(NOTE: This feature article was written in April of 2005.  The scheduled performances mentioned below have occured.  For a current schedule of choral performances, please see the church calendar or Rev. Manuel's monthly Music Notes letter.)

The music room at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis is a busy place at 7:30 on a Wednesday night.  Choir members filter in and gather music sheets from the piano.  They clearly know each other well, trading jokes and catching up on how everyone is doing.  Many have come from a long day at work.  Some have just helped prepare and clean up the church’s Wednesday night dinner. There is a lot of laughter and comfort in their company.

“I started in choir years ago to help out with Christmas music and figured I’d drop out after that,” said Jane Willingham.  “But I found out I was hooked.  It’s addictive.”

“I’ve been singing in Heritage’s choir since 1965,” Norman Hatfield said.

Mary Ann Fulford spoke up, “Wednesday night choir practice is the highlight of my week. We sing, of course, but we also have a devotional which is very meaningful to me.”

“This is a part of my worship,” added Isabelle Fenner.

Heads around the room all nod in agreement. 

Every Sunday, this same group files into the choir loft wearing regal blue and white robes to sing songs perfectly coordinated with the sermon topic.  The performance flows seamlessly, belying the intensive process leading up to their moment in the spotlight.  That moment, according to Rev. Ralph Manuel, Minister of Music, is the result of weeks of dedicated preparation.

“We work a month ahead on special music,” said Rev. Manuel.  “Henry (Rev. Henry Green, Heritage Pastor) plans his sermon topics with scripture references up to a year in advance.  This guides me in the selection of music for the congregation and the choir.”

The genesis of each performance takes place at the Wednesday night rehearsals where twenty-four choir members look over the new music and learn more about musical composition.  In addition to the devotional at the end of each practice, Rev. Manuel hands out a sheet introducing a musical concept or term and relating it to Christian life.  This week, the term is “semplice,” which means “in a simple unaffected manner.”  The related verse is John 3:30- “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  The message: follow Jesus’ example and keep it simple.

Although simplicity is key, working with live performances can be tricky.  You have to expect the unexpected.

“Oh, sure,” said Rev. Manuel.  “One week I discovered that we had no sopranos in town for the following Sunday’s service.  I scrapped plans for the anthem we’d prepared and presented an arrangement written for men’s choir.  The altos sang the high tenor parts along with the men.  We had only one rehearsal, but it ended up sounding pretty good!”