Choirs

The rehearsal schedule for September will be posted in August. Those wishing to offer music at the summer church services, please contact Bill or Jean at the church.

Holy Cross is blessed in our music ministry, and we thank God for the gifts of Jean A. Heidorn, director of choirs, and William J. Luko, organ builder and organist. We are grateful for the talents of Sue Oram, who leads the cherub choir, and Dot Harris, who founded and leads the sacred dance choirs. Our top choirs tour locally and performed at the 2003 Synod Assembly in Wildwood and span ages from kindergarten through adults. To join a choir attend a rehearsal or call the church office at 732 255 4455.

We have four vocal choirs and three handbell choirs that use five octaves of Schulmerich handbells and four octaves of Schulmerich Melody Chimes. The choirs begin their season on Holy Cross Sunday, usually the second Sunday in September, and complete the year the Sunday following their annual Music for All Seasons concert the second Sunday in June.

Our 20th annual Music for All Seasons, will be held in June in the sanctuary. A free will offering will be taken. Orders for a recording of the concert may be placed.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church houses one of the largest pipe organs in New Jersey. Built during a 20-year period, the instrument has 4,786 pipes (76 ranks) assigned to five divisions. Each division reflects the influence of a particular historic organ style. The great–German; swell–French; choir–English; antiphonal and pedal–universal, thus making the instrument truly American.

The 16-foot principal and spitzflute are located in the contemporary-designed oak façade. Played from a three-manual console containing 79 stops and 48 pistons, the organist can control 21 ranks of strings, four complete principal choruses, 12 ranks of reeds, a variety of flutes and mixtures or chimes and cymbelstern.

Rehearsal schedule
You will be called if rehearsal is canceled because of the weather.

Vocal choirs
Cherub Choir (kindergarten through 2nd grade) 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Room 2
Children’s Choir (3rd through 6th grade) 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Room 1
Teen Choir (high school students) 7:00 p.m. Mondays in the sanctuary
Sanctuary Choir (high school seniors and adults) 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the sanctuary
Augmented Choir (adults who join the Sanctuary Choir for holiday services) as announced

The Children’s and Teen choirs sing once a month at the 9:15 service. The Sanctuary Choir, our adult choir, sings at the 11:15 service every week and once a month at the 9:15 service. This choir is joined by the Augmented Choir, those who cannot commit full time to the Sanctuary Choir, for special seasons during the year. These two choirs have also sung locally and at the 2003 Synod Assembly in Wildwood.

Carillons
Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary. Young people in sixth grade and up and adults by different levels of ability.
Chapel Carillons, 6:00-6:45, first-time ringers and current ringers still learning the art of basic handbell ringing
Chancel Carillons, 6:45-7:30, 12 intermediate-level ringers
Tower Carillons, 7:30-8:30, 12 advanced-level ringers. This group has toured locally, including the Synod Assembly in 2003.
Each handbell choir rings once a month at both services.

Rehearsals will end for the summer after the concert. Check in August for the fall schedule.

Sacred Dance
Senior Group (high school students and adults) 6:00 p.m. Tuesdays
Junior Group (1st to 8th grade) 5:30 p.m. Thursdays

HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 732-255-4455 1500 HOOPER AVENUE, TOMS RIVER NJ 08753
 
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