Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Music Ministry Musings at St. Andrew's
Spring is in the air!
Throughout March the Lenten journey continues.
For Palm Sunday, the choir anthem will be Ride On, King Jesus and the offertory will be The Palms.
On Thursday, March 26th Rev. Wendy, choir, instrumentalists, readers and tech crew will be recording the Good Friday service for the CTV broadcast. On April 3rd, which is Good Friday we look forward to sharing this church service with the congregation in person, online and on CTV.
The Good Friday service is a special offering titled “Road to Calvary”. The service begins with verses from the 16th century German hymn “Ah Holy Jesu, How Hast Thou Offended”, then takes us on the road to Calvary, beginning at Gethsemane. We will witness the trial in front of Pilate, the scourging, carrying the cross, the division of garments, Mary weeping for her Son, the forgiveness of those who condemned Jesus and Jesus’ death. The service ends as it begins, with the final verses of “Ah Holy Jesu”.
The music ministry team have prepared six anthems, each one illustrating a place on the “Road to Calvary”. The first is Gethsemane Hymn, subtitled To See the King of Heaven Fall. It was written by an English Christian worship leader and hymn writer Stuart Townend (b 1963) and Northern Irish singer and songwriter Keith Getty (b.1974). Getty and Townend also wrote the popular contemporary hymn In Christ Alone. Townend is a very talented hymnist and we have included another of his anthems in this service "How Deep The Father's Love For Us".
The service also includes a solo titled “Lament”, which is taken from Welsh composer Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater (2008).
This service will be led by Rev. Wendy Paterson, the narrators are Paul Spencer and Paul Wilson. Instrumentalists for this service will be Michele Kyle on cello and Easton Page on percussion. Ann-Marie will be at the organ and piano.
The Easter service has already been recorded. On Easter Sunday, we present the service with the congregation, online and on CTV, as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection once again along with Christians all over the world. Special music on Easter Sunday includes two compositions by G.F. Handel. The anthem is Rejoice and Praise the Lord, from Judas Maccabeus and the postlude is the Hallelujah Chorus, from Messiah.
The handbell ringers will be playing the prelude and offertory on Sunday, April 12th with two familiar hymn tunes; Thine Is The Glory and Joyful, Joyful.
The 50th celebration of the Noon Hour Concerts returns on Wednesday, April 15th. Information about the performers is on the church website and posters are available in the church office. The last program will be on June 17th. Mark your calendar!
There is always room for more chorister or ringers in the choir, consider joining one of these programs. If you are interested, leave your name and contact information at the church office.
Ann-Marie MacDairmid
Director of Music
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kitchener