Ten Things I Love About My Job at St. Mark's

Last Sunday was my ten-year anniversary at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. I came into the office on November 20^th, 2006 and played my first service on Christ the King Sunday.  This year Christ the King was on November 20^th so my calendar and liturgical anniversaries were on the same day!

In honor of these ten years, here are “Ten Things I Love about My Job at St. Mark’s.  A word of caution: this is not a “top ten” list and the items are not being listed in any particular order. So here is my list, with just a few words about each one.

One thing not mentioned in any of the ten items is how grateful I am for all of the people who have become a part of my life during this time.  Pastor Bob Hale, our Interim Pastor, is fond of saying the important thing about being part of a church community is building relationships.  He’s right.

So, here is my list:

NUMBER ONE: Evangelical Lutheran Worship

We dedicated the new hymnal on Epiphany Sunday and I have to say that I love it.  I appreciate the variety of Holy Communion settings and I love that the introduction acknowledges ELW as “a core rather than a comprehensive resource.”  This hymnal is one of the best ones on the market.

 

We dedicated ELW in January 2007 with this "sculpture." People came from the pews to get a hymnal and take it back to their seats.  It was easy enough at 8:30, but we had difficulty recreating it at 11:00! Photo by Bill Daugherty.

NUMBER TWO: WEDNESDAY NIGHT REHEARSALS

Sunday mornings are great, but they couldn’t happen without the hard work of singers and handbell ringers in the middle of the week.  I am by myself for a good part of the week doing the work of practicing, planning, and preparing, so I look forward to Wednesday night when I am actually surrounded by people!

A choir practice selfie from earlier this year.

NUMBER THREE: THE NAVE

We worship in a beautiful space that has incredible acoustics for singing and instrumental music.  Groups that perform here enjoy performing in our space. One orchestra director pulled me close to whisper excitedly, “This room makes them sound better than they are!”  We are blessed that the San Marco Chamber Music Society calls our nave “home.”

NUMBER FOUR: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Many know that I was baptized and confirmed Lutheran (American Lutheran Church). I moved here with my family in 1980 and we started attending church at NAS Jacksonville – where I also had my first two church music jobs.  I never had the opportunity to work for a Lutheran church until I came to St. Mark’s twenty-six years later!  That means I missed LBW (it had just started catching on the in the Wisconsin country churches) and the merger that created the ELCA.  I am proud of the work our denomination does and its perseverance in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am also happy to have returned to my roots.

The ELCA is known as the church of "God's Work. Our Hands." We observe GWOH Sunday each year with a Sunday of community service.

NUMBER FIVE: THE ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN CHURCH MUSICIANS

Every denomination has its association for musicians and I have been a member of many of them.  The ALCM has the best publications, the best networking, and it’s full of people who are willing (and anxious) to share their knowledge freely. Learn more about the ALCM at www.alcm.org.

NUMBER SIX: THE ORGAN UPGRADE

I am having such a great time with this upgraded instrument.  The original two manual Zimmer organ is still there, but the additions by Colby have vastly expanded the color palette of the instrument.  One of the best things was having Aaron David Miller dedicate the organ during a hymn festival. Read more about the upgrade in this older article from my blog: http://smljax.blogspot.com/2013/04/an-expanded-organ-for-st-marks.html

Aaron David Miller prepares for the festival.

These kids sang every hymn!

NUMBER SEVEN: FUNERALS

I was telling my sister about an upcoming funeral and she thought that might be a part of the job I wouldn’t like so much. The truth is I find great meaning in every funeral service.  Having been in this community for ten years, I have played services for people that I not only know, but I genuinely love.  It is a great honor to help the church commend its loved ones to God as they become part of the church triumphant.  Funerals are sad, I know, but the music and texts are so profound that I can’t deny the impact they have on forming my faith.  I hope the same is true for others.  My desires for my own funeral are laid out in my blog.  You can read that post here:

 http://smljax.blogspot.com/2015/04/its-my-funeral.html

NUMBER EIGHT: BACH VESPERS

When I was first told I would be expected to carry on the Bach Vespers tradition at St. Mark’s, I will admit that I was nervous.  Having never conducted an orchestra (except under very controlled circumstances in college), and not having many (okay ANY) major works under my belt, I knew I was in for a new experience.  I have to say that I find it extremely rewarding to present J. S. Bach’s music in the context of a Lutheran Vespers service.  I also have to acknowledge the vision of my predecessor, Jim Rindelaub. Without Jim, Bach Vespers might never have come to be.  This tradition involves members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and many singers from the community.  It is worth preserving.

Bach Vespers 2016

NUMBER NINE: WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENTS

We have a harpsichord that was built by our own members under the direction of Brian Stout (another one of my predecessors), a gorgeous Yamaha grand piano, shiny handbells from the Whitechapel Foundry in England, and a Zimmer/Colby 36-rank pipe/digital organ that people who should know say is perfect example of a hybrid instrument.  If the nave were a playground and our instruments were see-saws and monkey bars, we wouldn’t be able to keep the kids away.  These instruments lend their support as we sing the church’s song.

Our handbell choir on retreat.

NUMBER TEN: CONTINUING EDUCATION

About four years ago I started working on a Master of Arts in Church Music degree through Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH.  This has been a time consuming and costly endeavor, but I have enjoyed great support from the folks at St. Mark’s.  The program at Trinity is such a perfect fit and I am learning much from it.

Some of my friends from Trinity on campus last summer.

There is a quote, attributed to Confucius that keeps showing up in my social media newsfeeds: 

Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.

Every time I see it, I think, “Yes, I’m already doing that.”

Thank you, St. Mark’s, for a rewarding ten years.