First Coast Ringers in Concert at St. Mark's on May 12th

The First Coast Ringers is a community handbell group that specializes in performing challenging handbell literature. Under the direction of Jerald Jay, they present music from a variety of genres. Many of the group's members are handbell ringers in their home churches. One member is a nationally recognized composer of handbell music with over 200 pieces in print. You will not want to miss this FREE concert!

Please invite your family and friends. After the concert, meet the members of the ensemble at a reception in Hart Hall sponsored by the St. Mark's Ringers and the Alleluia Ringers of St. Mark's.

The concert is Saturday Evening, May 12th, at 7:00 pm.

Celtic Vespers on April 29th at 6 pm

Although reference is made to “Celtic Nations,” it is generally understood that Celtic peoples lived in rather loose “tribal” groups that were not strictly bound by national boundaries. Generally, it is understood that there were seven Celtic nations: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Galicia (parts of Spain and France), Cornwall, Brittany, and the Isle of Man. Our service consists of music and texts related to these places.

By the early medieval period, Christian practices had become common among the Celts, although there was not an organized church by modern standards. Celtic Christianity worshiped a God who could be found in all of creation. God’s presence was known in the sea, the earth and the sky. It spoke of “thin places” where Christians could sense the presence of God’s Kingdom in a manner that didn’t involve the five senses of everyday use.

Saint Mark, author of the gospel that bears his name, is said to have preached about the same God in Alexandria, Egypt where he was the first bishop and also a martyr.

On April 29th the music and texts of Celtic Christianity and the message of Saint Mark will unite with the Lutheran liturgy of Vespers to present a unique worship experience: A Festival Celtic Vespers Service for Saint Mark’s Day.

Pictured is Bill Sloan who will play the bagpipes during a part of the service and for the reception following.

Ellen Olson Plays on Sunday, April 22nd

Violist Ellen Olson is a native of Long Island, New York. Ms. Olson began her viola studies at the age of 8 in the public school string program. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Hofstra University, where she studied viola with Olga Bloom. She continued her viola studies with Barry Lehr, Rebecca Young, and Patricia McCarty. Before coming to the Jacksonville Symphony in 1985, she was a member of the Puerto Rico Symphony. After 10 full-time years in the core of the JSO, she decided to change to part time to devote more time to motherhood, practice, and more soloistic endeavors. She performs regularly as a chamber musician in the Jacksonville area, including an annual recital benefiting Diabetes research. During the summer of 2001, Ellen served on the faculty of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC. She is also happy to have been a part of the faculty of the Prelude Chamber Music Camp in Jacksonville for the past 4 years. In October 2005 she performed the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Ruxandra Marquardt, accompanied by the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. She is married to JSO principal oboist Eric Olson, and they have an 11 year-old daughter, Gina.

Music for April 22, 2007 Easter 3

Easter is a season that lasts 50 days, culminating in the Day of Pentecost (this year on May 26, 2007). Our hymns and music continue with the themes of resurrection and new life in Christ.

The Entrance hymn is ELW 619, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” The writer of the poem (set to the tune Duke Street) was a member of the British Royal Navy who was wounded in battle in 1759. While he was recuperating, he heard a sermon by the great Isaac Watts and was converted to Christianity, eventually becoming the Pastor of a Baptist church in England.

The Hymn of the Day is ELW 384, “That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright.” Set to the tune Puer Nobis, it is a hymn that recounts the apostles’ encounter with their risen Lord and ends with a doxological stanza of praise.

At communion, we’ll sing ELW 535, “Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises,” a hymn of South African origin. The harmonies are traditional and the melody is easy, but the syncopation is a little unfamiliar to western-churched ears. The choir will sing the refrain and stanza one, then we’ll all sing the entire hymn in sort of a Lion-King-meets-the- Liturgy communion celebration.

Finally, the sending hymn is one whose text and tune might be unfamiliar, ELW 548, “Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen.” This is a modern hymn written by Susan Paolo Cherwien. Susan and her husband, David Cherwien, are well-known in Lutheran church music. She has eight hymns in the ELW hymnal and her husband is a prolific composer of organ and choral music.

