Chancel Choir                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Chancel Choir:  Dana Mitchell, Kathy Bounds, Ginny Fly, Josh Reed, Robert Fly, Molly Nelms, Susie Eaton, (2nd row) Pat Branche, Sharon Winslow, William Fly, Ron Henderson, Suzanne Langston, Donna Adams, Susan Phillips, musician, (back row) David Nelms, David Adams, and Larry Bounds. (no picture - Paul Putnam, director)

The Chancel Choir
"And with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual  songs to God.  And whatever you   do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."    Colossians 3:16-17

The Chancel Choir are 15-20 talented adults of all ages who love to sing!   They give the gift of their voice in song and music during our 11:00 a.m. worship service, and at special times for our 8:45 a.m. worship service, all during the church year.  Rehearsals are Thursday evenings 7:30 -  9:30 p.m., September through June.  The Chancel choir prepares two special concert presentations annually, at Christmas and Easter, and are accompanied by a variety of instruments or an orchestra.  An evening performance and a matinee are our gift to our community, and the church is filled to capacity with members and friends within a 3-hour radius of the church.  Our repertoire encompasses a wide range of musical periods such as medieval madrigals and classics ranging from Handel's "Messiah” to contemporary works by Rutter, Vaughn Williams, Faure and Leavitt.  Chancel Choir members also perform solos and duets, quartets, quintets and ensembles to sing a wide  variety of beautiful music. Recent dramatic musical presentations include Tom Fettke's "Festival of Lights at Christmas 2003 and Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" at Christmas, 2001 and  "A Time for  Alleluia" by Joseph Martin for Easter, 2002.   They love to sing! 

The Messengers of Faith Choir
 High School 8th through 12th grade  

"And he said unto them 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' "  Mark 16:15

                                                                                                             Samuel , Katherine, Dani , Mark,  Merri,  Kasey, William, Josh , Christy,  Whitney and Robert

The Messengers of Faith Choir of 20 teens is about half of the Messengers of Faith Youth Fellowship.  Their mission is to take the gospel of Christ out into the world through song and music!  They regularly share their talent in worship for both the 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services.  Rehearsals are each Sunday 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., September - June.  In early spring the rehearsal schedule is expanded to begin work on their annual summer music ministry tour.  Rev. Fuller and Paul Putnam, along with 4 other adults, take the choir on a 10 day tour.  Most recently to Tennessee and Kentucky where they performed in United Church of Christ churches and nursing homes.  Most recent tour productions have included the musical, "Joseph" and "Godspell" by Stephen Schwartz and "Celebrate Life!" by Burl Red.  In addition to performing "Godspell" on tour and for our church, they performed for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Suffolk and this year have a special production of "Godspell" for the Suffolk community in the Nansemond Suffolk Academy auditorium in August.  Musical productions are accompanied by electric and acoustic guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer and various rhythm instruments all played by members of the group... They have a terrific time!       CHOIR TOUR PHOTO 2003 (click here)
 

The God's Promise Choir
 Children in 3rd through 7th grade

"'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, ....' ''  Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."  Jeremiah 1:5-6

                                                                                                                                                                                                            HAND CHIMES

The God's Promise performs regularly in worship throughout the year and presents at  least one special production each year.  God's Promise Choir prefers the "Hand Chimes" and is a great addition to our Music Ministry. Rehearsals are each Sunday at 6:30 p.m., September - June.  Additionally, they combine with the Chancel Choir, Messengers of Faith, and instrumentalists on occasion to participate in worship, special services or holiday productions.  They play an important part in Palm Sunday worship services as well!  This group works on proper vocal production and technique.  Such pieces include the music of John Rutter, John Leavitt, a "Children's Song Cycle of Anthems" by Burton, and various spirituals and cannons. 

The Joyful Noise Choir
 Children in Kindergarten - 3rd grade

"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs."  Matthew 19:14

                   

Rev. Fuller leads the Joyful Noise Choir and our little ones perform throughout the year.This choir introduces our children to the joy of music, expression and choir at an early age!

The Men of Oakland Choir

 
Annually in April, a LARGE group of fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers volunteer to
volunteer to rehearse one or two special songs for several weeks after worship service.  On Mother's Day in May at the 11 a.m. worship service, the men of Oakland Church sing in honor of their mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, who highly enjoy it!

Holiday Caroling
 
All of the choirs, at different times during Christmas and Easter, go caroling to our church
members and friends who are homebound, or at the Nansemond Pointe Nursing Home,
Hillcrest Retirement Center, Lake Prince Retirement Center, Riverside in Smithfield or the
Tandem Nursing Home in Windsor. The adult Sunday School classes have been known to spread the vocal cheer too!  The residents of these long-term care facilities appreciate it more than words can say, and often sing along and engage members in holiday or
church memories.

The Bell Choir                                                                                                                                         Paul Putnam, Director                                                                                                                                                                                         Cathy Bounds, Jean Keeling, Cheri Babler, Donna Adams, Denise Spady, Sam,                                                                                               Molly Nelms, Susan Phillips, Cheryl Watters, Suzanne Langston, and David Adams

Oakland Church has 3 octaves of bells and the Bell Choir performed several times a year during the 11 a.m. worship service, and at times in concert with the other church choirs and instrumentalists.  The Bell Choir practice is Thursday at 6:30p.m. 

Special Music

                                                                                                                                                             Olde James River Jazz Band

At different times of the year we have special music, guest musicians or an orchestra for special productions.  For example, on Mardi-Gras Sunday a jazz band (see above) plays hymns New Orleans-style for our worship services, or the Sunday prior to St. Patrick’s day, we may have the bagpipes or a harpist.  During the summer when choir is off, choir members perform together on different Sundays and have been favoring blue-grass and "old-time" gospel hymns and spirituals.  We are blessed with talented musicians as church members and at times we have guest musicians accompany the choir on trumpets, French horn, flute, and other instruments.  In the past we have had a guest opera singer from The Virginia Opera Company for a special holiday production, and an opera singing couple from the New York City Metropolitan Opera House.