We will be celebrating the Feast of All Saints Sunday, November 4 with a choral mass at both the 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday Liturgies. The Parish Choir will be joined by an instrumental ensemble of strings, oboes and timpani for the triumphant "Missa Trinitatis" by W.A. Mozart. The Youth Choir will sing the anthem “Blessed are the pure in heart” also at the 8:30 Eucharist.

Speaking of the Youth Choir, Rozanne Fuller and Nancy Sherman are doing a fantastic job using the new Royal School of Church Music Curriculum. At the end of the year, this group of young choristers will receive their blue ribbons with crosses. It is not too late to join up! The Youth Choir meets Sundays at 10 am, following Sunday School. One of the events in the spring will be the Diocesan-wide Evensong, which will take place this year at St. Paul’s, Pawtucket, when we will be joined by choristers from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Please call Rozanne Fuller for information regarding sign-up, or show up at rehearsal!

Another 300th moment: On Sunday, Nov. 18, St. Paul's Parish Choir will sing the anthem, "Alles was ihr tut" (In all that you do, give thanks), written by the composer Dietrich Buxtehude, who died in 1707. Buxtehude, a great composer in his own right, was visited by none other than J. S. Bach himself. Bach had such esteem for Buxtehude that he traveled over 200 miles on foot "to comprehend one thing and another about his art." Another fine composer of church music, Jeremiah Clarke, also died in 1707 in London.

Mark your calendars now for the Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 9 at 6 pm. Choirs, instrumentalists and congregational participation all play a part in this wonderful time of reflection and rejuvenation.

We are always looking to expand our ranks. Please see me if you would like to become a part of our choral or instrumental ministry at St. Paul’s.