Worship Arts

What's New with Worship Arts

What's Your Story? Speaking Through the Theater Arts at Westwood
Helping children and students to “Find My Story Through HIStory” is the goal of the theater arts ministries at Westwood. Westwood has four discipleship ministries for students and children that use the gifts of singing, acting and dancing to glorify God.

WATCH: Westwood Arts and Theater Company for Him (Grades 6-12).
JAM: Jesus the Arts and Me (Grades 2-3).
JELLYS: Jesus Especially Loves Little Youngsters Singing (Grades K-1).
WINK: Walk In the Name of the King (Grades 4-5).

Programming begins Sunday, January 22. There is no cost for registration or programming.

Rehearsals:
WINK: January 22- May 5, 4:45-6:15pm. Check in and rehearsal in Room A112.
WATCH: Stay tuned for summer camp information
JAM: January 22- May 5, 5:00-6:15pm. Check in and rehearsal in Room B102.
JELLYS: January 22- May 5, 5:00-6:15pm. Check in and rehearsal in Room B100.

Performances are ticketed and tickets will be available in mid-April. JAM, JELLYS and WINK perform May 5, 11:00am
WATCH performance: January 28
INFO: Laura Sorensen, 952-224-7458.

Find Your Voice
"Something to Say" is Westwood is Female vocal ensemble for students grades 5-12. Rehearsal is every week beginning January 29, 9:30 am to 10:30 am in the Lower Link. The ensemble will lead worship for special events and outreach throughout the year. Directed by Phyllis Teh. INFO: Laura Sorensen, 952-224-7458.

Summerwood Worship Service for Seniors
Westwood leads worship on the first Thursday of each month at 10:00am at SummerWood of Chanhassen. Anyone who is available and loves prayer, singing, reading of scripture and fellowshipping with Seniors is welcome to attend and assist! Contact Laura Sorensen, 952-224-7458.

Join Westwood's Student Worship Team!
Westwood students grades 7-12 lead worship weekly for Kindergarten through 12th grade. New students with any instrument or vocals are welcome. Contact Laura Sorensen, 952-224-7458 to set up an audition.

Worship Arts Ministries

Westwood provides a place for people to creatively use their gifts for God. The arts ministries at Westwood are housed within Worship Arts, which encompasses the artistic disciplines of music (instrumental and vocal), drama, dance, musical theater and visual arts for children through adults. Pastor Mark Nelson leads the Worship Arts ministries and is assisted by associates Vicki Turner and Laura Sorensen. Currently more than 800 creative lay persons demonstrate life in Christ as part of the Worship Arts Ministries.

The music teams bring instrumentalists and vocalists together to support worship throughout the church including adult and student teams.
Drama teams for adults and students support the ministries of the church. Sacred dancers (7th grade through adult) use movement to enhance worship.
The musical theater programs of JAM (Jesus, the Arts and Me) for grades 2-4 and JELLYS (Jesus Especially Loves Little Youngsters Singing) for grades K-1 teach children to find their story through HIStory.
The Visual Arts Ministry provides training, art displays, and intergenerational art creation.

If God has gifted you in any area of the arts or if you would like to learn a new art form, Worship Arts welcomes you! Contact for adult instrumental and vocal opportunities: Vicki Turner, 952-224-7396.

Westwood Worship Leading Orchestra
A large group instrumental ensemble open by audition to adults 16+ who play any orchestral instrument. The orchestra plays about once a month in services at Westwood, as well as for holidays and special events.

Instrumental Ensembles
Holy Horns is a small instrumental ensemble open by audition to brass players.

Rhythm Section
A small team of rhythm players open by audition. Rhythm sections include piano, bass, drums, guitar, synth and percussion.

Woodwind and String Ensemble
A small instrumental ensemble open by audition to string and woodwind players.

Westwood Worship Leading Choir
A large group vocal ensemble open to all adults age 16+. The choir sings in services about once a month as well as for holidays and special events.

Contact for the following areas: Laura Sorensen, 952-224-7458

Westwood Children’s and Student's Theater Arts
WATCH: Westwood Arts and Theater Company for Him (Grades 6-12)
JAM: Jesus the Arts and Me (Grades 2-3)
JELLYS: Jesus Especially Loves Little Youngsters Singing (Grades K-1)
WINK: (Grades 4-5)

Visual Arts Team
A place for visual artists to use their gifts to enhance worship.

Student Arts
Opportunities for vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, video arts and theater artists to lead worship. 7th-12th graders are invited to lead worship (dance, drama, vocals, instruments, puppets) and give technical support for preschool through 9th grade at 8:30, 9:45 or 11:05am.

Worship JAM Session
Open to all students 7th grade and up, no need to be on a worship team. Sunday’s, 12:30-1:30pm, Room A112, bring your instrument for a jam session. Hosted by Carrie Miller.

Sacred Dancers
Enhancing worship with the use of dance from hip hop to ballet.

JELLYS/JAM Camp

July 9-13

”I AM A PROMISE” through a short musical with simple songs, dances and acting children will learn who they are as a child of God. The title song helps the children learn that they are a promise who are learning to hear God’s voice and make the right choices! The camp time includes snacks and crafts and a show on Friday at 10:00am for families. For Kindergarten-3rd grade. Room: B102.

WINK Camp

July 16-20

“ALL THE IN’S AND OUT’S” Learn the in’s and out’s of musical theater to grow your theater skills. Through theater games, monologues, ensembles, solo’s, dancing and auditioning build your musical theater skills for theater at Westwood or theater in the community. On the final day we put on a show for families and friends! For 4th-6th grade. Room: B102.

Camp Director: Krin McMillen
Krin McMillen grew up in Westwood’s Worship Arts music and theater programs (starting as a dandelion in Sermon on the Mound). She is a Theater Arts/Music major at Bethel University. Krin has performed with the Children’s Theater Company, Chanhassen Dinner Theater, CAM Productions, Chaska and Chanhassen High School, CVFT and Minnetonka Theater. This year she studied theater in New York City, she was selected to be part of Bethel’s Opera program and was cast in the Guthrie's’ Christmas Carol.

WATCH Camp

July 30-August 3

“USING THEATER AS OUTREACH” Enhance your singing, acting and dancing skills as we work on sketches, solo’s, ensembles, and dancing using theater as outreach. Students will travel to a senior facility and to a local park during the week. WATCH is designed to develop students’ musical and artistic talents to prepare them for a lifetime of serving God. Dress for movement and bring a water bottle. For students in 6th-12th grade.

Bible and Ballet

August 6-9

“Praise the Lord with tambourine and dance!” Be called to dance before the Lord with all your might in this creative expression dance class. Dancers learn ballet basics, explore rhythm patterns and develop motor skills. Learn to be kind to others, follow the leader and express faithful hearts through movement. Dancers will memorize Bible verses with movement. Room: Worship Center

Dance Workshop

August 6-9

Dance Like David Danced Workshop
A dance workshop to inspire children to seek out and reveal the hero inside. Each day dancers will have time infused with ballet, modern, hip-hop and jazz dance. Learn dances to the words of David’s Psalms and learn to “dance before the Lord with all our might.”(2 Samuel 6:14) Children will learn of Bible hero David’s story, uncover their modern day Goliaths, discuss leadership and learn about entrusting the Lord with their fears. Children are told today that they can be anything they want to be, this workshop will inspire them to seek who God means for them to be. Bring a marked water bottle.