From its inception in the sixteenth century, the Anglican church has been a singing church. Nowhere is this truer than in the realm of choral music.

Our denomination is heir to a truly unique and centuries-long heritage of fine choral music. Many of the best composers across the centuries have been inspired to create works specifically intended for use in Anglican and Episcopal worship services. Larger churches and Cathedrals across the world have for centuries maintained well-trained, professional or semi-professional choirs, which regularly sing for major portions of the liturgies.

The exact amount of choral music offered at a service varies from church to church and service to service, but here St. John’s a typical Sunday morning Eucharist will include at least three choral selections. A Sunday morning service will usually begin with the choir singing an introit from the baptismal font, preceding the first hymn. This functions to gather and focus congregation into prayerful contemplation in preparation for the service.

The main choral offering usually takes the form of an anthem sung at the Offertory; the portion of the service where a collection is taken. The term “Anthem” is very broad and is not indicative of any specific musical form. It can basically be defined as a short sacred choral work, usually based on scripture or a poetic paraphrase of scripture, intended for use in worship services. They vary greatly in length, style, and complexity. They can be sung “a cappella,” that is, without instrumental accompaniment, or they can be accompanied by organ, piano, or any number of other instruments.

The term “anthem” first appeared in the Book of Common Prayer in 1662 in a rubric following the Third Collect for Morning and Evening Prayer. It reads: “In quires and places where they sing, here followeth the Anthem.” The addition of this rubric testifies to the importance choral music had already achieved in Anglican liturgies by the mid-17th century.

Following the Offertory, the choir will usually offer a third choral selection during communion, which we often list as a motet. The term “motet” has an even longer and more complex history than the term “anthem.” Precise definitions are elusive, because the term has referred to many various and disparate musical forms over the centuries. We usually use the term simply to refer to any short, unaccompanied sacred choral work.

Beyond the Sunday morning Eucharist, a great time to hear choral music in a liturgical context is during a some of the liturgical offerings specific to our denomination such as Evensong holiday services of Lessons & Carols. This service of Evensong evolved out of the Roman Catholic Offices of Vespers and Compline, and in the view of many, me included, constitutes one of the liturgical jewels of the Episcopal Church. Evensongs are very music-heavy services which feature sung prayers, canticles, hymns, anthems, organ music, and often other instrumental music as well.

Occasional services such as Advent and Christmas Lessons and Carols services are more recent liturgical innovations which grew out of the rich soil of the Anglican Choral Tradition. Whatever the service, choral music functions to enhance and illuminate the liturgy, and to bring the congregants into a deeper connection with one another, and with God.

How are you looking to explore your faith? Are you interested in being received in the Episcopal Church, or in receiving the sacrament of Confirmation?

Please contact Deacon Linda Rosengren to make a plan.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

       Jeremiah 29:11 NRSV

Dr. Lucinda Allen Mosher has been called “the ideal companion when you deliberately walk into difference.” A lifelong educator, Dr. Mosher is currently Faculty Associate for Interfaith Studies and Director of the Multifaith Chaplaincy Program at Hartford Seminary (Hartford, CT) where she offers courses on America's religious diversity, chaplaincy, and Christian-Muslim relations. She also teaches regularly in church educational programs.

Jesse (Jay) Wright, a parishioner at St. John’s since 1996, and former Dean of Fine Arts at Jacksonville University, will present an illustrated lecture at St. John’s Cathedral in Taliaferro Hall on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th at 9 a.m. In the lecture Wright will address five things that characterize his 70-year career as an artist.

Wright was born into the Western Christian tradition of the visual arts where religious imagery was vital to the spirituality of the tradition. His background in both the exuberant Baroque Catholic and the more restrained Episcopal traditions of love for and use of the arts in worship and spirituality is reflected in the exhibition.

Plan to join us Sunday, June 5 for a Bold City Brass concert beginning at 5 p.m. in the Cathedral Nave. The Bold City Brass is a continuation of one of the oldest historic brass bands in Florida, the 3rd Florida Regimental Band. This group makes joyful music! The concert will also feature St. John’s Cathedral Canon for Music, Timothy Tuller, organ. Come and enjoy live music in a beautiful space!

Dr. Eric A. Becher will be conducting this concert, which is presented free of charge and open to all.

The First Coast Wind Symphony, Jacksonville’s premier community music organization, presents a concert of festive music to celebrate 200 years of Jacksonville arts and culture. The program includes music of former resident and British composer Frederick Delius, James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” as well as new music by Jacksonville composers, and much more!

This concert will launch the First Coast Wind Symphony’s 2022 European tour that begins June 15. The group is proud to serve as musical ambassadors for the City of Jacksonville! The June 12 concert is free, and parking is available.

Canon Douglas Dupree will lead a pilgrimage tour to Italy, ‘In the Footsteps of St Francis of Assisi: Rome and Assisi’ October 9-17^th, 2022, for the Bishop’s Institute and open to all members of our Diocese and their friends. Dr Charles Howard, art historian and faculty member at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville will be our expert guide to the art and architecture aspects of this tour. Cost: $4,390. Single Supplement +$500. Prices based on double occupancy. Final Payment due: July 9, 2022. For further information and registration, see here.

St. John’s Cathedral welcomed Caleb Diocares into the Family of God with Sunday’s baptism following the 10 a.m. service. Caleb’s parents, Sharlene and Jonathan, were joined by a host of family members for the happy occasion.

Two graduates of Family Promise of Jacksonville became homeowners in the last six months! The first, Yolanda and her two children were in our shelter in 2015, while Angel and her two children were in 2016.

“Our goal is always to help families become more stable, envision the future of their dreams, and provide the starting block for a new future. The work they did paid off for them. We are so very proud of them,” said Mark Landschoot, executive director.

After leaving Family Promise, Yolanda stayed with the same employer while receiving several promotions. She married and had a son with her new husband. In 2020, Yolanda and her husband built a new home in a subdivision. “I told my children this builds a legacy for them. It would always be a home for them” she said. Yolanda feels the family’s time at Family Promise gave them the hope needed to move forward.

In 2020, Angel held a family meeting with her children when they committed to making the sacrifices to improve their credit and reduce their debt in preparation to buy a house. The children knew they would need to distinguish between wants and needs. In December 2021, it came together.

Today the family is in a three-bedroom bungalow. They are planning to plant flowers and a vegetable garden. Angel said, “Family Promise gave me the courage to stand up for myself. I learned problem-solving skills, friendships were forged and most importantly, our dignity was returned. All of this opened the doors for us to rebuild. The seeds were planted that gave us hope.”

We wish our families bountiful gardens for growing their dreams!

Congratulations to Riverside High School musician and Cathedral Arts Project String Orchestra member William Bell, who in February played violin at Carnegie Hall in New York City after placing second in an international competition.

Bell is pictured with his mom when his achievement was recently highlighted at a Duval Public Schools board meeting.