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Water bottles in the choir

stonespringstonespring Shipmate
in Ecclesiantics
If the choir is up near the altar or otherwise visible in front of the congregation during the service, is it inappropriate for them to drink from water bottles during the service, absent a coughing fit or other immediate need for water? I am in a church choir now and I worry that if I have my water bottle with me and drink from it during the service, that it would be irreverent and would also distract the congregation. But maybe it is ok while seated during the homily/sermon, even if it is not ok during prayers or while standing? What do you think?

Comments

  • ZappaZappa Shipmate
    Personally I would argue this is generally unnecessary, outside the tropics. An affectation.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited August 3
    stonespring wrote: »
    If the choir is up near the altar or otherwise visible in front of the congregation during the service, is it inappropriate for them to drink from water bottles during the service, absent a coughing fit or other immediate need for water? I am in a church choir now and I worry that if I have my water bottle with me and drink from it during the service, that it would be irreverent and would also distract the congregation. But maybe it is ok while seated during the homily/sermon, even if it is not ok during prayers or while standing? What do you think?
    It’s relatively common in my experience, and not something I worry about. I can assure you that if I have a solo, I want a water bottle handy. I would only use it when seated, and I wouldn’t use it during a prayer or or Scripture reading. I think most take that approach.

    At our place, we actually have reusable water bottles for the choir, which provides some uniformity. They’re not as big as some water bottles, and they’re navy blue, so not brightly colored or multicolored.


  • Lamb ChoppedLamb Chopped Shipmate
    Lots of people have physical reasons to use water bottles, ranging from solos to allergies that cause a scratchy throat. I'd much rather someone bring s water bottle when needed than forgo it for fear of distracting me. There are far worse things in church that could do that!
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    Zappa wrote: »
    Personally I would argue this is generally unnecessary, outside the tropics. An affectation.

    Affectation be damned.

    If the throat is scratchy or the mouth dry a sip of water is a must; not good to screw up a note whether a soloist or not. The climate has bugger-all to do with it. I’ve needed a drink at 40C ( try Xmas in Oz when fully robed) and also when it’s as cold as the proverbial frog’s tit, especially if on the tail end of an URTI.

    Certainly the need to hydrate gets greater with age as the mouth dries out more readily. And there is always somwhere to conceal a 500 ml bottle.

  • BlaiseinLondonBlaiseinLondon Shipmate Posts: 24
    Priest here. I would far prefer a choir member to be comfortable than to be in that horrible situation of desperately trying to contain a cough (which always results in later explosions, ime!). I also sometimes need a drink during a service. The bottles that I've found most useful are those with a built-in straw - they enable one to be fairly discreet.
  • PuzzlerPuzzler Shipmate
    I am often glad of the opportunity to take a sip of water during a service.

    My secular choirs do not allow water on the platform in a concert, which is a great struggle for me.

    I recently attended an informal summer concert where the choir were given rehydration breaks whilst their conductor talked about the next set of pieces.

    What I do hate is the clanking of metal bottles when they get knocked.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    BlaiseinLondon wrote: »
    Priest here. I would far prefer a choir member to be comfortable than to be in that horrible situation of desperately trying to contain a cough (which always results in later explosions, ime!).
    Or endless throat-clearing.

    Puzzler wrote: »
    What I do hate is the clanking of metal bottles when they get knocked.
    Which is one reason the water bottles that have been provided for our choir are plastic.

  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    A-bloody-men
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    BlaiseinLondon wrote: »
    Priest here. I would far prefer a choir member to be comfortable than to be in that horrible situation of desperately trying to contain a cough (which always results in later explosions, ime!). I also sometimes need a drink during a service. The bottles that I've found most useful are those with a built-in straw - they enable one to be fairly discreet.

    A sensible and charitable approach.

    I've once or twice been to a service where the priest had a glass of water discreetly placed on the altar, as well as one in the pulpit or near the lectern. Given the amount of speaking a priest might have to do during a 'normal' Eucharist, this can hardly be seen as unreasonable.
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    I'd say that nowadays it's completely common for choir members to have and use water bottles. Of course, discretion is always appropriate. Considering some of the things young parents bring into the pews for their children to eat, drink, and do (toys), a random, occasionally witnessed water bottle is the least of distractions, LOL.
  • DoublethinkDoublethink Admin, 8th Day Host
    Considering eucharist was originally a meal, having water for the table seems reasonable.
  • Jane RJane R Shipmate
    As several other people have said, if you want the choir to sing without coughing you'd better let them have water. Especially if you want to use incense in the service. We're not robots.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    A lady in a choir I used to sing in had a rather cleverly discreet water bottle, plastic with a built-in straw (which I think doubled as a closing mechanism). As I recall, it was almost small enough (maybe about 250ml) to fit in a big cassock pocket.

    As it also fitted neatly in the book slot, it was easy enough to sneak a swig unnoticed.
  • Leorning CnihtLeorning Cniht Shipmate
    People do all kinds of things. I've seen members of the congregation walk in with a large cup of coffee, and sip their coffee throughout the service. I wouldn't do that.

    If you need to sip water to maintain your voice, do it discreetly, and I don't see a problem. I don't think you need to go to the extent of wearing a Camelbak under a cassock, though.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    Often times, with a previous pastor, he would get all choked up in the middle of a sermon--and he did not have any water nearby.

    Current pastor always has a water bottle nearby.

    So much better.

    If pastors need water,

    Not surprised choir members also need water.
  • PomonaPomona Shipmate
    Zappa wrote: »
    Personally I would argue this is generally unnecessary, outside the tropics. An affectation.

    Did the recent multiple heatwaves in Western Europe pass you by? Preventing heatstroke is not an affectation.
  • PomonaPomona Shipmate
    Leorning Cniht wrote: »
    People do all kinds of things. I've seen members of the congregation walk in with a large cup of coffee, and sip their coffee throughout the service. I wouldn't do that.

    If you need to sip water to maintain your voice, do it discreetly, and I don't see a problem. I don't think you need to go to the extent of wearing a Camelbak under a cassock, though.

    Why is coffee a problem? It's normal for students to have a hot drink with them during a university lecture, and a church service would seem to me to be a similar environment. Obviously be careful of soft furnishings etc but I don't see why a coffee is offensive.
  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    If I were a drinking person, I may have just had something a little stronger than water, or coffee.
  • TheOrganistTheOrganist Shipmate
    @Gramps49 I'll drink to that 🤣
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    As a warden, I often had to finish the wine left in the chalice; the last part of the service was often more enjoyable than the first.
  • HarryCHHarryCH Shipmate
    It seems to me that this naturally leads to discussing whether members of the congregation may have water bottles.
  • DardaDarda Shipmate
    A few weeks back, in our southern England heat wave, one of the congregation fainted from heat / dehydration. Since then it has been announced at the beginning of every service that water is available at the back of the church, and we should feel free to remain seated during hymns, or parts of the liturgy where we normally stand, if that makes us feel more comfortable.
  • The_RivThe_Riv Shipmate
    "For I was hungry, and you gave me food at the pot-luck after confirming that I actually brought a dish to share, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, but told me I had better be discreet about it."
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