9am Service
Our worship begins at the Introit with the familiar prayer by St. Richard of Chichester as set by 20th-century English composer L.J. White. In his prayer we hear the petitions, “May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, Follow thee more nearly.”
Simon Lole has spent a lifetime in music, starting as a boy chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He spent many years as a professional church musician, culminating in positions as Director of Music at Sheffield Cathedral and then Salisbury Cathedral, and running the Chapel Choir and teaching at Jesus College, Cambridge University. Since 2005, he has worked as a freelance musician…musical director, composer, arranger, conductor, and organist, as well as a record producer and workshop leader. We welcomed him last month when he directed the SJD Chorale for the morning services. Today at the Offertory, a women’s ensemble from the Chorale will sing “The Father’s Love,” an elegant anthem written by Simon Lole with a text from John 15.
This morning at our 11:15am service, we welcome the Royal School of Church Music Gulf Coast Choir for a Choral Eucharist. The service is the conclusion of a week-long in-depth choir camp where thirty-plus girls from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Tuscan, and Baton Rouge have been immersed in choir training, vocal training, music theory, liturgy, and other activities. Select adults from SJD, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church join them and provide the lower voice parts for the anthems and service music they lead. This past week this group has sung evensong at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church and Christ Church Cathedral. Conducting them is Bruce Neswick, Canon for Cathedral Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon, and the Summer Course Clinician.
11:15am Service
This morning we welcome the Royal School of Church Music Gulf Coast Choir for Choral Eucharist. The service is the conclusion of a week-long, in-depth choir camp where thirty-plus girls from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Tucson, and Baton Rouge have been immersed in choir training, vocal training, music theory, liturgy, and other activities. Select adults from SJD, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church join them and provide the lower voice parts for the anthems and service music they lead. This past week they have sung evensong at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church and Christ Church Cathedral. Conducting them is Bruce Neswick, Canon for Cathedral Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon, and the Summer Course Clinician. Carolyn Craig, the Summer Course Organist, is the principal organist for Eucharist this morning. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in organ performance from Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music. We are most grateful to our own Anna Teagarden, associate director of music, SJD Choristers, who serves as the Course Manager.