Music at St. John’s is most frequently experienced by the congregation on Sundays when worship includes preludes, chants, hymns, anthems, postludes, and service music. 10am Sunday Worship is led by a choir of singers and instrumentalists, with 4-9 voices, and instruments including guitar, accordion, flute, viola, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. On occasion other musicians, both young and old, share their music as well. The Service choir meets to rehearse for 45-60 minutes prior to the 10am service.
Once a month four additional choirs offer their musical skills to enhance our worship: three children’s choirs – Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st-3rd graders, 4th-8th graders, and a Chime choir for ages 4th grade to adults. Weekly rehearsals for these choirs happen in the context of Choirs Nights, from 6pm – 7:45pm 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. Creative activities are provided for children who have eaten but are not in rehearsal. To round out Wednesday Choir Night, there is either a 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. The Chant Circle gathers to sing simple, repetitive songs together. The Festival Choir comes together 5 times during the year to learn and present choral repertoire for presentation during 5 major Festivals throughout the church year. The choir gathers for 3-4 weeks of rehearsal prior to each Festival event – All Saints Sunday, Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday morning, and Pentecost.
On seven Fridays this 2025-2026 season, St. John’s hosts a 60-minute Open Mic performance opportunity on the 4th or 5th Fridays of the month beginning at 7pm. The cabaret atmosphere typically welcomes 8-12 performers per session, with a combined performer/audience totaling 10-15. Open Mic nights this season include September 27, October 24, January 23, February 27, March 27, April 24, and May 29.
On two Sunday afternoons this program season, we’re hosting a seasonal Evensong in the Chancel (under the organ pipes in the Sanctuary): an Advent Evensong on November 30 at 4pm, and a Lenten Evensong on February 22 at 4pm.
Finally, we host our annual Service of Loss and Remembrance, this year on Sunday, December 7 at 4pm. This candlelit service is one of bottomless beauty and continues to hold a significant place for many in this community.
The mission of the 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.
I hope you’ll join St. John’s Music Ministry in making a Joyful Noise. It’ll be good for you and good for the community!
For more information or questions about Music Ministry at St. John’s, please contact:
Wendy Smith, Pre-K, Kindergarten & 1st-3rd grade Choir Director
Aliese Hoesel, 4th-8th grade Choir Director
Chad Smith, Minister of Music
