Thursday, January 23, 2025

Music Ministry Musings at St. Andrew's
Ann-Marie MacDairmid, Director of Music

The winter season arrived and St. Andrew's celebrated Christmas Music!

On December 15th, the congregation was welcomed to attend the Christmas CTV broadcast. This service was recorded to be shown on Christmas Day and is available to watch on YouTube. The Sanctuary Choir presented "What Sweeter Music - A Festival of Carols" by Mark Hayes. Guest instrumentalists were Wendy Wagler (flute), Ginny Scarfino (clarinet) and Easton Page (percussion). Narrators were Heather Ingram-Smith and Paul Wilson. Rev. Wendy Paterson provided the opening and closing prayers and reflection. It was a wonderful afternoon of music!

The carols continued on Christmas Eve beginning with a concert performed before the service. Music was provided by Darielle Chomyn-Davison, Amanda Jeffreys and the St. Andrew's Handbells. The service continued with St. Peter's joining St. Andrew's for hymns, reflections and anthems. Rev. John Borthwick ended the season on December 29th with a sermon on Christmas carols.

On January 5th the choir returned and introduced a new hymn to the congregation. And on January 12th, the choir anthem was "Lord, Listen to Your Children". A great start to the New Year!

February is Black History month. The weekly music will include spirituals; a tribute to the enormous contribution that African-Americans have made to our music ministry over the years. Our worship has been so much enriched by their inspiration; the familiar and perhaps not-so-familiar spirituals and also the gospel music compositions and arrangements that are made available to us. Let us celebrate Black History month.

St. Andrew's Handbell ringers are rehearsing for their next appearance which will be on March 9th. They are working on two songs: "Lord, I Want to be a Christian" and "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel".

Noon Hour Concerts will be returning in the spring. The first program will begin on Wednesday, April 30th. Mark your calendar!

There is always room for one more chorister or ringer in the choir, consider joining one of these programs. If you are interested, leave your name and contact information at the church office. “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”

I wish everyone a healthy New Year!

Ann-Marie
Director of Music