In the interest of continuing to beat a dead horse, 
I decided to scan some choir guidelines that have been crumbling away in an old hanging file folder. The scans are in my pictures section of Yuku and the text conversion is shown below. The first offering to the group is the September 1987 version. Happy trip down memory lane.
GUIDELINES FOR CHOIR LEADERS & CHOIR MEMBERS
(1) A Choir Leader must be an example to the Choir Members in all things; Faithfulness in attendance at Services and Choir Practices; Prayer Life; Obedience and Offering.
(2) The Choir Leader must take the necessary time to prepare for a Choir Practice or Service by:
(a) Reading the Circular
(b) Praying fervently
(c) Selecting appropriate hymns
(3) Prepare well in advance for your Choir Rehearsals, at least one week. It is not good enough that just before the Service you start going through the Choir Book looking for hymns. Also Choir Leaders have asked in Choir Practice: "Now what shall we practice." Those who look at their responsibility in such a light-hearted way cannot be Choir Leaders. We must always remember that the work of the Choir and Choir Leaders is to prepare the hearts and souls of God's children, to make them receptive to that which our heavenly Father, through His servants, wants to lay into them in that Service.
(4) It is preferable that the Choir Leader is an Administration Brother so that he receives the 'Word of Life.' Where this is not possible they must make it their responsibility to borrow one from an Administration Brother in the congregation, in order to read it to prepare themselves and their hymns for that Service.
Choir Guidelines Page 2
(5) DO'S & DQNT'S;
(a) Do learn to play a piano or organ.
(b) Do practice leading in front of a mirror while playing a tape or recording of our Church Choirs. You will be surprised at what you see in the mirror, which the Choir Members always see,
(c) Do make sure your haircut is an example to the Choir Members. This applies especially to our younger Brothers.
(d) Do sing a song of praise, thanksgiving or joyfulness after the Service.
(e) Do watch and learn from your District Choir Leaders. It is no crime to steal with your eyes.
(f) Don't sing a hymn such as, 'Heavenly Father Bless me Now,' when the officiant has finished serving and calls on the Choir to sing before another Brother serves.
(g) Don't sing along while leading the Choir.
(h) Don't be stiff like a cigar store Indian while conducting, or a metronome would do a better job. On the other extreme, don't wave your arms like a windmill, and make all kinds of facial expressions.
(6) It is the Choir Leaders responsibility to keep order in the Choir, but at the same time radiate warmth and affection.
(7) A special word to our younger Choir Leaders, who at times make things difficult for their older Choir Leaders; What you have sown, you will reap, when you stand in their place
Choir Guidelines Page 3
(8) The local. Choir Leader must promote regular attendance of his Choir Members in the District Choir. There is a vast difference between just announcing something and promoting it; and the local Choir Leader should check at every District Choir Practice whether his members are there.
(9) The Choir Leader, also in his local congregation, must watch over attendance^ so it is not, as has occurred in
the past, where one Sunday the members are not in the Choir, and the next Sunday they are there. This shows lack of control by the Choir Leader. The Choirs cannot be a bird cage where they fly in and out. We have Choir members who have sung for fifty years in the Choir and have never failed to excuse themselves.
(10) USHERS & CHOIR MEMBERS - DISTRICT & TRT DISTRICT CHOIR
(a) Whenever ushers seat a Choir Member, under no condition are they to move that member. The Choir Leader must work out a seating plan for each Service, and reserve the necessary seats for the soloists in advance, by putting a sticker on the back of the pew with the soloist's name. This prevents aggravation to the Choir Member moved and embarrassment for the usher who does the moving.
(b) The conduct of the Choir Members in Service, and especially in Choir Rehearsal, leaves much to be desired. While rehearsals should not be a regimented and stiff atmosphere, yet manner and self-discipline have to be increased drastically.
Choir Guidelines Page 4
(c) Members who sit behind the Choir are appalled at the level of conversation and restlessness produced by some of our Choir Members.
(d) A number of Choir Members come In to find a place before Service, and then immediately leave in order to return just prior to the singing. The amount of walking in and out is an absolute disturbance and desecration, and totally takes away from the service they are to render. Leaving Choir Books on the bench does not reserve that space.
(e) Every Choir Member must bring their own church books. Each one in the Choir must concern themselves that they bring their own hymnals, and not take it for granted that they can use the Choir Member's beside them.
(f) When Choir Members enter and sit down and pray, keep the prayer short, not that a line of three or four other members form at che end of the pew waiting to get to their seat.
