FROM THE LOFT...

With the advent of the fall season, a whole new set of opportunities begins. You will shortly be receiving the Music Kalendar which lists all music programming through the end of Epiphany, 2003. There will be several items to note when you receive it.

First of all, I am pleased to announce that our Choral Evensong/Organ Recital series continues with three offerings throughout the year. In addition to the choral music, each Evensong will be officiated by a priest from around the Diocese and short organ recitals, given by area organists, will close the services. As always, a tea and sherry receptions follows.

In addition to the Evensongs, there will be two extra musical offerings; one in Advent and the other in Lent. Most of you are familiar with the service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas. What you may not know is that there is also a Lessons and Carols liturgy for the Advent season. On Sunday, December 8, we will offer such a liturgy; a service of readings, carols, motets and candlelight. Please plan on making this service part of your Advent preparation.

In Lent, we will offer a service of Compline followed by a short offering of music for Passiontide. Compline too may be an unfamiliar office for you so please plan on keeping Sunday, April 6 as part of your Lenten discipline.

However, the most notable addition to the Music Kalendar will be the institution of a Choral Eucharist once a month. Over the last year, the choir has occasionally presented portions of the mass ordinary (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) during the 10:00 Mass. Beginning in October, one Sunday each month will offer a full mass ordinary (minus the Credo) sung by the choir. This is an exciting opportunity not only for the choir but for you in the congregation as well. Instead of relegating these pieces to the concert hall where they most often reside, we will be offering this music as it was originally intended; within the context of the liturgy. And it seems that we will be the only parish in the diocese offering such a worship experience on a regular basis! And please don’t think of this as something being taken away from the congregation. Everything else will remain as usual and the remaining three or four Sundays each month will continue to use congregational mass settings. Think of it instead as a way of enriching our worship experience, of proclaiming our faith in an artistic voice and uniting with the centuries of Christian worship that have come before!!

Please remember that Music at St. Nicholas is funded by private individuals such as yourself. If you value the witness and evangelism such a program provides to our Parish and our greater community, please consider becoming a supporter of Music at St. Nicholas. I thank you for your support.

Erik W. Goldstrom

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SUNDAY CYCLE

The Sunday Cycle is an idea that seems to have become a happy part of life at Saint Nicholas. The idea was to offer something after most 10:00 am Sunday Eucharists. The Cycle was intended to include a fellowship buffet, a Forum with presentations by either the Rector or guests, a music emphasis, and a day for light refreshments and visiting.