By Cinda Bothel
JOY (Just Older Youth) Choir, founded in 2003 as an outreach ministry of the Hershey Free Church, is a senior adult choir that travels throughout central Pennsylvania presenting live musical programs. Not the usual senior adult choir, we have been characterized as “wild and wacky.” It is our delight to present about 35 programs per year to civic groups, retirement communities, nursing homes, churches and senior centers.
We have new, original entertainment programs each season. Our fall program is an old-time radio show reminiscent of the Golden Age of Radio which includes skits, jokes, impersonations and songs of the era. The audience will be transported back to those happy memories of the family sitting around their Philco enjoying their favorite shows.
Our sacred program features old, familiar hymns and special with music piano or organ accompaniment, scripture reading and a short object lesson. We encourage the audience to sing along as we praise God through music. We often hear comments like, “I love that old hymn,” and, “We don’t get to hear those hymns much anymore.”
We currently represent 10 area churches and our members range in age from 50s to 90s. We live in various communities including Harrisburg, Hershey, Palmyra, Hummelstown, Middletown, Elizabethtown, Lancaster, Paradise, Ephrata and last but certainly not least, Union Deposit.
Even though we are an outreach ministry, we are a close-knit small group that ministers to each other. Many of our members are single and JOY Choir provides many hours of Christian fellowship and prayer support.
We share the love and joy of Jesus Christ through song, skits, costumes and silliness. Any adult is invited to join us regardless of musical ability as long as you can make a joyful noise.
Find information about us at joychoir.tripod.com.
