Joyful Noise Arts Center

Celebrates 10 years of Ministry!

October 2, 1997 marked the opening of The Joyful Noise Arts Center, an after school program created to “nurture the creative and spiritual growth of children through the arts.” The Joyful Noise classes are designed to facilitate children’s exposure to the arts, giving them the opportunity to recognize and develop their own creative potential. Fundamental to the Joyful Noise Arts Center is the belief that our creative abilities are gifts from God, to be treasured, developed and shared with others.

The Joyful Noise Choir sings in church once a month and rehearses most Sunday afternoons during the school year from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Audrey Sackett, Director of the Joyful Noise Choir for the last four years and currently a student at Portland State University, was an original Joyful Noise Choir member in 1997 when she was ten years old.

Art Classes at Joyful Noise are taught on Wednesday afternoons by Julie Jetton who began working with the program nine years ago. Julie introduces children to a wide variety of media and encourages them to try their hand at many different artistic expressions. Joyful Noise Art classes offer children the opportunity to express their creativity in a safe, loving environment – guided and nurtured, challenged and celebrated. We are also very grateful to Christy Hopkins who helped envision the program in 1997 and who was the very first art teacher at The Joyful Noise Arts Center.

Over the years Joyful Noise students have attended concerts and theatrical productions, visited art galleries and museums and even taken a field trip to an artist’s metal foundry. The Joyful Noise Choir has performed full-length children’s musicals at St. Michael’s including The Tale of the Three Trees, 100% Chance of Rain and Once Upon a Parable. Along with end-of-the-year musical concerts, Joyful Noise students have performed theatrical productions based on well-loved children’s books and poems.

It is a privilege to witness the creative, emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth of children. The Joyful Noise Arts Center has provided a venue for many children, families and teachers at St. Michael’s to create and enjoy wonderful art and music - but even more importantly, the Joyful Noise ministry has enhanced our ability to journey together, deepening our friendships, building our community and opening our eyes to the sacred within our midst.

Leslie Sackett Associate for Children and Families Ministry