Michaelmas-tide 2004 Letter
Saint John's Church

Michaelmas-tide 2004

Dear Members and Friends,

I hope your summer was relaxing, restorative, and interesting. The autumn season promises to be busy and full at Saint John's and I hope you are ready to plunge in!

First, a word about our new brochure. Please take some of these new colourful brochures from the table in the church to give to people who are, or might be, interested in taking a chance on "church". As a first impression and brief introduction, they are inviting and, I believe, give a fair presentation of what we are about here in our urban village.

You may notice on the brochure and other printed materials a new way of styling ourselves here at Saint John's. We have begun using the nickname "Saint John's in the Village" to describe ourselves and link ourselves to both of the villages we straddle here on Greenmount Avenue. On our west side of Greenmount is Charles Village and on our east side is the old Waverly Village. The new nickname puts us squarely in both, no matter which "village" you live in. Our legal name stays the same, of course, but since the use of Huntingdon (which embraced the present day Charles and Waverly Villages) to describe our area long ago vanished into history, we hope the newer designation will make us more closely linked in people's minds with our two villages. As Charles Village becomes more well-known and the use of 'Village' returns more and more along side Waverly, we are on the spot, so to speak! (It also distinguishes us more readily from Saint John's United Methodist Church on Saint Paul and 27th Streets, better known these days as "Saint John's of Baltimore".)

Good news abounds about our music program! We have had an excellent search to replace our friend Jeff Workman, and Mr Thomas Hetrick has been engaged to be our interim organist/choirmaster for the coming season. (The new Master of the Choirs and Organist will be announced at a later date, after finishing some academic and contractual obligations.) Mr Hetrick (Tom) was for fourteen years the Organist and Choirmaster of the Church of Saint Michael and All Angels on Saint Paul and 20th Streets. A recent change in the kind of music program there has given us the happy opportunity to have him with us in our interim year. Please do welcome him and make him feel very much at home during his time with us.

We have had a glut of applicants for our eight chorister positions and Mr Hetrick has been busy auditioning singers for the coming year. Sorting out those who want to sing as paid choristers from those who actually can do the job is a hard and demanding process. The pickings are slim of singers able to perform the quality and quantity of music required in churches with good liturgy and music. Musical education of singers clearly isn't what it used to be, but fortunately, Mr Hetrick is experienced in discernment and will obtain for us the best we can get. Just pray that the Lord will send some demanding instructors to our music schools so that excellent singers for His Church can be found!

I am proud to say that in a time of real shortage around the country of qualified choirmaster/organists to lead our kind of music and liturgy, we have had many applicants for our position with zero advertising. Apparently, we have a wide reputation as a place where excellence in liturgy and music is valued, appreciated, and vigorously supported by the Rector and Vestry. Before Mr Workman's departure was officially announced we had three applicants for his job! Jeff Workman, by the way, is happily ensconced at the organ of a Methodist Church in Palo Alto, California, doing accompanying and organ performance, which is his musical love. Much as we shall miss his beaming personality and energy, we wish him well and send him our love. His contact information is available through the Church Office.

Two dates will quickly be upon us. The first is Michaelmas, 29 September, and the resumption of our regular schedule. Mattins will be prayed in the Lady Chapel at 7.45 AM and Evensong at 5.45 PM. The Choral Eucharist will be celebrated at 6.30 PM. Following the Eucharist, there will be a Ceilidh (=huge party!) in the Parish House to welcome everyone home after the Long Vacation of summer. This is always a great way to introduce people to our community, so think about who you might invite.

On the following Sunday, 3 October, our usual Sunday schedule resumes with services at 7.45, 8.00, and 10.30 AM, and 4.00 PM. That Sunday is also the Sunday when we will bless the animals, so plan now for the Blessing of Pets at 4.00 PM on 3 October. This is another great way to introduce people to our fellowship.

Our celebrations of 160 years of Christ's ministry here continue in the autumn with a wonderful Congregational Dinner. More information about that will come separately, so be on the watch!

Finally, a reminder for those who may need it: Confessions will be heard on Michaelmas Eve, 28 September, from 6.00 PM until 7.00 PM in the church. There may be a few things from the summer, or from before, which still need to be cleaned up. This is a sacramental opportunity to do just that.

With all blessing, I remain,
Yours faithfully in Christ Jesus,

(The Rev'd) Jesse L. A. Parker
Rector of Saint John's Church, Huntingdon,
Waverly, Baltimore