St. Tim's has a long history of being a faith community that worships God in vibrant and reverent song. To learn more about our music ministries please click on the links below or call Therese at the parish office, 763.784.1329 or at tjorgensen@churchofsttimothy.com: 

• Sing with us
• Do you play an instrument? 
• Why we sing - 14 amazing reasons
• Why we rehearse

Sing with us (september 2024 update)

• As part of our worship assembly: whether or not you consider yourself a singer, the gathered assembly is the most important choir at St. Timothy’s. Through our music making, we continually strive to form one body of Christ, singing with one voice.

• Psalmist or Cantor: a cantor serves an important ministry by leading the assembly in common sacred song and in responsorial singing, especially when a choir is not present. The ability to read music or learn quickly by ear are important skills. Most cantors rehearse with a choir or ensemble.

• Adult choir: The adult choir is open to singers aged 18 and older, and sings at weekend Masses. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. in the music room. Repertoire includes a broad range of traditional and contemporary music. Click here to view the 2024-2025 Adult Choir schedule.

• Women's Group:  The women's group rehearses on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m. in the music room. The schedule alternates with the teen ensemble (Living Stones). The women’s group sings at a Mass about once a month and for special celebrations as announced. Repertoire includes traditional and contemporary music. Click here to view the 2024-2025 Women's Group schedule.

• Living Stones: this ensemble is for students in high school and college. The schedule alternates with the Women's Group. The ensemble sings at Mass about once a month and for special celebrations as announced, and rehearses on Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. in the music room. Repertoire includes traditional, contemporary, and contemporary Christian music. Competent instrumentalists (woodwinds, brass, strings, guitar, drums, etc.) are welcome to join the singers. Click here to view the 2024-2025 Living Stones schedule.

• Cobblestones: This choir is for students in grades 2 through 8. Rehearsals are held on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the music room in the parish center. The children sing at Mass about once a month, and for special celebrations as announced. They gain a deeper understanding of the liturgy and of music. Part singing is encouraged. Click here to view the 2024-2025 Cobblestones schedule.

Do you play an instrument? 

• Handbell Choir: this five-octave handbell choir is a dedicated group of musicians who love ringing handbells. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the church. This group plays at Mass about once a month and for special celebrations as announced. Occasional ringers (subs) are welcome.

• Accompanist: the primary role of the accompanist (pianist/organist) is to lead and sustain the singing of the assembly and of the choir, cantor, and psalmist, without dominating or overpowering them. The ability to improvise and embellish is a desired skill. If you’d like to offer your musical gifts in our community, please contact Therese at 763.784.1329 or at tjorgensen@churchofsttimothy.com.

• Instrumentalist: Do you play an instrument? Do you enjoy making music with others? Would you be comfortable playing at Mass? Our community is always looking for new musicians to join us. If you’d like to offer your musical gifts in our parish, please contact Therese at 763.784.1329 or at tjorgensen@churchofsttimothy.com.

Why We Sing— 14 Amazing Reasons!

1. God has blessed His people with the gift of song.
2. Music is a sign of God’s love for us and of our love for Him.
3. Our ancestors reveled in this gift, sometimes with God’s urging.
4. Jesus and his apostles sang; Paul instructs [us] to sing with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
5. Faith grows when it is expressed well in celebration; good music makes our prayer more alive and fervent.
6. In Liturgy, we use music to proclaim Christ’s presence and to reply with our worship and praise.
7. The first and foremost song of the Liturgy is the chant of victory over sin and death.
8. Christ, whose praises we have sung, remains with us as we leave the church and go out into the world.
9. Music inspires us to go forth to spread the Gospel with full force and compassion.
10. Sung worship allows us to participate in the action of the Trinity, each with our given gifts in the Spirit.
11. Full and active participation by all is the source from which true Christian spirit is derived.
12. Actively listening to sung prayer helps to raise our minds to God.
13. Participation in sung prayer comes more from our hearts than from our vocal ability, and both express and strengthen the faith that is in us.
14. Though lack of voice or distractions challenge the convictions of our hearts, Christ always invites us to enter into song, for the honor and glory of the Most Holy Trinity.

Why We Rehearse

• Preparing music for liturgy involves myriad music read-throughs, song searches, planning sessions, rehearsals, decisions, interpersonal interactions and communications, etc.  
• Most of your ministry is preparation, only a small percent actual celebration.
• The good news is that as you seek God in these mundane preparations, God will be seeking and finding you.  
• Your very preparation is the practical, everyday way you encounter God.  
• And this is the real preparation for liturgy; this is already part of the celebration.

Marianne Nold served in music ministry at the Church of St. Timothy for over half a century. She has gathered some of her memories of her time on organ and piano benches at St. Tim's in an essay entitled "A View From the Bench." An excerpt of this essay was published in the February 20, 2022. To view the full essay in PDF format, click here.