The music ministry at St. John’s continues to be one of the most important areas of the church’s outreach, providing meaningful music for worship, opportunities for musical growth in choirs and private lessons, and creative events for all ages in the area of the arts.
This year we left our COVID restrictions and returned to the ‘new normal’ for worship and rehearsal. Our adult choir continues to fill the choir room on Wednesday evenings for rehearsal and offer choral anthems and solos for our 11 a.m. worship. We are grateful for the addition of two accomplished retired music directors/organists (Alan Strong and Brad Norris) to our congregation, allowing for a great variety of organ offerings and accompaniments during worship.
Our handbell choir rehearses weekly from September to May, and offers handbell anthems for our worship monthly.
Our choir participated in special services on Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday Solemn Choral Concert with Handel’s Messiah Part 2, Maundy Thursday, Music Sunday June 12, Choral Evensong for All Saints Nov 6 (Faure Requiem), and Lessons and Carols from around the world with a special reception on Sunday Dec 18. We celebrated Longest Night on Dec 21 after caroling to our shut-ins. We offered special music 30 minutes before our 10 p.m. Christmas Eve service on December 24.
Our children’s Music Camp was held the week of July 11-15 with over 30 children from our church and community participating. There were over 15 volunteer teachers and helpers from our church helping teach and support our camp this year, and we are delighted that the camp continues to grow in numbers each year. Our closing program packed the Parish hall with friends, family and congregation as the children offered their musical “Beethoven’s Bookworms”. Thanks to all who helped with this huge effort.
Our St. John’s Academy of Music (part of the Academy of Music in Norfolk) continues to grow with students taking private instruction in piano, guitar, voice and violin. Our spring recital was held on Saturday June 25 and the winter recital on Saturday December 10, with 23 students performing at each event. Our church sanctuary was filled with friends and family from throughout our community who support the efforts of each of our students. This is such a wonderful outreach for our church, allowing us to be known in the community as a place of music and fellowship. Lessons are taught in the Hoffman house second floor studio (the white house beside the church off our west parking lot).
Originally published in St. John’s Newsletter, February 2023.