Be A Disciple: Serve in the Festival Choir

Have you been listening to the sermons about the Six Marks of Discipleship and wondering where you might be able to serve at St. Mark's? Perhaps you could serve by singing in the Festival Choir! Our committed group of singers meets in the music suite on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 where we rehearse to support the church's song. In addition to the hymns and liturgy, we learn a repertoire that covers a a wide variety of music: plainsong, renaissance polyphony, English cathedral, music from the German tradition, spirituals, and music by living composers.

The choir sings each Sunday, alternating between the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. (On major feast days, we sing at both services.) We're on our summer break now, but rehearsals will begin August 26th so that we will be in place for Rally Day.

If you are considering joining the choir and have questions, contact Tony Cruz or any choir member.

Photo: The Festival Choir annual Advent photo from 2008 by Bill Daugherty

Sewanee Church Music Conference - A Taste of Things to Come

Many of you have heard me say what I believe our lives will be like once Jesus returns to establish his kingdom on earth. It's a glorious vision of choir practices by day and concert and worship services by night! That's part of the appeal of the Sewanee Church Music Conference at the University of the South in Sewanee Tennessee - because they already live that way! (Many of you will remember that this is where Nancy R. -who grew up at St. Mark's - went to college.

A good part of the day was spent in rehearsals with Thomas Foster (Parish Musician at Epiphany Episcopal Parish in Seattle Washington) and Dr. Janette Fishell (Professor of Organ and Chair of the Organ Department at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University). The purpose of these rehearsals was to prepare for a Friday Choral Evensong (vespers) and a Sunday Morning service of Eucharist. My favorite piece was "If Ye Love Me" by Philip Wilby. I've ordered it for our choir and believe it will become a staple of our repertoire. (The piece is available on ITunes if you'd like to give it a listen.)

All Saints Chapel on the University Campus is an incredible space for choral music, especially when that music has been prepared by 120 musicians dedicated to leading the best worship possible. The church seemed full of our Magnificats and Glorias in a way that can't be described. It was uplifting and worshipful in a way I simply cannot describe.

There were also workshops to attend on Psalm singing, organ performance, choral techniques, and more.

I have attended this conference before, but the last time was in 2003. Still, I was able to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. There were several people from Jacksonville that I knew, including one of my former organ teachers.

Until Jesus returns, it's nice to get away to the Sewanee Church Music Conference now and again!

If you would like to see more pictures, they are available on my FaceBook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028678&id=1473301698&l=10b6205de7

Pictures: Me with Russell, Lawrence, and Chip. Me with Fay L. and Bill P. (my former organ teacher), an inside view of All Saints Chapel.

June 7, 2009 at 5:00 pm Church Music Celebration!

The Church Music Celebration marks the end of the rehearsal season for most of the music ensembles at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. To mark this important time, all of our musical ensembles gather to present their favorite muscial pieces from the previous year. This means there will be music from all liturgical seasons and in a variety of styles. You'll hear The Festival Choir, Kingdom Choir, St. Mark's Ringers, Alleluia Ringers, Renaissance Men, and The Behind the Pulpit Ensemble. This year there will also be a special appearnce by Eric and Ellen Olson from the San Marco Chamber Music Society, St. Mark's newest musical ensemble.

This is an informal concert event and everyone is invited. Please invite your friends! We'll have time for fellowship and refreshments after the concert.

An offering will be taken to help build Lutheran churches in Haiti!

The Experience Youth Choir June 22nd at 7:30

The Experience from Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC

Each summer this group of young people takes a summer tour. In all, about 80 youth and adults make the tour as they share the good news of Jesus Christ through contemporary music, signing, technology, and drama. The group is directed by Mark Glaeser. Many will remember their visit to St. Mark's several years ago.

The concert is free and all are welcome! An offering will be taken to help the group cover expenses of the tour.

Everbody is invited to this concert! Please plan to come and invite your friends!

Music 101: Learn The Basics of Reading Music

Do you ever open Evangelical Lutheran Worship on Sunday morning, see a hymn you don’t know, and have difficulty participating in the singing? Do you wonder why we bother to print the music for psalm refrains and psalm tones? Do you think all of those lines, circles and stems above the lyrics are a secret code forever lost to you? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Music 101 might be for you!

Music 101 teaches the basics of reading music from rhythm to notes in a fun six-week course. It is designed for the novice music reader to make your worship and musical experiences easier and more meaningful. The class will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning June 10^th, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Location to be announced.

Each session will also include a Church Music Appreciation module with a different topic each evening.

There is no charge and the class is open to all interested participants from St. Mark’s and the community. Feel free to bring a friend. Each class will build on information from the previous class, so make-ups will be available if a class is missed.

Contact Tony Cruz to register.

The San Marco Chamber Music Society Features Ruxandra Marquardt Sunday April, 26th at 7 PM

Ruxandra Marquardt

This concert features Ms. Marquardt playing the Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor by J.S. Bach

Other works include: Fantasy Quartet by E.J. Moeran (Eric Olson, oboe)

Music by Telemann

A surprise world premiere!

The concert is free and all are invited!

Holy Week 2009 at St. Mark's

Holy Week began with the Palm Sunday procession from All Saints Episcopal Church with All Saints and Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The handbell choirs from the three churches joined together to play the prelude, then we processed around All Saints singing "Ride On, King Jesus."
Wednesday brought the conclusion of the "Stones" series preached by Pastor Dow and Pastor Peacock for our midweek Lenten worship.

Maundy Thursday began with Confession and Forgiveness, followed by a footwashing service, Holy Communion, and the stripping of the altar.

Good Friday saw a Stations of the Cross service at noon, and a living Stations of the Cross in the nave at 7 p.m. The latter featured actors in biblical dress reenacting the stations of the cross in tableau with music by the Festival Choir.

Saturday night was the Easter Vigil which brought the display of six panels depicting the six lessons from the Old Testament that we heard that night. The "Creation" panel was done by students and graduates of St. Mark's Ark. The "Flood" panel was done by the One Light Singles' Ministry group. Lauren S. did "Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones." Thanks to all of our artists, and to Bob W. for building the panels and hanging them. Music for the service was done by the Renaissance Men, St. Mark's Ringers, Kingdom Choir, and the Festival Choir.

Easter Sunday featured accompaniment of the hymns by organ and the Lion's Brass. The St. Mark's Ringers played Michael Helman's "Variations on Hyfrydol," and the Festival Choir sang Randall Thompson's "Alleluia."

Christ is risen indeed!