At both services, Ellen Olson will play Arioso from Cantata No. 156 by J.S. Bach as the prelude. She will also play an arrangement of “Praise Ye, the Lord, the Almighty” during the musical offering at the 8:30 service. At 11:00, the Festival Choir will sing “The Lamb,” a song by George P. Coleman arranged by Mark Hayes. This piece of music complements the reading from Revelation 5:11-14.

A small but enthusiastic group met this morning to rehearse for the Celtic Vespers service scheduled for April 29th. If you would like to sing for the service, but missed the first rehearsal, please contact Tony Cruz right away!

Perhaps we will see the rest of you next Saturday!

Thank you to Bill D. for the photo!

Hallelujah Nuns

I could not resist sharing this with everyone. Enjoy! I'm ROFLOL!!

Special Invitation to Hear the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra

Laura Dwyer and Lynne Radcliffe, music education program managers for the Jacksonville Symphony Association, would like to invite you to a very special concert. Next week the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will present
Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2
“Resurrection”

Gustav Mahler took six years to complete his second symphony, subtitled “Resurrection,” in which he expounds on the life and death of the hero from his first symphony. It has been described as an overwhelming experience that addresses life’s biggest questions about death and the mystery of it all.
The Symphony Chorus joins the orchestra for the final, powerful movement:

“I am from God and will return to God!
Dear God will give me a light,
Will illumine me to eternal, blessed life!”

At the end of the Symphony, Mahler tell us, “an almighty love shines through us with blessed knowing and being.”

We hope that you will join us for this powerful, moving concert.

See Tony Cruz for information on obtaining tickets.

Southside Handbell Ensemble Entertains Lion's Pride

Today the Lion's Pride group was entertained by SHE - the Southside Handbell Ensemble under the direction of Valerie Stephenson, a nationally known handbell expert and clinician, as well as a composer with over 200 pieces in print.

The members of the group are (L to R): Peggy T., Valerie, Nancy F., and Carol C. The concert followed a pizza luncheon served in Hart Hall.

How Beautiful Are the Feet. . .

A request for all interested members of St. Mark's . . .for your shoes! Sunday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 18, Pastor Dow is asking for a special effort for donations for the South Jacksonville Rotary Club. In a few weeks, large containers will be sent to a third world country with two specially designed vehicles that can be operated manually by amputees. Cushioning for the vehicles will be as many medium sized practical shoes as we can gather. Please bring still-wearable shoes you don't need to pad the containers for the vehicles and provide footwear for many who would go without. A box will be in Hart Hall for your donations. You can call Pastor Dow for details.

Celtic Vespers is Coming

Celtic Vespers will be held at St. Mark's on April 29, 2007 at 6 pm. Singers from the community are invited to participate.

The hymns for the service are "Be Thou My Vision," (Slane) "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," (Hyfrydol) and "O Day of Peace That Dimly Shines" (Jerusalem).

Music for the service includes the music of John Bell from the Iona Community, Andrew Carter, and Douglas Wagner.

Vespers is the Lutheran service of Evening Prayer and we will sing the new setting from Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

Rehearsal dates are:
April 14th 10 am - 12 pm
April 21st 10 am - 12 pm
April 29th 3:30 pm with a light supper at 5:15

There will also be harp and bagpipe music.

Please contact Tony Cruz if your are interested in singing with us.

Holy Week at St. Mark's

The events of Holy Week began with Palm Sunday and included a communion service for Maundy Thursday, Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, and an Easter Vigil on Saturday. All of these events culminated on Easter Morning when we celebrated our Lord's resurrection.

Music on Easter Sunday included brass and organ accompaniment on the hymns:

Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing

The prelude was "Christ Arose," arranged by Cynthia Dobrinski and played by the St. Mark's Ringers.

The Festival Choir sang "Praise the Lord" from Judas Maccabeus by Handel.

The concluding organ voluntary was J.S. Bach's Christ Lag in Todesbanden.

The image above is the last station from the Stations of the Cross service. Pastor Dow led the service and the scripture narrative was beautifully read by Jane D. The stations are situated around the courtyard of St. Mark's.

We also debuted the Holy Communion Setting No. 2 from Evangelical Lutheran Worship.