A choir of angels was singing as I entered the Assembly of God Church. On the door was a sign that read, "Sweet Adelines parking only, all others will be harmonized."

The voices were singing a Christmas song. The only thing missing was a dusting of snow to shake from my scarf and shoes.

I had the pleasure of being a guest at the Oct. 14 evening rehearsal. The Coeur d'Alene Chorus Sweet Adelines are preparing for their Dec. 9 winter concert, "The Caroling of the Belles," and they are inviting all North Idaho women who love to sing to be a part of it.

I was greeted by a few very pleasant ladies. Co-director Melodie Hays of Hayden took me into a private room to see where my voice would work best. The Coeur d'Alene Chorus is a women-only four-part harmonizing group, like a barbershop quartet, so singers are tenor, lead, baritone (fondly referred to as "baris") and bass. Hays played the scale on a small keyboard as I sang along. My voice cracked on the higher notes, then found comfort in the lower ones. Her eyes lit up and she smiled as she told me I would be a bass, which is also her section.

The ladies fit me right in, front and center of the risers. We began with some easy stretches and vocal warm-ups. About 30 people were present, including some guests. I was given the sheet music to holiday favorites such as "White Christmas," "Silver Bells" and "Carol of the Bells," the latter a choir song I was familiar with from middle school. And I just jumped in. After a few rounds I was belting it out.

"Don't be scared," said bass section leader Randee Johnson of Coeur d'Alene. "We're a great group of women that were new at one time too, and just love to sing together."

All around me the voices were in impeccable harmony. If I was off a page or singing the wrong line, the ladies next to me were kind enough to help. The directors were enthusiastic, which was reflected like a mirror from the Adelines on the risers.

I may have been brand new to the group that evening, but I didn't feel out of place.

I was able to step outside of the chorus and watch them sing "Orange Colored Sky," a jazzy tune that the Adelines performed with expression and soul.

Hays said for her and many others, being in the chorus is an outlet. It's that "me" time that women need. No men, no kids and no stress. Just music.

"This is what I do for me," she said. "It actually makes me a better person for everything else that goes on in my life."

The singing is also rejuvenating.

"I work a pretty stressful job, and sometimes a lot of hours," Hays said. "When I get on those risers and, even though we are using energy and such, I am actually energized by the end of the night. I have more energy, even."

After the rehearsals on the risers, we all stood in a circle and held hands. The Adelines sang their motto song, "Harmonize the World." I didn't know the words, but I felt the sense of kinship and family.

"You'll make new friends, you'll have fun and you'll have the joy of sharing music with our community," said Sally Wallace, co-director and founder of the chorus. "It just doesn't get any better."

Wallace, of Coeur d'Alene, founded the Coeur d'Alene Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, in 1973.

"You let the stress go and give yourself a gift for about two and a half hours of singing and enjoying your friends," she said. "It just lifts you. You'll be full of endorphins when you go home."

I agree. I felt great when I left. Everyone was more than accommodating, the music was easy to slip into and I can't wait to do it again.

The Sweet Adelines Coeur d'Alene Chorus practices every Monday at 7 p.m. in the Assembly of God Church at 2200 N. 7th St. in Coeur d'Alene. The chorus presently has singers from age 30 into their 70s. The Christmas concert, "Caroling of the Belles," is set for Dec. 9 in the same location. Tonight they are having a big guest night, so stop on in and see what these melodious mamas are all about. You might even become one yourself.

Info: www.cdachorus.com