Recent News & Publications

March 1, 2012

Visiting Choirs Sunday March 4th

By Virginia , 2:18 pm
Visiting Youth Choirs This Sunday March 4, 2012
Saint Paul’s will host two visiting youth choirs from the Washington D.C. area. Coming from Church of the Redeemer in Bethesda, MD and Christ Church in Alexandria, VA, both choirs use the same Royal School of Church Music Training program in use here at Saint Paul’s. The two choirs are under the direction of M. Jason Abel (Christ Church, Alexandria) and Tom Smith (Redeemer, Bethesda) and will combine with the choirs of Saint Paul’s Church to sing our choral services on Sunday March 4th. At the 10:30 a.m. Eucharist, the visiting choirs will join with our choristers and adult choir to offer music by Parry and Elgar. With all of the choirs together, there will be over 80 singers this Sunday (roughly 40 of them being children)!Later on in the afternoon of the 4th, all of the youth will return to offer a 5 p.m. service of Choral Evensong for treble voices only. The combined choirs will offer music  by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Paul Boumann, and Malcolm Archer which will be a unique service that will surely be a highlight of this year’s series.

March 6, 2012

Five Fridays: Piffaro to perform at Saint Paul’s, Chestnut Hill, Mar. 9

By Ian Howell , 2:15 am

The fourth concert in the FIVE FRIDAYS benefit concert series will take place at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, on Friday March 9 at 7:30pm. A delightful program entitled Follow the Pipers will introduce Piffaro: The Renaissance Band and its many different instruments. This hour-long performance features secular and sacred pieces, dances and arrangements of popular tunes from 16th century Europe, interspersed with engaging commentary about the music, the time period and the instruments.
World-renowned for its highly polished performances as the pied-pipers of Early Music, Piffaro, The Renaissance Band has delighted audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and South America. The ensemble, founded in 1980, recreates the elegant sounds of the official, professional wind bands of the late Medieval and Renaissance periods, as well as the rustic music of the peasantry. Piffaro’s ever-expanding collection of shawms, sackbuts, dulcians, recorders, krumhorns, bagpipes, lutes, guitars, harps, and a variety of percussion, are careful reconstructions of instruments from the period.
Under the direction of Joan Kimball and Bob Wiemken, Piffaro tours extensively in the United States and Europe, and has performed for all the major early music series and festivals, as well as many college and community series, in the US. The ensemble made its European debut at Tage Alter Musik in Regensburg, Germany in 1993, and has returned to Europe each season for numerous festival appearances. In addition, the Band produces its own concert series in Philadelphia, with four to five programs per year, bringing to their series some of the finest talents in early music performance as their guests. Excerpts from these concerts are regularly broadcast nationwide on National Public Radio’s Performance Today.
In addition to its concert and recording efforts, Piffaro is active in the field of education. Members of the ensemble perform regularly throughout the year for elementary, middle and high school students, and hold master classes and workshops for college students and adult amateurs.
The FIVE FRIDAYS concert series is planned as a community benefit to local organizations serving the hungry and the homeless. All proceeds from the series will be directed towards Face to Face Germantown, The Interfaith Hospitality Network, and the Chorister Program at Saint Paul’s. Each concert is followed by a reception at which guests may greet the artists.
Tickets $25 ($15 students and seniors). More information, directions, and online tickets at www.fivefridays.org or by calling 215-242-2055.

May 17, 2012

What is this “Facebook” and why should I care?

By Ian Howell , 12:19 pm

Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The St. Paul’s Communications Committee is pushing to have 200 people “Like” St. Paul’s Facebook page by May 27th (in return for free ice cream at our Parish Picnic in June!).

Click here to visit St. Paul’s on Facebook and “Like” us.

But what is this “Facebook” and why should I care?

Great questions!

At its best, Facebook is simply an online version of the real social web you live in every day.  Because it is a website, however, you can easily share stories, videos, and comments with friends whom you otherwise would not hear from as often.

St. Paul’s uses Facebook to share videos and pictures, information about upcoming events, and news stories relevant to our community.

