Weekly Reflection - 5/28/2024

St. Mary's Reflection:Eric Choate, Director of Music

This coming Sunday we have the opportunity to recognize our choirs—all three of them. One of the hallmarks at St. Mary's is that we not only have a superb Parish Choir, but we have chorister programs for children and youth. Uniquely, our Children and Youth Choirs sing every Sunday during the academic year—a rarity in the Episcopal Church. Unlike churches and cathedrals tethered to schools, our chorister program stands independent, driven solely by the passion of our young singers and the support of their parents.

In anticipation of this Sunday's choir recognition, I asked the Youth Choir to make a list of their favorite hymns and anthems to sing during the liturgy. I couldn't believe how enthusiastically they met this task. Immediately, hands went flying in the air. Children couldn't blurt out the titles or hymn numbers quickly enough to keep up with their racing thoughts. Within about a minute, I had a list of over twenty hymns and choir anthems. "Do we really have to narrow it down to four hymns?" "Can we please sing all the verses?" "Can we sing two anthems?"

Want to have a vital and growing church? Put kids in choir.

In Youth Choir, we rehearse the hymns for each upcoming Sunday. This gives us time to discuss the words that we are singing and how they relate to the appointed readings. This deeper engagement fosters a love of hymnody among our choristers and reinforces messages of divine love and compassion.

My gratitude extends to the choirs of St. Mary's, whose dedication enriches our worship immeasurably. I am equally thankful for the unwavering support of our parish community and the vision of my colleagues on staff and vestry, who recognize the invaluable contribution of our music ministry.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Eric Choate

Director of Music