Music
As evidenced by numerous references in the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, music is an important part of worship. Music allows us to join our fellow worshipers in praise and prayer; and to join “our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven” in praising God.
Here at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, we take seriously the role of music in worship. We sing hymns, the choir sings anthems, and the organist plays music, all chosen to support God’s Word for us. The music styles range from ancient to modern, all with a traditional approach such that it is accessible and meaningful to everyone.
Music in worship is led by the Saint John’s Choir. These dedicated volunteers rehearse weekly to provide their best effort towards meeting their leadership role. During the regular year, (September to May) choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m., after the Wednesday Night Dinner. In addition, there is a warm-up Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. During the summer months, only the Sunday 9:30 a.m. rehearsals occur.
We have a pipe organ. The church is also in possession of a three octave set of English hand bells. They, along with other musical instruments, are a welcome addition to our musical offerings.
Choirs have been an important part of Anglican worship since the very beginning, leading the psalms, hymns, and canticles in cathedrals and parish churches. St. John’s takes great pride in the high standards and legacy of our choral tradition. The foundation of this legacy began with it’s first boy’s choir in the late 1890s. This legacy continues in our several generations of volunteer singers that have made this choir the outstanding musical tradition that it is. More recently in the last few years we have been doing more to preserve the musical excellence and beauty in worship with the addition of our four choral scholars.
