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100
Through music at Noel, we strive to encourage everyone to “shout for joy.” Whether it be through participation in any of our choirs or ensembles, or simply from a seat during worship, music is a part of all who come into God’s presence. We strive not only for the highest quality in our music making, but also in evoking the Holy Spirit, so that it might flow freely through our hearts and minds before, during, and after worship each week. If you would like to become more involved in our ministry, please give us a call, or stop by for a visit. Some of the many possibilities to serve and enjoy are listed below.
For more information, contact Bryan Bierbaum at 318-221-5207 or bbierbaum@noelumc.org.
Pathfinders (Childrens’ Choir)
Made up of children from age 4 through the 5th grade, Pathfinders offers great musical experiences. The children rehearse and sing in worship and special events seasonally. They rehearse on the 2nd floor of the Childrens’ Building, and are under the direction of Beth Braden.
Youth Choir
For the youth in the 6th-12th grades, the Youth Choir has various choral responsibilities during year. In addition to singing in worship, the summer finds them at conferences or on tour to various parts of the country. With a group like this, rehearsals are anything but boring! So give the youth choir a try, come visit us during rehearsal on Sunday afternoons during the school year in the choir room.
Chancel Choir
This is the primary choir that sings all year in the traditional Sunday worship service. The rehearsals on Wednesday nights in the choir room are rewarding in many ways. We not only work hard, but we play hard too. We believe that the rehearsal is to be productive, and also therapeutic after a long day at work. In addition to leading in worship, this is the primary choir that performs major choral works each year in the Noel Masterworks Concert Series.
Student Internships
We are proud to offer these positions that are beneficial to both the church and recipient. These are given to area college students who commit to serving Noel’s music ministry during the school year. If you are a student interested in one of these positions, please contact Bryan Bierbaum.
Praise Band
Established in 2002, Noel's Praise Band offers contemporary music for the N.O.W. worship service. Comprised of guitars, drums, keyboard, voices and more, the praise band contributes to Noel’s high quality of music. They are led by Jonathan Andrews, and rehearse Wednesday evenings in our Contemporary Worship Center.
Noel Youth Band
The Noel Youth Band is for youth 7th-12th grades who are able to play an instrument, sing, and/or do multimedia support. The rehearsals are Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. on the Youth Floor during the school year. Please call Erin Fort (318)573-5913 for more information.
Handbells
Noel boasts a five-octave set of Schulmerich handbells and a four-octave set of Malmark hand chimes. There are currently three ensembles that ring regularly in worship. Carillon Bells is an intermediate group of ringers and Joyful Noise Bells might have started out as a beginner group, but they are getting better all the time. We also have a Youth Bell Choir. All three groups can be heard at nursing homes, hospitals, and retirement communities in the area, and they present an annual concert each May called Spring Ring and Ice Cream Fling.
Noel's Masterworks Concert Series
The Noel Masterworks Concert Series presents three or four concerts a year that feature diverse music, ranging from choral classics to opera to Broadway. Sponsored by Mrs. Billie Haacker and the late Dr. Robert Haacker since 1994, this series strives to bring excellent music to the community. All concerts are free and open to the public, and a nursery is always provided.