19th Season Celebration: TD Worship Choir Unites Six Churches for Christmas Concerts

From Lutz Music Studio:

By Shawn Lutz

The Dalles, OR. November 29, 2023 - The Dalles Worship Choir is in its 19th season of Christmas concerts.  Founded and under the direction of Shawn Lutz (local private music instructor) in 2004.  This ecumenical choir has approximately 44 members this season from six different churches.  Churches represented are First Christian Church, Gateway Presbyterian, Calvary Baptist, Covenant Christian, St.Peter's Catholic Church, and Mt. Adams Baptist Church in Trout Lake.  

After taking a sabbatical from directing the choir at First Christian Church Shawn came back with the idea of having a larger church choir representing all of the Gorge. For a few years, she would do a pre-purchased Christmas Cantata with narration but for the past several years she has put together her own program with varied songs, narration, drama, and persona; testimonies from the choir members.  Registration is in August with rehearsals every Sunday beginning the middle of September.  With concerts the first two Friday/Sundays of December.  It's quite an effort.  

Shawn is joined by her husband Mike who runs the sound system.  He has a team from the choir that helps him set up choir risers, microphones, and sound equipment at the churches where they do the concerts.  They have been in music ministry together for 40-plus years.

This year's concerts are being held at Gateway Presbyterian, Covenant Christan, and First Christian.  Admission is free.  An offering is taken at each concert to further this ministry. 

We hear a lot that these choir concerts have become part of people's Christmas traditions.  Our hope is that you will come and hear the Good News about Jesus Christ through song and know that He is the reason we celebrate the Season.