HisStory

The HisStory of the Community Cantata Choir is truly a tale of the Lord at work among devoted Christians!

During 1988 or earlier,
Norlene Wolbert and Bill Bentley of Yamhill brought together a small group of people who wanted to make a joyful noise to the Lord during Advent. The group involved members of congregations in Carlton and Yamhill, some of whom participated in their own church choirs. Some didn't have a choir. Many didn't have much or any musical training, but all had a song in their hearts to sing!

In those early years,
the group numbered 20 or fewer and was led by Bill. Norlene provided all the materials as her gift and Yamhill's Christian Church hosted rehearsals. Accompaniment was by piano only. Performances were offered in both Carlton and Yamhill. Even in the very beginning, the choir always has performed a Christmas cantata: The story of the birth of Christ in song and narration ~ HisStory.

As the group stretched itself,
tackling more difficult and lengthy choral material, Lee Schrepel became the director and the musicians began to purchase their own materials. The choir frequently has at least 40 musicians and commonly includes as many as 15 to 20 others in support roles. Music which is selected is usually a new publication, about 140 pages and 50-60 minutes in length, and includes narration, four or five singing parts, and special parts for solos, duets and small ensembles.

Additional accompanists
from around the area have been added, including synthesizer, percussion, electric guitar, trumpet, flute, electric bass, hand bells, sleigh bells and tambourine. Many in the "band" have been able to participate year after year.

Musicians
have joined from communities in Marion, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties. The choir is very non-denominational, perhaps including people who have no church home or church choir. As the choir's needs have evolved, St. John Catholic Church in Yamhill has become our rehearsal host.


The choir asks host congregations
for a number of things:  a tuned piano, enthusiastic and community-wide publicity, a staffed nursery and refreshments.  A free will offering is always received in support of the YCAP Yamhill County Food Bank program. Over the past years our outreach ministry support thru the Choir for local hungry & homeless people has facilitated donations totaling over $25,000. Some congregations have leveraged this offering with available matching funds from resources such as Thrivent for Lutherans, a fraternal financial management organization.  These offerings have assisted such ministries as Salvation Army, Share and Care, St. Barnabas' Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul and YCAP.  Offerings received during the 2003 season were enough to purchase 49,000 pounds of food through the Yamhill County Food Bank program managed by YCAP!  What an amazing blessing!

During the 2002 and subsequent seasons,
a small children's choir was included! Choir members were asked to secure personal teams of Prayer Partners to support their involvement in this musical ministry. As a result, people from across the nation have been praying for us and our efforts to share the Word with those who come to hear!

During the 2003 season,
a beautiful banner, an interpretive dancer and an interpreter of American Sign Language were added to the program.

DURING THE 2006 SEASON,
it was necessary to purchase a sound system to use in our concerts. Thanks to the prayer and tremendous funding provided by friends, family & community of the choir we were able to purchase the sound equipment at just over $7,000.  Any surplus funds will help meet website expenses & may help provide samples of music for future use.

As many as ten performances
have been offered in a given season, though nine is now the more accepted rule. Various seasons have involved performances in Carlton, Dayton, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Newberg, Yamhill and in the minimum and medium security chapels at the Federal Correctional Institution near Sheridan. The choir has also performed at the Oregon Zoo and at memorial and worship services. An intentional effort has been made to drop and add performance sites each season so that new audiences can hear the choir, permitting no congregation to develop an expectation that they will always be a host site.

Over the years,
this choir has wonderfully presented the following productions.

Year	Cantata Title	Year	Cantata Title
1989	"Celebrate the Child" by Tom Fettke	1998	"A Light Still Shines" by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse and Camp Kirkland
1990	"The Kingdom Song" by Mark Hayes	1999, 2000 and 2004	"God For Us" by Don Moen
1991	"We Beheld His Glory" by Robert Sterling	1999	"A Christmas to Remember" by Claire Cloninger and Gary Rhodes
1992	"Thou Shall Call His Name ... Jesus" by Lanny Wolfe, Bob Benson and Don Marsh	2000	"A Christmas Invitation" by Deborah Craig-Claar, Dave Clark and David Clydesdale
1993	"Let Heaven and Nature Sing" by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse and Camp Kirkland	2001	"All Is Calm, All Is Bright" by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse and Camp Kirkland
1994 & 2002	"God With Us" by Don Moen	2002	"When Love Came Down" by Gary Rhodes
1994	"Let All Heaven and Nature Sing" by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse and Camp Kirkland	2003	"Christmas Is Jesus" by Mike Speck
1995	"Mighty Cross" by Don Moen and Tom Hartley	2004	"Everlasting Light" by Claire Cloninger and Mark Hayes
1995	"The Word" by Clair Cloninger and Tom Fettke	2005	"Forever Gloria!" by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse
1996	"Rivers of Joy" by Don Moen	2006	"Canticle of Christmas" by Tom Fettke and Camp Kirkland
1996	"City of Light" by Tom Fettke	2007	"evidence of Grace" by David T. Clydesdale and Steve Moore
1997	"Emmanuel Has Come" by Don Moen	2007	"Unspeakable Joy" by Lari Goss and Claire Cloninger

Members of the choir have audiotaped or CD performances to share with friends and family. Several performances have been videotaped and nicely edited for broadcast on the local community access cable channel.

Many in the choir
have always considered the performances in the two chapels at the Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution to be a highlight of the season.   Those particular audiences are so receptive and appreciative.  It really feels like we've presented a gift to them!

In fact, some have said
that participating in the Christmas Cantata Choir  is the gift they give themselves every year even though what we've done is truly something for God's glory!

As we begin
our rehearsals and prepare for each performance, we pray for those who will come to hear and see us during the season:  THAT AT LEAST ONE EYE WILL BE UPLIFTED, ONE HEART SOFTENED AND ONE EAR OPENED.

In Jesus' Name.