“Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace. Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise…” –Robert Robinson

We have a great season planned for the music ministry at St. Paul’s this year. The Parish Choir joined by the youth choir will be singing Michaelmas Evensong October 4 at 5:00pm at St. Paul’s. The Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols, December 13 will include St. Paul’s Parish, Children’s and Youth Choirs. All of the choirs will be singing services Christmas Eve with the Parish Choir singing a full choral mass setting. Taking part in the worship life at St. Paul’s in the Parish Choir is a great way of expanding your worship life, making new friends, and getting to know some great music of the church. If you would like to join the Parish Choir or play an instrument you would like to share, please contact me either at the music office at 294-4357, ext. 106 or by email (available on request) and we can schedule an audition. The Parish Choir rehearses Sundays at 8:55AM and Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm.

Both St. Paul’s Children’s and Youth Choirs follow the curriculum of the Royal School of Church Music, a tried and true method of learning to read music and vocal production. St. Paul’s Children’s Choir (1st through 3rd grades) rehearses Sundays after church school and sings periodically throughout the year. Please contact Director Nancy Sherman for more information. St. Paul’s Youth Choir will be singing in the 9:30 service the fourth Sunday of every month, and will rehearse Sundays at 10:45. They will also take part in the “All State Evensong” in April which is a great opportunity to meet other choristers from around the state. Please contact Rozanne Fuller for more information.

We had some wonderful worship moments in the ONC this summer thanks to some of our very talented musicians including Pat Petersen, Joe and Bonnie Smith, Gabi Scheff, and Rozanne Fuller. My thanks goes out to each of you for the sabbatical which I took during the month of May and part of June. I was able to work on a recording project, which I have dreamt about for many years. I recorded Austrian composer Anton Heiller organ works on the might 4 manual von Beckerath mechanical action pipe organ at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Editing and program notes still await attention, but I will keep you posted. Once again thanks for this wonderful opportunity.

Looking forward to a great year!