Music Ministry

 
GRACE NOTES NEWS FROM THE MUSIC MINISTRY BY PAIGE LONG, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC


What a blessing it is to do ministry here at St. James. With Father Stephen's guidance and leadership, as well as the support of the Vestry, the music ministry is ttriving! As J.S. Bach signed all his manuscripts, "Soli Deo Gloria" - To God Alone Be Praise.

The St. James Choir is growing in strength and in numbers. In addition to providing musical leadership during worship, as well as singing weekly anthems during the offertory, the choir presents special projects such as an annual Lenten cantata and an annual Messiah Sing. We are very thankful for our new choir robes which arrived last January. The choir is also a wonderful source of Christian friendship and support. We truly enjoy our ministry and each other!

The St. James Ensemble, comprised of instrumentalists from the St. James congregational family, continues to enrich our weekly worship. From harp and strings, to flutes, clarinets, guitars and even trombone, our gifted instrumentalists give generously of their talents weekly, as they provide instrumental accompaniment for the music of St. James Church. Musicians in the St. James Ensemble are Barbara Burton, Vicki Ehrhardt, John Feulner, Heather Friedman, Paige Long, Lee Powell and Tom Yuschok.

It is exciting to see new people worshipping at the "Living Water" service. Led by worship teams comprised of singers and instrumentalists, this service is visitor friendly and very inclusive, as we strive to reach out into the community. St. James Choir Accompanist/Worship Assistant Heather Friedman is providing musical leadership for this service. Although she is not active in the planning portion of this service, Heather provides vocal leadership and keyboard skills, assisted by Kelly Parsons. In addition, guitarist Rob Seegmiller, and flutist Tom Yuschok assist in leading worship for this service.

St. James Church was pleased to announce the appointment of the Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra as our new Orchestra in Residence. This 16 piece professional chamber orchestra, directed by Susan Pitard Acre, provides music for extended preludes and postludes, as well as beautifully enhancing the service music of select 10:15 festival worship services and events on All Saints Sunday, our annual Messiah Sing, Festival of Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, our annual Lenten Cantata, Palm Sunday and Mother's Day.

The music ministry strives to reach out into the community by offering many different kinds of musical expressions. With a choir of 50 voices, soloists and Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra, our 3rd Annual Messiah Sing filled the sanctuary with not only our own parishioners, but people from the community as well. Our bi-annual Dixieland Jazz Mass, led by PT Saverstrom and his Jass Band, is drawing many visitors from the community. St. James is also becoming known in the commuinty for our Festival of Lessons and Carols. The St. James Concert Series offers both sacred and secular concerts to welcome people to St. James. In addition, last February, in recognition of Absolum Jones Sunday, the Bethune Cookman Gospel Choir inspired us during worship and presented an outstanding concert late in the afternoon.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the St. James family and I pray that God uses his servants in the music ministry to bring people into a deeper knowledge and love of Him.

Please check out our website calendar for all of the upcoming special musical events.

Mrs. Paige Long, Minister of Music, is a seasoned church musician. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and Master of Arts Degree from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Experience includes adjunct faculty New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Massachusetts; Thayer Conservatory of Music, S. Lancaster, Massachusetts; choral director, organist, concert flutist, orchestral and chamber musician. She and her husband Jim have four children, Sean, Brett, Nicole and Jason, and one grandson, Lucas.

Weekly worship services include:

Sunday

7:45 am - Holy Eucharist - Traditional worship-Instrumental music during offering and communion - celebrated in the beautiful main sanctuary.

9:00 am - Living Water - Praise, prayer and preaching, led by worship teams - celebrated in the beautiful main sanctuary.

10:15 am - Holy Eucharist - Blended worship with choirs and instrumentalists - celebrated in the beautiful main sanctuary.

6:00 pm - Chapel Eucharist - Informal and casual service celebrated in the historic St. James Chapel.

Wednesday

8:10am - School Eucharist - Informal service for school community with student participation - celebrated in the beautiful main sunctuary.


Additional seasonal services during Advent and Lent.

Music at St. James Episcopal Church

Music at St. James Episcopal Church offers opportunities for people to join together in worship and song. God's gift of music helps us to lift our hearts in praise and prayer. Please join us for worship on Sunday and during the week. In addition, we strive to bring a variety of rich musical concerts to the local community. These concerts are free and open to the public. We pray this ministry will be a blessing to you and your family.










Friends of Music at St. James

Without the generous support of those who contribute funding for our special musical concerts, we would not be able to offer these wonderful concerts.

Freewill offerings help to defray only a small portion of concert expenses. Please consider becoming a Friend of Music by contributing to the St. James Concert Series. Your gift, in any amount, is an investment in our community. All gifts are tax deductble.

Checks should be made payable to St. James Episcopal Church with a memo marking Friends of Music.

For more information please contact:
St. James Episcopal Church
44 South Halifax Drive
Ormond Beach, FL 32176

Phone:386-677-0872
Email:plong@stjamesormondbeach.com