The ongoing mission of music ministry at St. John’s church, Linden Hills, is to facilitate and nurture participation in worship and in our common life together through music, inspiring vital community song, enhancing and amplifying the beauty of holiness, and growing the community of faith in solidarity and commitment.
Music at St. John’s is most frequently experienced by the congregation on Sundays when worship includes preludes, chants, hymns, postludes, and service music. 10am Sunday Worship is led by a choir of singers and instrumentalists, with 4-9 voices, guitar, accordion, viola, trumpet, and percussion. On occasion other musicians, both young and old, share their contributions as well. Service Choir Singers rehearse for 45-60 minutes on Sunday morning, while Service Choir Instrumentalists rehearse together from 60-90 minutes on Saturday.
Once a month four additional choirs offer their musical skills to enhance our worship: three children’s choirs – PreK and K, with 3-6 members; 1st-3rd graders, with 4-5 members, 4th-8th graders, with 4-6 members – and chime choir, with 16-20 members ranging in age from 4th grade to adults. Weekly rehearsals for these choirs happen in the context of Choirs Nights on Wednesdays. From 5:30 to 6:45 a meal is provided free of charge in support of the children and adults all actively participating in making music and growing community together. Meals are prepared and served by St. John’s volunteers currently without children in the music program. Additional creative activities are provided for children who have eaten but are not in rehearsal. To round out Wednesday Choir Night, there is either a Contemplative Chant Circle that meets in the Chancel from 7:45 to 8:30pm or the Festival Choir that meets in the Sanctuary from 7:30 to 9pm. At five time during the year – All Saints Sunday, Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday morning, and Pentecost – the Festival Choir draws a larger collection of singers that come together to learn and present wonderful choral repertoire for presentation during these major Festival service events.
On six Fridays from fall through spring, St. John’s hosts a 60+ minute Open Mic opportunity beginning at 7pm. The cabaret atmosphere welcomes 10-12 performers per session, with a combined performer/audience total averaging about 20.
St. John’s 2024-25 St. John’s Music Season marks the return of a 4th-8th grade singing opportunity as well as a new Contemplative Chant Circle. The 4th-8th grade Choir is expertly led by Aliese Hoesel. So far this season they’ve sung songs during community Worship services on September 22nd and October 13th. They sing next during our annual Gratitude Sunday worship on November 10th! The Contemplative Chant Circle meets from 7:45-8:30pm on the Wednesdays that the Festival Choir does not meet. The Chant Circle welcomes all that love to sing the simple, repetitive songs that we’ve been singing during the traditional Prelude spot during Sunday morning services – but in an evening setting. We sing these beautiful, simple songs together for 45 minutes in the singularly beautiful Chancel space up nearer the organ in the Sanctuary. There is nothing else but singing together – no eucharist, no sermon, and no expectation or requirement for participants to bring any previous singing experience or training. All are welcome – really.
We always need more singers and ringers in every ensemble. There is room for Y.O.U.!!!
**Special Thanks and extra credit to Caron Stebinger (Vestry Liaison to Music) for her help in the writing some of this report!
For more information or questions about Music Ministry at St. John’s, please contact:
Wendy Smith, Pre-K, Kdg & 1st-3rd grade Choir Director
wendyparquettesmith@yahoo.com
Aliese Hoesel, 4th-8th grade Choir Director
ahoesel@hotmail.com
Chad Smith, Minister of Music
chad@stjohns-mpls.org
