To join the church choir …

[Adarajames]

When I’m not Christian nor do I believe in the Christian version of God?

But!

I love singing, was a chorister when younger for years, and really miss singing, but all the local choirs require a membership and / weekly fee, which I can’t really afford.

Church choir doesn’t, and even get paid if sing at weddings (very small amounts really), and I really enjoy singing hymns and liturgy and choral works, so would I be unreasonable to try it out?

@Adarajames I know this is an old thread but I'd love to know how this worked out as I'm in the exact same situation, having just signed up for a church choir. What makes me most nervous is not knowing when to stand, sit, go for a blessing (if appropriate) etc as I've never been to a church service before, so it would be reassuring to hear from those who've managed to muddle through without embarrassing themselves or offending anyone! I'm really looking forward to the singing, it's just the bits in between I have no clue about.

@creusa23
Don't worry about the right procedures to follow. Different churches do thing differently anyway so you won't be expected to know all the answers.
Follow what the person sitting next to you is doing and you'll be fine. Enjoy your singing 👍

Thank you so much, that's really reassuring! I'm sure it'll be ok when I get there - I'm a bit of an over-thinker!

I think it's fine as long as you respect the beliefs of other church members.

I was in a church choir at uni and I’m not religious, neither were at least half of the other members.

Aren't there any of those "Choirs for All" type of thing in your area? My sister goes to 2 around here and they don't charge a membership fee. She was quite appalled that the more serious choir I went to charged an annual fee AND a weekly collection for purposes that were a bit vague.

I sang in a church choir for years and am agnostic. It wasn't a problem. They were glad to have someone who could sing and read the music.

My FIL was a church organist and believed not one thing about the religion. Many professional cathedral organists just go through the religious motions - they are there for the fee and the musical opportunities.

Most community choirs charge a small fee because they have to hire venues, buy music etc., and recompense the conductor/director. Ditto choral societies, who have conductor/accompanist to pay, practice and concert venues, soloists etc. - ticket sales nowhere near cover the outlay.

I run a small community choir - and have done for a very long time - and we used to meet in my home, so I charged nothing. Now that I have had to move somewhere smaller, we use the village hall and for the first time I am having to make a charge.

However, most choirs and choral societies do have a scheme whereby anyone who is struggling financially can have a quiet word and there is a discount to be negotiated.

I’m a Christian and have no doubt that Jesus would welcome you with open arms.
Have a great time.

@creusa23 Hi 😀

im really enjoying being in the choir, even getting up early on Sundays! 😄Have now been through the 2 busiest times of the year for choristers, with Christmas and Easter done.

Easter week we had about 5 services / events to sing at, 😳including a ‘come and sing’ Faure’s requiem where around 50 singers from local area, and 2 great soloists, joined us on Easter Saturday. The sort of thing I love to sing and one of main reasons for joining this choir rather than another community / more local church.

I was a chorister at a similarly High Anglican Church as a child so I know the service pattern and majority of the words / song sections by memory (could even do the Priest’s section by now!) but either copy the others / Vicar often says ‘now please stand of able’ or similar, or it’s noted in the order of service sheet for that day. No one minds if you are slightly slower to do something when waiting to see what others do.

I was baptised but I no longer believe so don’t go for communion or a blessing, I just wait to the side when rest of choir goes up, then we move to the side aisle to sing something whilst congregation go for communion. Never been commented on or an issue.

I do get involved in the more community aspects, so helped out with the pre Christmas / pre Easter clean and polish of the church, (plus I love cleaning brass! 😆) and tea and cakes / biscuits after service and the like, and this is another reason I wanted to join a choir as otherwise I’m very insular and talk mostly to the dogs and not other humans!

all in all, a good experience so far! I hope yours is likewise 😀

Why not?

I sing in a choir that performs a lot of sacred music and I am not Christian and nor (I would guess) are most of the other members.

Music is music and I'm sure most people would rather hear it decently sung, than enquire into the religious beliefs, if any, of the singers.

And I suspect twas ever thus.

Thank you @Adarajames and everyone else for the encouragement! So glad you're enjoying it (and funnily enough it was my local choir's Easter performance of Faure's requiem that convinced me to join!) - it sounds lovely. I'm sure by Sunday I'll be laughing at myself for having been nervous - and I'm starting to look forward to it now so thank you!

i sang in a church choir for years

Yanbu

@creusa23

Just follow what others are doing and remember nobody minds if you make a mistake. As far as communion, if you don't want to take it either step to one side as the choir goes up or go with them but bow your head rather than put your hands out, nobody minds either way.

Oh and the church I managed had in the church choir choristers from 4 religions and mostly none - a Jew, a Muslim and a Hindu, a couple of Catholics, Anglican obviously but most of these were agnostic at best

@mitogoshi that's so helpful, thank you! Very reassuring.

Not in North Kent are you??

Haha no, Berkshire, although it would have been an amazing coincidence if it had ended up being your choir!

If you're new they will probably allocate someone to take you through everything - this is where we robe up, this is the loo, we line up here etc.

As for stuff in the service, it should all be written down in a service booklet. I would look either side of you, pick the friendliest looking person, and say you're not v familiar with these kind of services, can you help me with what I'm supposed to do, when I'm supposed to kneel etc? I am sure they will be v friendly and help you out