They've got the sheet music. They've got the technical and organizational expertise. They've got the professionals.

The only thing missing for St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church is you.

St. Peter's is searching for singers to join members of its choir for the Sunday, Dec. 17, production of Handel's "Messiah" at the church at 10 Delp Road, Lancaster. No auditions or prior knowledge of "Messiah" is required, but singers should be able to read music. Copies of the score will be available for purchase at the rehearsals, or singers can bring their own copy of the Novello edition.

"It's a group activity. You learn and get to make friends," said St. Peter's music director Tom Berdos. "It's a way to join with others and make a statement. Singing is physiologically healthy. It's a chance to work towards a common goal. It can be a real moving experience for some. It's different things for different people."

Berdos and St. Peter's have already secured 36 singers for the choir, but they'd like to add up to 60 more. On the day of the show, the choir will join with four professional soloists and a 24-member professional orchestra to produce the legendary oratorio.

Rehearsals will begin on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Peter's, and they will be conducted each Thursday - except Thanksgiving, Nov. 23 - up until the performance. Individuals interested in becoming part of the choir should email Berdos at tom.berdos@stpeterslutheran.org.

"We have a core group on our singer list," said Berdos. "We have a good start and a really good mix. We could do it with what we have now, but we're trying to open it up to the community. We want the community to enjoy it. I'm the kind of person who likes to get everyone involved. If I'd get 100 singers, I'd find a way to get everyone up there."

On the day of the performance, a final dress rehearsal will be conducted from 1 to 3 p.m., just before the start of the 4 p.m. show. It is during that time that the choir's skills will first be blended with the talents of the soloists and orchestra.

"The biggest job is to train the choir," said Berdos. "('Messiah' is) typically not easy music. It's going to take some work. But there are people out there who have experience singing. Experience definitely helps, although people who want to explore something new can try it."

Normally up to three hours long, "Messiah" has been shortened to 75 minutes for the St. Peter's performance, which will highlight the Christmas music portion of the oratorio. The Dec. 17 performance will mark the 20th time that Berdos has produced "Messiah," but it will be the first time at St. Peter's.

"It's like an opera without stage action," said Berdos. "It's about Jesus being prophesied. It talks about Christ being born. It's about Christ reigning. ... In Handel's day, he didn't write it for the purpose of worshiping, but he used biblical themes."