St. Paul “Christmas Pops Concert”: Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm

St. Paul “Christmas Pops Concert”: Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm

The St. Paul Adult Parish Choir will present our annual Christmas Pops Concert on Sunday, December 4 at 2:00pm at St. Paul Church.

This year’s concert will include a beautiful Advent Cantata “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” by Bach with Chorus, Soloists and orchestra under the direction of Mary Lee Cirella. Concert will also include some well-loved John Rutter carols old and new and a wonderful Festival First Nowell by Dan Forrest Including the Congregation.  Join us on a Sleigh Ride and Let It Snow.

Come as we begin this Holy and Joyful Season!

Attention Young Singers and Families: Join the Christmas Youth Choir

Attention Young Singers and Families: Join the Christmas Youth Choir

Our 21st Annual Christmas Youth Choir sign-up and first rehearsal will take place Sunday, October 30: 11:15-12:15 AM. Participation is open to all St John and St. Paul parishioners in Grades 1-8.  Teens in Grade 9-12 are encouraged to participate as assistants – Community Service and Confirmation Credit hours/credit are earned. Adult Family members are invited to join our Family Mass Musician Group for Christmas Eve. Attendance at rehearsals is required.

7 Rehearsals will take place on the following Sunday mornings (rehearsals do not conflict with Sunday morning Religious Education)…

Sunday 9:00am Family Mass Music Opportunities

Sunday 9:00am Family Mass Music Opportunities

Children and adults blend voice and instruments to praise the Lord and enrich our Sunday 9:00am Family Mass with upbeat, child-friendly, hand-clapping hymns.  We rehearse each Sunday Morning at 8:30am in the church to prepare for that day’s 9:00am Mass (no need to commit to every Sunday), and we also prepare special liturgies for Grade Level Masses, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter.

All ages, Grade 1 and older, are welcome! We are always seeking new singers and instrumentalists to join our ranks. 

Our first rehearsal and Mass is Sunday, September 11 at St. Paul – rehearsal at 8:30am and Mass at 9:00am…

St. Paul Adult Choir

St. Paul Adult Choir

St. Paul Adult choir will be resuming their Music Ministry after the summer vacation. Rehearsals are Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:00pm in the church and we sing at the 11:00am Mass every Sunday. 

The first rehearsal is Thursday, September 8th and we will sing our first Mass on Sunday, September 11th.

We welcome new members to come and be a part of this wonderful Ministry. If you love to sing come join us. He who sings prays twice.

Music Update: Goodbye Chelsea…

Music Update: Goodbye Chelsea…

It is with great excitement and simultaneous sadness that we say goodbye this weekend to Chelsea Whitaker who has been with us as a collaborative musician for more than 5 years. Chelsea has been given a full-time coaching position with Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.  Chelsea was a Doctoral Student at New England Conservatory of Music and after her studies joined the faculty there. Eastman is very blessed to have her, and NEC will miss her. 

Being the constant professional she has always been, Chelsea connected us with an incredible student of hers currently in the Masters of Collaborative Piano program at NEC. His name is Michael Banworth and he will be joining us in the fall…

Attention Young Singers! Easter Youth Choir at St. John

Attention Young Singers! Easter Youth Choir at St. John

Children in grades 1-8 are invited to participate in the St. John’s Easter Youth Choir. High School Assistants are welcome and receive confirmation credit. Adult family members are invited to join as well and will sing with our Family Mass Musicians and the children on Easter Sunday. Sign up and first rehearsal is 3/13. Registration closes Sunday 3/20. 

There are 5 rehearsals: 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3 and 4/10 11:15-12:15 in the St John’s lower level Chapel.  

The children will sing at the 9:00 AM Family Mass at St John’s on Easter Sunday April 17, 2022.  For more information and to register contact Maria Wardwell…

Sunday, December 5 at 2pm: Christmas Pops Concert at St. Paul

Sunday, December 5 at 2pm: Christmas Pops Concert at St. Paul

The St. Paul Adult Choir, directed by Mary Lee Cirella, is pleased to announce that the Christmas Pops Concert is back! The program will open with the joyful work Te Deum by Mozart. The Te Deum is one of the ancient prayers of the Church and a joyous hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God for all of His help in this difficult time. There will be a group of inspirational works in remembrance of our loved ones as well as Christmas Carols, old and new, accompanied by orchestra, harp and organ. With special guest soloist, Fr. Jim Laughlin! Donations to the St. Paul Music Program will be gratefully accepted.

Christmas Youth Choir

Christmas Youth Choir

We are looking forward to the return of the Christmas Youth Choir (in its 20th year) that will sing at the 4:00pm Mass at St. John on Christmas Eve.

After further consultation with medical experts, and cognizant of the recent example of our SJS students safely participating in school choir activities before the availability of vaccinations for this age group, we are modifying our protocols for the Christmas Youth Choir. While vaccinations are certainly strongly encouraged when medically appropriate, they will not be required for participation. We understand that the decision of when and whether to vaccinate in this age group is a complex one.

We have been reassured by the data, and by the medical experts we have consulted, that the mask requirement is the most important thing we can do to reduce the risks for all involved. Masks are required for all in-person rehearsals and to sing with the choir on Christmas Eve.