So why join?

  • We are creating rich and beautiful digital content every week.
  • You will get an ongoing behind the scenes glimpse of the St. Paul’s Community.
  • Facebook augments our community and allows us to gather together in Jesus’ name in new ways.

 

Matt Hyde will have a computer set up at the Annual Meeting to help you join Facebook, “Like” St. Paul’s, show you what you’ve been missing, and answer any questions you might have.

If you are on Facebook already, become a St. Paul’s Facebook Evangelist and tell your fellow Parishioners why you like it.

Click here to visit St. Paul’s on Facebook and “Like” us.

St. Paul’s Adult Education Series Continues May 22: Part Two of a Four-Part Course Presented by Sam Frederick, “Can Christianity Inform a Universal Moral Philosophy?”

By Cliff Cutler , 11:27 am

Emphasizing the role of Christianity in a Universal Moral Philosophy, Sam Frederick brings a course he taught for Temple University’s LifeLong Learning Program to St. Paul’s Adult Education Series. His four-part course continues in the Dixon House this Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. with “The History: Stars of Our Human Moral Firmament.”

Last Tuesday’s opener, “How Can We Bear the World?”, was a HIT!, drawing comments such as: “Fantastic! It was so informative.” “I really liked it; I learned some new things.” “Well done!” “Thought-provoking topics.” Sam’s format begins with a vivid multimedia presentation, followed by responses from panelists he has recruited from different faith and secular stances. Last week’s panel included our own Assistant Rector Emmanuel Mercer and a Unitarian-Universalist, a “Born-Again Atheist Jew,” and Greater Philadelphia’s best-known facilitator of The Course in Miracles spiritual path. The session culminated in a lively interactive discussion initiated by the audience – with questions and contributions drawn from their own life experiences and insights.

There is no charge for the course.  Free parking will be available in the commercial lot next to the Church, the OMC lot, and in the 33 East Chestnut Hill Avenue Medical Building lot.

Tuesday, May 22
7 p.m.
The Dixon House
Topic: “The History: Stars of Our Human Moral Firmament.”

May 13, 2012

Prayer List

By Doug Anderson , 12:45 pm

In Our Prayers May 13, 2012

Persons who are commended to our prayers for healing or other concerns remain on our prayer list for four weeks. We ask that you obtain permission from those you are commending to the prayer list. If you would like to place names on the list, to have them remain for a longer period, or if a pastoral visit is desired, please contact Virginia Emlen at 215-242-2055 ext. 25.

Saint Paul’s Parishioners

Eleanor Davis • Ginny Simons • Charlotte Kimberly • Dasha Abramovich • Ruth Hughes • Christine Kindler

Friends and Family of Parishioners

Joan Timmons (friend of Michelle Tate) • David Ernst (friend of John Zimmermann) • Anne Minch (aunt of Baird Standish) • Madeleine Bristow (granddaughter of Penny Meyer) • Ruby Prior (mother of Pamela) • Aurelia Moro (mother of Diana Moro) • Sylvia Davis (friend of Jeannette Cord) • Diane Brodmerkel and Peggy Weber (friends of the Standish family) • Karen Clifford (sister of Dan Clifford) • Paula Calhoun (friend of Anne Brown) • Matt Miller (friend of Hank Ballerstedt) • Sharon Corcoran (friend of Fred Straub) • Anthony Faggotti (father of John Faggotti) • Sonia McVey (aunt of Jamie Bell) • Peter Fuller & family, Nola McCabe (friends of Anne Brown) • Gerald Cope (friend of  Karen Butler) • Fred Maley (brother-in-law of Meredith Sonderskov) • Susan Kennedy (friend of Betsy Evans) • Katherine McGuigan (friend of Cathy Davis) • Sandra Meldrum (sister of Van Williams) • Mike Kearns (friend of Williams/Stone family) • Gail Simmonds (friend of John Zimmermann) • Lisa Donahue (friend of Nancy Shepard) • Stephen Dafilou (friend and colleague of Dale Lower and Sarah Heckscher) • William Purcell (brother-in-law of Doug Anderson) • Dara Barr (friend of James Pope) • Aileen M. Johnson (mother of Dale Lower)

