Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Festival Choir Annual Advent Photo

The Festival Choir's annual Advent photo was taken last Sunday, Dec. 21st. We rescheduled the photo three times due to various absences, but still weren't able to get everybody in. We missed Viki, Todd, Shirley and Katie. Thank you, as always, to Bill Daugherty, our very patient parish photographer. The festival choir alternates between singing at the early and late services (except on major feast days when we sing both services). We lead the church's song in hymnody and service music and generally prepare a musical offering (choral anthem) each week. Many of our members also participate in Bach Vespers services each year. The choir's literature is varied covering the range from Bach to Spirituals.
Membership is open to all singers of senior high school age and above. The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. (You will learn as you go along!) For information about singing in the choir, contact me by email or talk to any choir member.

Merry Christmas from the Kids at St. Mark's Ark

I was walking to the office today when I heard "Deck The Halls" being sung merrily from somwhere. I followed the sound to the San Marco room where I found children from the Ark, accompanied by Ms. Susan Reister, singing Christmas carols. I sat down for a round of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman. I returned a few minutes later to capture this video.

St. Mark's Ark is a preschool and ministry of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. For more information, please visit the website at www.classconnection.org./stmarksark.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Mystery and Marvel on Christmas Eve

St. Mark's has a long tradition of a service of music being sung before the 11:00 Christmas Eve Service. This year's service is titled "Mystery and Marvel." The Festival Choir will sing O Magnum Mysterium (Tomas Luis Victoria), Rosa Mystica (Sharon Elery Rogers), and Before the Marvel of This Night (Carl Schalk). The St. Mark's Ringers will play handbell arrangements of Divinum Mysterium ("Of the Father's Love Begotten") and Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella.
Mystery and Marvel begins at 10:30. I hope to see you there. Everyone is welcome!

A Visit From St. Nick (Part 1)


My new BFF, Bishop Nicholas of Myra (aka Santa Claus), stopped by to ask what I wanted for Christmas. I didn't hesitate to give him a lengthy list.

A Visit From St. Nick (Part 2)


". . .and I want three new singers on each voice part, twelve new ranks for the organ (including but not limited to French Horn and Festival Trumpet stops), 30 copies of the Augsburg Choirbook for the choir, a lamp for the Yamaha piano, and . . ."

A Visit From St. Nick (Part 3)

"That's a pretty long list, Tony. Tell me, have you been bad or good this year?"

"Well, Santa . . .I can explain EVERYTHING!"




Thanks to Bill Daugherty, Parish Photographer, for the photos. Thanks to Steve and Jenny Hicks for insuring Santa's safe arrival at St. Mark's!