Think of summer break, and images of school-age kids riding bikes and diving into pools comes to mind. But talk to area church choir directors, and the term "summer break" takes on an entirely different meaning.

While church choirs traditionally go on hiatus in the summer, worship services continue, leaving many church leaders and choir directors with a musical void to fill.

Summer break is the time when the music leaders are left looking for musical talent to fill up summer worship services with song. It's also a time that allows them to branch out beyond the traditional and introduce a wide variety of talent to enhance the Sunday experience.

Serving in a church choir is "a huge commitment," said Nancy Rettig of Butler, chairwoman of the worship and music committee of Covenant United Presbyterian Church on East Jefferson Street.

"We practice every Thursday, and also Sunday mornings before the service, then sing during the service. So obviously, we are usually ready for a break," Rettig said. "It's very much a commitment. You give up a lot of your time. ... I'd imagine it would be difficult to have everyone there every week for the summer."

At St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church on West Jefferson Street, senior choir director Ralph Christy Jr. of Butler says the choir extended the usual season into mid-June by providing music for two services at VA Butler Healthcare.

"At St. Mark's particularly, it's a liturgical church, there is a lot of singing," he said. In addition to regular rehearsals, the choir also holds workshops throughout the year.

"The Christmas Eve service is pretty intensive," Christy said, "and they also sing at the Lenten services, and lead the congregation at the Wednesday evening service. I think they deserve a break," he said.

"I have never been at a church that didn't take a break for the summer," said Deanna Golden of Penn Township, music director for Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church on East Jefferson Street.

She said the summer choir break gives her the chance to branch out musically and draw from a wider pool of musical talent in the area, in addition to allowing choir members the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts to the worship service.

"The choir also has a lot of individuals who like to pair up for duets" she said. "They also have a lot of youth. We have a couple who play piano, another who plays clarinet and we're going to have her play before she goes off to college."

Golden, a vocalist, and her husband, a trumpet player, also teamed up for their first "official" duet, she said. Filling in the schedule for special summer music at Saint Andrews was "surprisingly easy," according to Golden.

"I am sure in most choirs, there is a core group that just loves to sing, and they miss it," she said.

Christy also said he has no trouble finding people to contribute music for summer services.

"We'll ask the individual choir directors, put it in the church bulletin and newsletter. We look for anything like soloing or playing an instrument." As the executive director and producer of Sing Hosanna!, Christy also calls on members of that choral group.

"I have also had some younger people singing. They bring to the church some styles of music that the congregation might not be used to hearing. The styles range from classic to contemporary, crazy zig to folk, to inspirational. We always put a line in the bulletin about the person and that gives some insight into the soloist who is coming in," he said.

While the churches draw heavily on their own members for summer worship music, they also look to the local community and beyond.

"What we do, we recruit various people," Rettig said of Covenant's summer music. "Sometimes it's people from our own choir, and they'll sing. Sometimes it's people from the community. Last year, we recruited World of Children to come."

The children's group performs in sign language to recorded music, she said. The church's choir director, Beverly Antis, works part-time in the music department at SRU, is a retired music teacher from Butler High School, and also works with BHS musicals. As a result, Rettig said, they have a deep resource of student musicians at hand.

"We've had students from Slippery Rock University. It gives them a chance to share their talents and the experience of singing in front of people." The church also has hymn sings in which the pastor selects five to six hymns, sharing the meaning and history of each.

Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople recently hosted Once Dead, Twice Born, a Christian drama and musical group from Louisville, Ky., as part of the town's Horse Trading Days. In addition to two outdoor performances during the festival, the group, mostly made up of teens, also provided music and drama during the church's two Sunday services. The visit was arranged through Park choir member Carla Adams, a former Louisville resident.

When it comes to the summer, all seem to agree the season offers a refreshing change of pace for congregations and choirs.

I do a lot of preparation for the year during the summer," Golden said. "In the stillness of the summer, when I am not trying to get something ready every week, that's when my creative juices start to flow."

Choir directors use their connections in the liturgical music community, not only to fill their own church's schedules, but occasionally help out their colleagues. She said Sunday's service at Saint Andrews will feature the men's quartet, Call for Faith. A member of the quartet is Golden's good friend, John Cooper, choir director of Faith United Presbyterian Church on North Main Street Extension.

"It is definitely a network of sharing musical resources as well as personnel," Golden added.

"It's not just beneficial to the directors. It gives them an experience of worship in another place, and their parishioners have a fresh face and voice to listen to."