Other Intercessions

We pray for: those departed this life and for the victims of all natural disasters, and those participating in relief efforts • all victims of terror throughout the world • the President and Government of the United States and all people serving in America’s armed forces • peace in the city of Philadelphia • the created world, which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to care for it • God’s people throughout the world • Katharine, our Presiding Bishop, and Charles, Rodney, Allen and Edward, our Bishops • Saint Luke’s Church in our companion Diocese of Guatemala • Diocesan Coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development, Linda Miller, in our Diocese • Bucks Deanery, The Very Rev. Christine E. Mottl, Dean

The world now has the means to end extreme poverty; we pray we will have the will.

Gerald Cope, friend of Karen Butler

May 10, 2012

Duo Recital: John Fowler, Baritone & Caroline Robison, Organ May 19

By Ian Howell , 2:42 pm

John Fowler, baritone Caroline Robinson, organ

Duo Recital

Saturday, May 19, 2012
8:00pm
works for
Voice and Organ

by Charles Villiers Stanford, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Samuel Barber and Charles Ives

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave.

Philadelphia PA 19118

(freewill offering)

On May 19 at 8pm John Fowler, baritone, and Caroline Robinson, organ, are giving a recital (freewill offering) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill.  They will be performing a mix of sacred and secular music, with selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs, Charles Villiers Stanford’s Bible Songs, Samuel Barber’s Dover Beach (originally for baritone and string quartet), and a set of songs by Charles Ives.

John Fowler, baritone, is founder and artistic director of the critically acclaimed Buxtehude Consort, a 15-member professional ensemble that performs Baroque works using period instruments and historical performance practices.  Described as a “musical go-getter” with an “authoritative baritone” voice (Tom Purdom, Broad Street Review) who sings with “dramatic passion and theatrical vitality,” (Michael Caruso, Chestnut Hill Local) Mr. Fowler has programmed and performed a variety of rarely performed Baroque works. Recent performances have included Apollo in Handel’s Italian cantata Apollo e Dafne, the north American premiere of Francesco Provenzale’s Dialogo per la Passione, in which he sang the role of San Giovanni, and Philadelphia premieres of numerous works by Baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude (an important mentor of J.S. Bach). A graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where he studied voice with Gerald Crawford, he has more recently studied with baritone Carlos Serrano and soprano and baroque specialist Clara Rottsolk.  Mr. Fowler frequently performs as soloist in the region and with numerous ensembles in Philadelphia, and is a staff singer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, where his ensemble in residence. Fluent in Russian, Mr. Fowler worked in Moscow in the 1990s as a translator and while in Russia, studied music history at the Moscow State Conservatory and viola with Valentin Krasil’nikov. In addition to his musical skills, Mr. Fowler has a wealth of experience as arts administrator, having served as executive director and board president of the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, and also an active advocate for the arts, formerly as a pro bono attorney for Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and now as a pro bono adviser to fledgling musical organizations and young musicians.

Caroline Judith Robinson, organist, hails from Greenville, SC, and began her organ studies at the age of twelve under the tutelage of Adam Pajan. Other notable teachers include Dr. Charles Tompkins (Furman University), Mr. Thomas Bara (Interlochen Center for the Arts), and Dr. Wilma Jensen (Nashville, TN). Her playing has been broadcast on NPR’s “Pipedreams”, “Pipedreams LIVE!”, and Philadelphia-based WRTI’s Wanamaker Organ Hour. Caroline is the First Prize winner of the 11th Annual Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition (2008) and the First Prize winner of the Tenth Annual West Chester University Organ Competition (2010). In the fall of 2011, she traveled England to play four recitals awarded to her during the 2010 Oundle for Organists course in Oundle, England. Caroline is a third-year student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA, where she studies under full scholarship with Alan Morrison. She currently serves as Organ Scholar at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA.