O.K. M Kraus 17-9-87
I decided to scan some choir guidelines that have been crumbling away in an old hanging file folder. The scans are in my pictures section of Yuku and the text conversion is shown below. The first offering to the group is the September 1987 version. Happy trip down memory lane.September 15, 1987
GUIDELINES FOR CHOIR LEADERS & CHOIR MEMBERS
(1) A Choir Leader must be an example to the Choir Members in all things; Faithfulness in attendance at Services and Choir Practices; Prayer Life; Obedience and Offering.
(2) The Choir Leader must take the necessary time to prepare for a Choir Practice or Service by:
(a) Reading the Circular
(b) Praying fervently
(c) Selecting appropriate hymns
(3) Prepare well in advance for your Choir Rehearsals, at least one week. It is not good enough that just before the Service you start going through the Choir Book looking for hymns. Also Choir Leaders have asked in Choir Practice: "Now what shall we practice." Those who look at their responsibility in such a light-hearted way cannot be Choir Leaders. We must always remember that the work of the Choir and Choir Leaders is to prepare the hearts and souls of God's children, to make them receptive to that which our heavenly Father, through His servants, wants to lay into them in that Service.
(4) It is preferable that the Choir Leader is an Administration Brother so that he receives the 'Word of Life.' Where this is not possible they must make it their responsibility to borrow one from an Administration Brother in the congregation, in order to read it to prepare themselves and their hymns for that Service.
Choir Guidelines Page 2
(5) DO'S & DQNT'S;
(a) Do learn to play a piano or organ.
(b) Do practice leading in front of a mirror while playing a tape or recording of our Church Choirs. You will be surprised at what you see in the mirror, which the Choir Members always see,
(c) Do make sure your haircut is an example to the Choir Members. This applies especially to our younger Brothers.
(d) Do sing a song of praise, thanksgiving or joyfulness after the Service.
(e) Do watch and learn from your District Choir Leaders. It is no crime to steal with your eyes.
(f) Don't sing a hymn such as, 'Heavenly Father Bless me Now,' when the officiant has finished serving and calls on the Choir to sing before another Brother serves.
(g) Don't sing along while leading the Choir.
(h) Don't be stiff like a cigar store Indian while conducting, or a metronome would do a better job. On the other extreme, don't wave your arms like a windmill, and make all kinds of facial expressions.
(6) It is the Choir Leaders responsibility to keep order in the Choir, but at the same time radiate warmth and affection.
(7) A special word to our younger Choir Leaders, who at times make things difficult for their older Choir Leaders; What you have sown, you will reap, when you stand in their place
Choir Guidelines Page 3
(8) The local. Choir Leader must promote regular attendance of his Choir Members in the District Choir. There is a vast difference between just announcing something and promoting it; and the local Choir Leader should check at every District Choir Practice whether his members are there.
(9) The Choir Leader, also in his local congregation, must watch over attendance^ so it is not, as has occurred in
the past, where one Sunday the members are not in the Choir, and the next Sunday they are there. This shows lack of control by the Choir Leader. The Choirs cannot be a bird cage where they fly in and out. We have Choir members who have sung for fifty years in the Choir and have never failed to excuse themselves.
(10) USHERS & CHOIR MEMBERS - DISTRICT & TRT DISTRICT CHOIR
(a) Whenever ushers seat a Choir Member, under no condition are they to move that member. The Choir Leader must work out a seating plan for each Service, and reserve the necessary seats for the soloists in advance, by putting a sticker on the back of the pew with the soloist's name. This prevents aggravation to the Choir Member moved and embarrassment for the usher who does the moving.
(b) The conduct of the Choir Members in Service, and especially in Choir Rehearsal, leaves much to be desired. While rehearsals should not be a regimented and stiff atmosphere, yet manner and self-discipline have to be increased drastically.
Choir Guidelines Page 4
(c) Members who sit behind the Choir are appalled at the level of conversation and restlessness produced by some of our Choir Members.
(d) A number of Choir Members come In to find a place before Service, and then immediately leave in order to return just prior to the singing. The amount of walking in and out is an absolute disturbance and desecration, and totally takes away from the service they are to render. Leaving Choir Books on the bench does not reserve that space.
(e) Every Choir Member must bring their own church books. Each one in the Choir must concern themselves that they bring their own hymnals, and not take it for granted that they can use the Choir Member's beside them.
(f) When Choir Members enter and sit down and pray, keep the prayer short, not that a line of three or four other members form at che end of the pew waiting to get to their seat.
O.K. M Kraus 17-9-87
