It is now two weeks after Easter Day, and though not yet recovered from the Holy Week experience, or from a quick trip to perform in Maryland, I find myself immersed again in admin work, and the end of the season rapidly approaching. Amidst making plans for the choir’s joint Evensong with Christ Church-Andover IN Andover, our own Evensong on June 4, and an upcoming Service of Ordination, I am also already booking musicians for Christmas Eve, Lessons & Carols, and for Easter Day 2024. It is surprising just how much of my job is serving as a booking agent, both for outside ‘guests’ but also our core group of volunteers! Yet, how exciting it is when all of the planning and preparation actually comes together; planets line up, and the Spirit takes over. If I take a mindful moment and reflect on this, I realize that what I want to say in this article is quite simple — thank you!
Indeed, a very large Thank You goes to all who made the Holy Week and Easter Day services so meaningful and inviting. Many folks were involved, from the planning and preparation to the final execution, and I felt that the journey from Palm/Passion Sunday through Easter morning was offered with sincerity and had great impact both on those worshipping and also those participating. In particular, I’d like to thank the volunteer choir members and choristers, who so generously donated their time and talents. Many of the Parish Choir adults sang the entire Holy Week and Easter Day rota; those folks would have been ‘on duty’ in their vestments for approximately 16 hours that week (a part-time job!). After having sung on Palm/Passion Sunday, five of the eight young Choristers chose to also sing on Easter morning, and three of those five choristers sang both services— this is hardcore dedication at an early age! Or, perhaps they just wanted the food, which reminds me to thank Marie Johnson for once again snapping her fingers and creating an amazing Easter Day brunch between the services.
In closing, I’d like to list all of the volunteer singers who offered their time and talents during Holy Week/Easter, and to again say Thank You for a remarkable week together.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Jeremy
Soprano
Leslie Aitken, Melanie Blake, Mary Lou Burns, Juliet Hollenbeck, Jennifer Khudairi, Mary Ann Marcinkiewicz, Margot Young
Alto
Susan Almquist, Linda Davidson, Susie Kendall, Martha Lewis, Nelia Newell, Sara Post, Jenifer Tidwell, Jane White
Tenor
Allen Ernst, Corey Hollenbeck, Neville Lee, Frederick Spencer, Gabrielle Stott, Pierre Trepagnier
Bass
Ron Almquist, Bruce Glabe, Josh Reynolds
Choristers
Josie Bing, Reagan Clare, Katherine Cumming, Ilario Faienza, Caleb Keith-Lucas, Bennett Myers, Zoe Rossettos, Mags Valdini