Parishioner Evan Gagné, father of new twins, is already planning for college. You should too! May 19

By Ian Howell , 2:30 pm

An investment in higher education is one of the best investments you can make.  The best time to start saving for college- for your children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews- is as soon as they are born!  If you’re already past that milestone it is not too late.  You can start by choosing a number of different tax advantaged strategies to pay for a variety of higher education expenses, including tuition, room and board, books supplies and other fees and expenses.  On average a bachelor degree recipient can expect to earn 66% more during a 40-year working life than the typical high school graduate over the same period.  Come learn how local advisors, Evan Gagne and Bruce Sham, are helping their clients consider investment options and tax implications of college savings plans.  The seminar will be held Saturday 10:00 am May 19th at St. Paul’s church in Chestnut Hill, 22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue  Philadelphia, PA 19118.  Please call 610-766-3309 to RSVP.

St. Paul’s Gettysburg Trip This Saturday, May 12

By Ian Howell , 2:10 pm

Hello All!

Just a friendly reminder that this Saturday is our semi-annual St. Paul’s trip to Gettysburg. The weather forecast looks absolutely fantastic so I think that I can promise a great day for all that are able to come along.

We will carpool from St. Paul’s at 8 am sharp and probably return home from Gettysburg at about 4 pm.There is no cost to the trip, although we do stop for lunch at Ernie’s Famous Hot Dog Place about half way through the tour.

Bring comfortable shoes, we do a little bit of walking, but nothing too strenuous.

I know schdules are tight this time of the yeart, but I sincerely hope to see as many as you can join us for a very fun, educational St Paul’s activity.

Please feel free to contavct me with ANY questions. 215-421-9502

Best wishes,

Joe Fafara

Education for Ministry Graduates

By Ian Howell , 1:48 pm

Congratulations to the Five Education for Ministry (EfM) Graduates from

St. Paul’s Church, Chestnut Hill:

Douglas M. Anderson

Robert A. Busser

Charlotte C. Kleis

Linda Y. McCree

Jonathan Nidock

They will be recognized at a graduation Eucharist at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (38th and Chestnut streets) at 4 PM this Saturday, May 12.  They have completed a four year course created by the School of Theology at the University of the South Seminary at Sewanee, TN.  The course meets weekly for 2 ½ hours between September and June to discuss and study Old and New Testament scriptures, Church history, Liturgy, prayer, and theological reflection. About 3 hours of reading is required for each class.  At the end of the 4 years approximately 1,000 hours have been spent.  Classes are lead by trained mentors who may be clergy or lay.  To enroll or get more information please contact Rev. Manny or Doug Anderson.

Saint Paul’s Nominating Committee Presents Slate:

By Ian Howell , 1:43 pm

Our Nominating Committee chaired by Van Williams (svan50@comcast.net); Vice-chairperson Sarah Heckscher (ssheckscher@gmail.com); Wilson Brown (WMBIII@aol.com) last year’s chairperson; and including Jim Bondelid (jim@bondelid.org), and Charlie Head (Heeadjr@verizon.net) is offering the following slate of candidates for election to vestry at our annual parish meeting on May 20: Joe Fafara, Becky Southwell, John Faggotti and Tom O’Rourke.

We give our utmost thanks to the departing class of vestry members: Sarah Heckscher, Alix Jones, Tracy Piatkowski and Jake Roak.

Sustainability tip of the week

By Cliff Cutler , 1:41 pm

Turn your car off if you are going to be idle for more than one minute.

Thank you, stewards!

By Ian Howell , 1:38 pm

Stewardship is about connection and not prejudice, which all of us have to some extent.  Some prejudices include those of contrary political views.  Sometimes accents from different parts of the country elicit negative stereotypes.  We are stewards because God has called us to discipleship.  We do not choose those who need our help.  Rather, God offers us opportunities in the people that God brings us.  As those opportunities to serve God arrive, stewardship connects those in need with those who gratefully offer our divinely given resources.  (meditations by David Mosser)

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