The mission of the music ministry at St. John’s 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 during worship, in singing together and listening to musical offerings from Children’s Choirs, Chime Choir, Service and Festival Choirs, piano, organ, accordion, guitar, trombone, trumpet, viola, cello, and other musical instruments.
During the week, Children’s Choirs (PreK – 3rd grade), Chime Choir (4th grade and up), and seasonal Festival Choirs (middle school and up) gather for a meal and rehearsals on many Wednesday evenings from September to May. The choir meal is provided free of charge in support of the children and adults actively participating in making music and growing in community together. The meals are prepared by St. John’s volunteers not currently with children in the music program. All the choirs present their music in the gathering of the people during Sunday worship together and elsewhere.
Once a month (8 Sundays during the year) all children in attendance are welcomed to join music leaders to work on music in the library during one of the Sunday services and later may join the Children’s Choirs in their performance during the service.
At five times during the year – All Saints Sunday, Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday morning, and Pentecost – a larger collection of singers 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 has 60+ minute open mic opportunity beginning at 7pm. The cabaret atmosphere invites 10-12 performers per session, with a combined performer/audience total that averages c. 20.
On Saturday, November 18, St. John’s will host a music ministry celebration with a showcase concert featuring performances from the Chime Choir, pianists Abigail and Henry Clayburgh, clarinetist Shelagh MacLeod, and sopranos Aliese Hoesel and Ashley Sievers. The program begins at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Please come out to support these particularly wonderful humans and this wonderful program in this wonderful community of St. John’s!
For more information or questions about Music Ministry at St. John’s, please contact:
Wendy Smith, Children’s Choir Director
Chad Smith, Minister of Music
