Category Archives: Parish Choir

Each of you are owed an enormous treasury of thanks for all that you have done this past year as choir. Your continued contributions of time and talent are evident when you come together. Our liturgies are enhanced immeasurably by your devotion to the sacred art of music and vocal praise. Throughout the year the liturgies beginning with the First Sunday Choir, on Thanksgiving morning, the entire Christmas season, during the weeks of Lent, Easter and the weeks that followed, Fr. Tom’s weekend, and finally last week’s observance of the Parish Anniversary. Fantastic job everyone!

To the sopranos – Meg, Ann, Joan, Carmen, Margie, Eileen, Barbara, Barbara, Eva and Kelly… the alto section –  Sandra, Dede, Mary Jane, Jenny, Linda, Barbara, Joan, Marian, Deb… the tenors – Frank, George, Mark, Mike and Jason… the basses – Matt, Brian, Frank and Michael… Fantastic job everyone! Each of you are an essential piece in the beauty of the sacred art of music which fills your souls, raising your listeners into the presence of the Holy One. From a grateful and humbled Parish Music Director. . . Bless you!

Everyone is welcome to join our next First Sunday Choir on Sunday, November 2. No auditions required – just the desire to experience the joy of singing. Music for November’s First Sunday includes the gentle beautiful “Sanctus” from Fauré’s Requiem and the African American spiritual “Stealing Away”.  The First Sunday Choir sprouted up a couple of years ago with the sole aim of bringing together as many singers as possible at one time. With a designated day (First Sunday), singers budgeted their time and invested a small window of their time and energy into the joy of singing. The “one day, one rehearsal, one Mass” mantra came about. The thought was to keep commitment as snug as possible. This approach worked fairly well except that some singers wished to have more rehearsal time, devote more time to learning music resulting in boosted confidence. To that end we have added the Thursday evening rehearsal—the Thursday before the first Sunday. Below is the schedule of the Thursday Rehearsals and the First Sundays.

Hello All! My name is Kelly Meraw, and I am a parishioner, cantor and choir member here at St. John’s. On behalf of our music directors Larry Carson, Chris Holownia and myself I’d like to extend a heartfelt welcome and invitation to a new year of making music. Continue reading →

First Sunday Choir has ended for the season. Many, many thanks to those who joined with us in song, we were thrilled to have you with us. Please join us on Sunday, October 5 for our next FSC.
Sunday June 8 is Pentecost and our own Parish Appreciation Weekend. Any and all interested singers are invited to join us on this special day. It will be our final appearance for this season. We are preparing Thomas Goodall’s “The Lord is My Shepherd” (theme from the BBC series “The Vicar of Dibley”) and a song entitled “Alleluia” by Erik Gustafson, composed in honor of Boston Strong and premiered last month at the Boston Marathon Bombing Anniversary service in Boston. Please join our rehearsals at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1 and June 8.