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Music Ministries at St. Paul’s engage the church and community. St.
Pauls music ministries encourage participation from the pews to the musicians
gallery, offering opportunities for all ages and abilities to make music to the
glory of God. We recognize the dynamic, affirming and worshipful act of music
making as a gift from God that unifies, inspires, delights, expresses, comforts
and challenges us. Music, along with all of our liturgical actions, shapes Gods
people to live lives worthy of our calling through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through
musical excellence, we proclaim the story of Gods mighty acts in all of
creation, we affirm the word and sacraments of the church, we nurture relationships
with God and one another and we open our doors to the world through our liturgies
and concerts. Everyone at St. Pauls actively participates in music making,
from the pews to the music gallery, in the celebratory act of praising and thanking
God.
Choral Evensong is a sung service by clergy and the
choir with a tradition steeped in the history of the monastic
and collegiate traditions of the Anglican Church. Following
the form for Evening from the Book of Common Prayer, the service
embodies the corporate prayers of those assembled on behalf
of Gods universe. Choral Evensong takes place on four
Sundays each season at 5:00 PM.
We make music to praise and thank God.
St. Cecilia Choir (Grade 3 through
changed voices) is an affiliate graded choir program of
the Royal School of Church Music training scheme, "Voice for
Life." The St. Cecilia Choir leads worship at the 9:00 a.m.
Sunday service from September through May. Advanced Choristers
sing at the 11:00 a.m. service once a month. Choristers meet
on weekly Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. (Blue levels) or 6:30
to 7:45 p.m. The choir gathers at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning
to prepare to lead the 9:00 a.m. service. Rehearsals begin
Wednesday, Sept. 9.
St. Paul's Choir (changed voices through adult) leads
the 11:00 a.m. Sunday liturgy from September through mid-June
in addition to Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday,
Holy Week, and Choral Evensong services. Advent Lessons and
Carols is sung on Advent III and a sung mass is presented
one Sunday in Lent. The Royal School of Church Music "Voice
for Life" advanced music skills are taught to interested choir
members at 7:00 p.m. each Thursday. St. Paul's Choir Rehearsals
are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by Choir Happy Hour. Service
preparation begins at 10:15 a.m. each Sunday for the 11:00
a.m. liturgy; 6:30 p.m. for weeknight services (9:45 p.m.
on Christmas Eve) and 3:45 p.m. for Choral Evensong. Rehearsals
begin Thursday, Sept. 10.
Gospel Choir (intergenerational) summer choir. With
the more relaxed pace of summer, comes the more relaxed summer
choir at St. Paul's. Music is hymn based and selected from
the Episcopal Church Hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
Singers gather around the organ console at 9:15 a.m. each
Sunday in advance of the 10:00 a.m. summer service. This is
a perfect opportunity for both eager and reluctant singers
of all ages to join together, leading the church's song. Gospel
summer choir is a great activity, not only for our regular
choir members, but also for those who want to know more about
music at St. Paul's and those who do not have the time to
make a full choir commitment. All are welcome to sing for
one or all Sundays in the summer.
Ars Choralis (adults) St. Paul's resident community
choir of up to 44 voices. Repertoire spans the timeless choral
music of sacred traditions. There are an average of ten Tuesday
rehearsals, 7:45 p.m. until 9:45 p.m., one sectional rehearsal,
and a dress rehearsal preceding two annual concerts at St.
Paul's. Voices audition from St. Paul's Choir and the greater
Washington, D.C. region. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Sept. 29,
2009 for the fall and Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 for the spring.
Good Shepherd Ringers (Grade 9 through adult) participate
in Sunday liturgies twice monthly, Advent Lessons and Carols,
and Christmas Eve at the 6:00 p.m. Each spring, the Good Shepherd
Ringers travel to Ocean City, Md. where they participate in
the two-day American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Region
III Festival. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 7:45 until 9:00 p.m.
Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 9.
St. Paul's Saints and Singers support the music ministries
of St. Paul's by offering logistic and financial support.
To support the ongoing work of the choirs within the church
and greater community consider making a financial contribution
payable to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with Saints and Singers
clearly marked in the memo line. Or, to volunteer to support
the logistics of the program contact Douglas A. Beck, organist
and choirmaster.
Musical instrumentalists from the congregation often
make melody to the Lord in liturgies with their musical instruments
as soloists, in ensembles and with congregational sing. To
offer your skill, express your interest to the organist-choirmaster.
2009-10 EVENTS
Sept. 25, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Saints and Singers Celebrate: St. Paul's Choir CD Release/Rector's
Birthday Bash
Home of John and Leslie Ariail
Nov. 1, 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong
The St. Paul's Choir
Dec. 5, 7:00 p.m.
Ars Choralis
Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Frideric Handel
Audience Sing-a-long
Dec. 13, 11:00 a.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols
The St. Paul's Choir, St. Cecilia Choir and Good Shepherd
Ringers
Dec. 20, 3:00 p.m.
Parish Family Concert and Blessing of the Greens
The St. Paul's Choir, St. Cecilia Choir, and Good Shepherd
Ringers
Dec. 24, 6:00 p.m. (Choral Prelude at 5:30 p.m.)
Christmas Holy Eucharist with St. Cecilia Choir, St. Paul's
Choir Women, Good Shepherd Ringers, and Parish Instrumentalists
Dec. 24, 11:00 p.m. (Choral Prelude at 10:30 p.m.)
Christmas Holy Eucharist with St. Paul's Choir, Instrumentalists
Jan. 10, 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong
The St. Paul's Choir
Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Organ Plus (Instruments)
Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Chapter
of the American Guild of Organists
March 12-14
Treble Choir Festival (combined treble choirs)
Holy Eucharist, Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
Choral Evensong, Sunday, 5:00 p.m.
March 21, 11:00 a.m.
Choral Eucharist
May 2, 4:30 p.m.
Handbell Choir Festival Concert
St. John's United Methodist Church
5312 Backlick Road, Springfield, Virginia
May 9, 5:00 p.m.
Choral Evensong
June 6, 10:00 a.m.
Music Ministry Sunday
July 4, 11:30 a.m.
Fourth of July Organ Fireworks

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