Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Music Ministry Musings at St. Andrew's

Ann-Marie MacDairmid | Director of Music

April showers bring May flowers or should I say April flurries bring … snow and showers that will hopefully lead to May flowers.

Holy Week through to Easter Sunday is here and there are several services on the calendar.

On Maundy Thursday, we will gather with our neighbours from St. Peter’s to share an agape meal at 5:30 pm prepared by Andrew Hight and the young adults. Pastor Mark Ehlebracht and Rev. John Borthwick will lead the service with scripture, music and communion.

Good Friday will be the service 'Stations of the Cross' beginning at 10:00 am. This service will be led by Rev. Wendy and the narrators; Lynda Berg and James Ingram-Smith. The Good Friday service takes us to seven Stations, each one leading us to pray and think about Jesus’ last hours, as we hear a scripture reading and an illustration given by an anthem. Hymns and anthems will be sung by the sanctuary choir. The spiritual ‘Someone’s Walkin’ includes a solo by Morgan Ballantyne. The anthem ‘She Stood In Silence’ will feature the cello played by Michelle Kyle. I will be at the organ and piano throughout the service.

Easter Sunday begins with breakfast at 8:30 am followed by the 10:00 am service. The choir anthem is ‘Lift High The Cross’ and the offertory is ‘This Is The Day’. What a joyous time to celebrate the resurrection story!

On Sunday, April 27th we will recognize Earth Day. The choir anthem will be ‘The Heavens Are Telling’ from The Creation by Joseph F. Haydn.

The Noon Hour Concerts begin on Wednesday, April 30th. The series opens with The Doubtfires, a four piece band (vocals/violin/bass/drums/keys). In May, Damian Lirette will perform at the piano including compositions by Lirette, Sibelius and Chopin. Ryan Baxter continues the following week playing on the Casavant organ.

Anthems and offertories in the May church services will feature gospel music. It is a traditional genre in Christian music which emerged from Black and White American folk music traditions and has evolved over the years. Gospel music continues to form the basis of Black church worship and has become a form of musical devotion all over the world, in churches of many other cultural traditions, including Presbyterian!

Once again, we look forward to welcoming percussionist Easton Page. There will be lots of rhythm for the hymns, anthems and special music on Sunday, May 25th.

There is always room for choristers 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.

A fitting quote for Earth Day, especially related to music:

"The earth has music for those who listen."

This quote, attributed to William Shakespeare, suggests that nature itself is a source of melody and harmony, waiting to be appreciated by those who are attentive to it.

Ann-Marie MacDairmid
Director of Music