If you are a long-time participant in COS music, we look forward to seeing you again this year!
If you’ve never been a part of the music ensembles but are interested in joining, we would love to welcome you to one or more of the groups below. The schedules are here to help you plan ahead. Please add these dates to your calendars.
If you have any questions about this schedule or about COS worship in general, please don’t hesitate to contact Maria Stapert Vander Berg, Minister of Worship, at maria.stapert@coscgr.org.
Tree of Life Choir
The Tree of Life Choir is comprised of singers of various ages and abilities and aims to be a liturgical choir that will support and adorn the congregation’s voice. Often the choir will introduce new songs, add descants and harmonies, sing portions of the liturgy, and assume the cantor’s role in responsive psalmody. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, the choir will participate in the “O Antiphon” service on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 20 and the Maundy Thursday service in the evening of Thursday, March 25. Melissa Janes will be conducting the choir. Plan to attend the Wednesday rehearsal prior to the service in which you intend to participate.
| Worship Service Dates | Rehearsal Dates |
| Sunday, October 11 | Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, October 11, 9:00am |
| Sunday, November 15 | Wednesday, November 11, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, November 15, 9:00am |
| Sunday, December 20 6:00pm O Antiphon service | Wednesday, December 16, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, December 20, 4:30pm |
| Sunday, January 17 | Wednesday, January 13, 6:00 – 7:30 pm* Saturday, January 17, 9:00am |
| Sunday, February 21 | Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, February 21, 9:00am |
| Thursday, March 25 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service | Wednesday, March 17, 6:00-7:30pm Thursday, March 25, 6:00pm |
| Sunday, March 28 Easter Sunday | Wednesday, March 24, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Sunday, March 24, 9:00am |
| Sunday, May 2 | Wednesday, April 28, 6:00 – 7:30 pm* Sunday, May 2, 9:00am |
*No Wednesday night programming, but choir will meet for dinner at 5:15pm.
Joyful Noise Orchestra
The Joyful Noise Orchestra (JNO) is for anyone who plays a band or orchestra instrument. This is a wonderful way for newer musicians to get their feet wet in participating in the music of our worship services. All ages and abilities are welcome to come together to make a joyful noise before our Lord! JNO will be led by Maria Stapert. Attendance at the Wednesday rehearsals is strongly encouraged for everyone, especially for newer musicians.
| Worship Service Dates | Rehearsal Dates |
| Sunday, October 18 | Wednesday, October 14, 6:00pm Sunday, October 18, 9:00am |
| Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day | Wednesday, November 18, 6:00pm Thursday, November 26, 9:00am |
| Sunday, January 31 | Wednesday, January 27, 6:00pm* Sunday, January 31, 9:00am |
| Sunday, April 25 | Wednesday, April 21, 6:00pm* Sunday, April 25, 9:00am |
*No Wednesday night church dinner or programming
Guitarchestra
Guitarchestra began as an ensemble for guitarists of varying abilities to gain experience in leading our congregational song. It has since grown to include many other folk instruments! If you play mandolin, banjo, accordion, hand percussion or another folk instrument, you are welcome to join the ensemble. Ron Rienstra will lead the Guitarchestra. Music will be ready a week in advance so you can practice on your own before the 9:00am rehearsal on Sunday morning. Those rehearsals move quickly through a lot of music. Individual preparation prior to Sunday morning is important.
| Worship Service Dates (Rehearsals at 9:00am) |
| Sunday, October 25 |
| Sunday, December 13 |
| Sunday, January 10 |
| Sunday, February 14 |
| Sunday, April 18 |
| Sunday, June 6 |
Wednesday Evening Jam Sessions
Once a month, all are welcome to join the just-for-fun Jam Sessions – guitarists (or guitar-hopeful-ists), ukulele-ists, tambourine-ists, singers, fiddlers, other instrumentalists. We will play/sing folk music (mostly not church music). Chords and lyrics will be provided, but not notated melodies. There is no age or ability requirements. Come as you wish. Newer musicians are welcome to bring their instruments, do some listening, and attempt to play along as they can. This can be a good place to work on your musical chops before jumping into playing with Guitarchestra. We hope this can be a fun time enjoying music together and giving people an opportunity to play in a group in a no-pressure environment.
| Wednesday Jam Session Dates (6:00-7:30pm) |
| Wednesday, September 9* |
| Wednesday, October 21 |
| Wednesday, November 4 |
| Wednesday, December 9 |
| Wednesday, January 20* |
| Wednesday, February 24* |
| Wednesday, March 10 |
| Wednesday, April 7* |
| Wednesday, May 12* |
*No Wednesday night church dinner or programming