As I begin my 20th year at St. Paul’s, I look back with gratitude for all of the amazing people with whom I have had an opportunity of serving and sharing our spiritual journeys. I also look forward as I see a future full of possibility in this vibrant community of faith!

Through music, the emotions are touched (sometimes-hopefully!). Music can bid us come out of ourselves into communal fellowship and worship of God. (Out of the “me” and into the “we!”) Words can be enhanced and remembered more readily by being set to music, (as the Psalmists of old did) and the spirit of the listener can be moved to praise, reflection, action, or prayer. Music speaks in ways that words do not, or emphasizes words in ways speech alone cannot. Ideally music helps us to transcend self and come into the present moment and experience the presence of God.

Singing in choir/conducting a choir is a spiritual practice. Not only do we study the art of singing and music-making as a community, but also breath technique, vocal production, diction, tone, blend, etc. We also spend rehearsal time discussing the text and its meaning and what it means to be in a choir. The choir is a praying community who are striving to live into St. Paul’s mission statement and the baptismal covenant. Paul’s metaphor of “you are the body of Christ…” is lived out by the various gifts our musicians bring to the worship life of St. Paul’s, and by each of you for your support of each ministry of St. Paul’s.

Please let me know if you would like to become part of the music ministry at St. Paul’s or if there are ways we can help the worship to become more transcendent. January is a great time to join a choir! We have choirs for nearly every age! Please see me at coffee hour on Sundays or call me at 294-4357, ext. 106, if you are interested in joining.

At this time I wish to thank each of the Parish Choir members for sharing their time and talents, and being willing to stretch! We have a great group of musicians in each of our choirs who deserve high amounts of praise and thanksgiving! Thank you Ellen Abell, Walter Burrows, Tina Butler(choir librarian) Susan Cerullo(vestment chair), Jill Clement, Ryan Cranston, Gail Cyr, Camilla de Rochambeau, Rozanne Fuller, Marianne Goodrich , Jillian Couchon, Ninni Jacob, Nick Jorgensen, Mary B. Hall, Pete Haynsworth, Diane Hoffman, Dora Martorelli, Pat Petersen, Norman Poulin, Eleanor Ricci (sunshine chair),Diane Slader, and Tom Spink. Thank you Rozanne Fuller for ably leading these fine St. Paul’s Youth Choir members through the Royal School of Music program: Sophie Brown, Sarah Cavaleri, Sophie Chang, Meagan Frye, Chelsea Kuiper, Elizabeth Fusco, and Sophia Fusco.

And thanks to Nancy Sherman and Alicia Cranston for leading the cherubs of the St. Paul’s Children’s Choir: Pauline Change, Caleb Cranston, Aidan Horan, Bonnie Inverso, Stphen Landry, Sian Morgan, and Gianna Stewart.

Thank you to our instrumentalists Pat Petersen, violinist and violist and Jesse-Ray Leich, percussionist, who share their glorious gifts throughout the year, but also blessed us Christmas Eve by presenting the Mozart “Spaurmesse” with the Parish Choir.

And of course, thank you to parents and other family members without whose support these ministries could not exist. Thank you also for your pledges, which make the music ministry possible!

Thank you to St. Paul’s Hospitality Team: Jackie Gildersleeve, Ann Waring, Betsy Steinman, and Barbara Vollmar who prepared a splendid array for the “Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols.” Thank you so much for your exquisite presentation and gourmet delicacies!

Please join us for our annual Epiphany Evensong Sunday January 10 at 7:00pm in The Old Narraganssett Church! The Hospitality Team is preparing a glowing reception in the Belden Room. Please invite a friend. We hope to see you there!

Peace,