I invite you to pause for a moment and examine how you practice the presence of God. The tendency that I hear, see and experience is that people, (myself included), look for God “somewhere out there.” Brother Lawrence reminds us that God is nearer than we might think. Psalm 139 expresses this reality well when the psalmist asks ..
"When I Grow Up," by Tim Minchin, from the hit musical "Matilda." Featuring students from the cast of St. John's 2024 Youth Musical, "The Show!," and The St. John's Parish Choir. Featured Offertory Anthem at the 10:00AM service of Holy Eucharist Rite II on The Last Sunday after The Epiphany, February 11, 2024.
On Sunday, April 7 at 3:00pm, St. John’s Concerts On The Hill Series will play proud host to the world-renowned choir, The American Spiritual Ensemble for an historic Portsmouth premiere concert. The American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE), whose mission is to preserve and continue the tradition of storytelling through the performance and preservation of the American Negro Spiritual, was founded in 1995 by Dr. Everett McCorvey who remains Artistic Director and Conductor of the choir.
If you are looking to find some amazing music performed by the St. John's musicians you've come to know and love, we invite you to visit our Music Playlist on YouTube, and do a little surfing, or buffet-style musical "dining." There are so many fine offerings, we think you could easily find something new each day to feast upon.
"Prayer for Love," text by C. Eric Lincoln, music by J. Jefferson Cleveland. Featuring The Parish Choir. We select and share this piece for its text, particularly timely at this time of year as we celebrate the life and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This arrangement of Cleveland's hymn comes from a collection of African American religious music entitled "Songs of Zion."
"The Valley," by Jane Siberry, arr. Olin Johannessen. Featuring Ashley Wade and Jennifer M. Mulhern, vocals; Olin Johannessen, guitar and vocals; Rob Gerry, upright bass. Musical offering at the 6:00pm Blue Christmas service, December 21, 2023. This arrangement was inspired by the Wailin' Jennys performance of the song on their 2017 release entitled "Fifteen."
