Koloa Union Church holds dedication service for its new choir

Members of the Koloa Union Church held a dedication service late last month for their new choir.

Pastor Nani Hill and director of music, Joyce Anglmeyer, led the dedication service.

As a new choir year starts, it is important for the members to begin the year with a religious commitment or ritual for the choirs, who give their time to attend rehearsals and provide appropriate music for the church services throughout the year.

This Litany of Blessing for the handbell choir and the vocal choir was a part of the congregation’s worship service.

The service began with an organ prelude “Psalm XIX” by Marcello, played by Anglemyer, followed by the choir processing and leading the congregation in singing: “When In Our Music God is Glorified.” Following the processional, Hill blessed the choir and presided over the Litany of Dedication with the choir members responding: “God give me faith to always ring and sing ‘Alleluia.’”

After a prayer of dedication and commitment the vocal choir sang “Psalm 150” by Cesar Franck.

The vocal choir also sang Psalm 121, “A Mountain Psalm” written by Helen Kemp, a well-known conductor of children’s and handbell choirs. The congregation joined the choir in singing “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” which was part of “A Mountain Psalm.” Anglemyer and Kemp presented this body of work at the St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts with the congregation this past summer.

Hill delivered the sermon, after which flutist Susan Hironaka joined the choirs in presenting “God’s Simple Gifts” by Anna Laura Paige.

The service closed with the congregation joining the choir in singing “When the Morning Stars Come Together,” and everyone joining hands and singing “Live in the Spirit of Love,” after which the organist broke into the Postlude “Basse et de Trompette” by Clerembault.