Every 10 years, former Credo Choir singers come back to First United Methodist Church of Denton for a reunion. And at some point during the reunion concert, singers can look across the risers and see someone crying.

“At every one I’ve been to, you look over and see someone with tears streaming down their face,” said Susan Cooksey, a member of the church and former member of the teen choir. “There’s still that strong feeling about the choir.”

The former members join the current choir to do what they did when they were teenagers: laugh, sing and maybe — if they’re lucky — hear joy that comes deep from the soul. The “40-ish” Credo Choir Reunion starts Friday and continues through Sunday. The group calls the event its “40-ish” reunion because the group was formed in 1968.

“You could come to be a member of this group called Credo, not because you were a great singer, but because you wanted to be with people your age who were experiencing the same things you were,” said Sue Watson O’Neill, who sang in the choir from 1970 to 1976. Her daughter has been in the choir, too.

Credo is Latin for “I believe,” and the young singers explored their religious belief in song. They toured the state and the country — often in an old yellow bus with no air conditioning and wooden boxes of choir robes strapped to the roof. There are more than 600 alumni of the choir.

Former members said the choir was more than a place to sing. In Credo, teenage Methodists could explore their faith and learn to be part of ministry, they said.

It’s harder for the alumni to explain exactly why they still come back to the church to sing their old favorites.

“I’m not sure anyone could really answer that,” O’Neill said. “I know that it was so important during those years. The relationships and the chance to really grow in my faith, it meant more to me in my life than I can really say.”

The organizers said there are 20 adult members of the church who were in the choir as teens.

“Part of the strong attachment was what was going on in our world at the time,” said Cooksey, who is on the planning committee for the reunion. “Denton High School was integrated … there was Vietnam, women’s lib, the pill. There was so much change so fast. The choir was a place at the time where teenagers could express all that, all the things they thought and felt about that, and still be supported.”

Nelda Evarts, a church member and reunion planning committee member, said Credo rehearsals and tours also gave teens a refuge from the hostilities that were an inevitable part of the change during that time.

“Credo was a bridge over troubled water, and that was even one of our numbers when we toured,” she said.

Evarts said the choir — and all of the programs for youth and teens — was an integral part of the ministry of the church. It still is.

“This has always been strongly supported by the leadership of [First United Methodist Church],” she said. “And, really, it’s supported by the whole church.”

Cooksey said the choir was an important social outlet for teenagers, and the choirs produced close-knit friendships.

“There are so many things now that teenagers can do that you couldn’t do then,” Cooksey said. “Now we have women’s sports — we didn’t have that then.”

“And the activities weren’t as competitive as they are now,” Evarts said.

One of highlights of the concert this year will be an original piece by Dale Peters, the organist of First United Methodist. The piece, “Confrontation,” is based on a word puzzle that, when read one way, says: “We challenge because truth is false,” and “Our tradition, we believe without questioning.” It can also be read as a single declaration: “We challenge our tradition because we believe truth without questioning is false.”

The reunion begins at 1 p.m. Friday as former choir members register and gather. A rehearsal and talent show start the first evening. The singers rehearse on Saturday, visit and have dinner and then perform a concert at 7 p.m. that night. On Sunday, the reunion choir will sing during the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services.

The committee expects about 100 people to return for the concert and worship services.

The former choir members don’t return for a concert alone, they said, but to remember the energy and zeal they experienced as teenagers.

“People ask you what you want on your tombstone,” Cooksey said. “I only want one word: Credo.”

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com.

‘40-ISH’ CREDO CHOIR REUNION

What: Reunion concert weekend for former members of the Credo Choir at First United Methodist Church of Denton

When: Nov. 27 through 29. A concert will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 28.

Where: At the church, 201 S. Locust St.

Details: For more information, call 940-382-5478 or visit www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22375563895.

CHOIR SELECTIONS

The reunion choir will choose from its tour and worship repertoire for the reunion concert. Among them are:

“O Love How Deep How Broad How High,” Carl Schalk

“Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace,” Mary McDonald

“Shine Down,” Mark Brymer

“Credo,” Margaret Marshall

“My Eternal King,” Jane Marshall

“The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” John Rutter

“How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place,” Johannes Brahms

“Fight the Good Fight,” John Gardner