Bethlehem United Methodist Church
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Growing as Christians...Reaching Out to Others

Music, Drama & The Arts 

 
A Clear Voice Youth Choir
Led by Harry Robinson with assistance from Bobby Sasseen, the accent in this choir is on contemporary Christian and praise music. A Clear Voice serves as the primary service choir once a month and at other high-holy services throughout the year.
 
The highlight of the year is the summer tour, lasting 5-8 days and concentrated in one particular geographical region of the United States. The focus of the trip is a rich combination of music performance, ministry, and missions.
 
This choir is open to all youth grades 6 through 12 and meets on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
 
Bethlehem Bluegrass
Bethlehem Bluegrass has existed for since 1999 and continues to enhance worship on a regular basis offering rich and melodic renditions of old-time gospel favorites.

The band also plays for special events both locally and regionally.
 
Children’s Choirs
There are two children’s choirs at Bethlehem. The Angel Choir is for 3 and 4 year olds, and the Children’s Choir welcomes all children grades 2 through 5.
 
Our children’s choirs emphasize teaching hymns of the church as well as learning more contemporary pieces. Many of the holiday programs are written by our Director of Music, Drama, and the Arts, Harry Robinson.
 
Both choirs meet on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
 
The Bethlehem Bells
Teaching the art of English handbell ringing, the Bethlehem Bells is a series of handbell choirs for all ages (kindergarten to adult), with various levels of musical training (non-readers to music majors). Children's Choirchimes meet Sunday evenings during the school year, and the Adult Handbell Choir meets Wednesday evenings year-round. 
 
Ringers learn basic bell technique, rhythm and reading skills, and advanced techniques to achieve special sound and visual effects with bells. Adding an exciting dimension to the worship service, the handbell repertoire includes arrangements in all genres of sacred music from classical to contemporary. Director:  Joe Smyth. Assistant Director:  Carolyn Oakes.
 
The Bethlehem Players

N-Y-C heads to the Bethlehem Performing Arts Center in 2011 when the Bethlehem Players stage the beloved musical “Annie.” The Players will be holding auditions in November of 2010 with the musical running in Spring 2011. To be on our mailing list or information on group sales, please contact us at drama@bethlehemumc.com or Music and Arts Director Harry Robinson at (615) 794-6721. (Be sure and also visit The Bethlehem Players on Facebook.)

An outreach community theatre program of Bethlehem, the Players first burst on the stage in June 1997 with performances of Harry Chapin’s classic musical, Cottonpatch Gospel. This year, they staged their first, highly successful, original play, Southern Fried Funeral, by playwrights Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler, to packed, sold-out audiences.  
 

The BUMC drama troop has mounted major productions of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Arsenic and Old Lace, Meet Me in St. Louis, You Can’t Take it With You, Steel Magnolias, Neil Simon’s Rumors, A Bad Year for Tomatoes, Fiddler on the Roof, Father of the Bride and The Sound of the Music. Staged once a year in the spring, auditions are open to everyone in the community with additional opportunities to assist with lighting, stage construction, costuming, etc. The Bethlehem Players also participate in worship and special holiday ministries. 

The Chancel Choir
The Chancel choir is the focal point for musical leadership in worship at Bethlehem. Our mission together has a broad musical base. While presenting music in the anthem format, we also take on contemporary praise music, African-American Spirituals and long-form musical compositions.
 
Over recent years the chancel choir has mounted works as diverse as Robert Shaw’s The Many Moods of Christmas, Handel’s Messiah and Twila Paris’ Lamb of God. The Choir also teamed with our Bluegrass band to offer Down to the River to Pray, featuring songs from the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?
 
Those who sing in the Chancel Choir have a wide range of musical and vocal abilities. This is purely a volunteer choir and auditioning is not required for participation. Rehearsals are held in the Old Sanctuary Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
 
The Praise Band
Newly formed, the Praise Band gives voice to those who find joy in singing commercial Christian music. While still in the beginning stages of development, the Praise Band continues to lead worship on a semi-regular basis.
 
For more information about our music ministry contact
Harry Robinson
794-6721