ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
NEWSLETTER
March 12, 2009
1. Piano and Music
Program Fund: Concert of February 22,
2009
Congratulations
to Music Director Robert (Bob) Violette who managed to assemble an amazing
roster of performers for a concert that was a truly wonderful celebration of
music and St. Michael’s. Rarely have so many incredibly talented musicians
gathered anywhere in the City of Trenton for such an undertaking. Over $1800.00 was raised (after expenses) by the benefit concert, allowing St.
Michael’s to pay off the grand piano and start paying off some of the other
bills associated with its care and maintenance.
Thanks go to the
musicians who donated their time and talent to this effort, to June Ballinger
who was a marvelous mistress of ceremonies, to Shawn Fay who did so much of the
computer work and graphics, to Café Ole which donated coffee, and to Martha
Press of the Farnsworth Gallery (on Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown) who
donated artwork to each of the participants as a thank you for performing.
Thanks also go to all the members of St. Michael’s, especially those in the
choir and ECW who brought a delicious array of food for the post-concert
reception and also helped to set up, serve and clean up. Thanks also go to all who attended and
brought friends to the event. It was good to see the church and reception so
crowded with people who were enjoying one of the best concerts in memory. The
last of the attendees didn’t leave the reception until 8:30 pm, so people were
obviously having a good time.
In case you
missed it, last Saturday the Trenton Times had a wonderfully
complementary article about the concert and how successful it was, including
two pictures of the performers. Congratulations to all involved.
2. St. Michael’s Music
Committee
Recognizing that
music can be a very powerful type of outreach and ministry, and to ensure that
there will be more concerts in the future, a Music Committee has been
established to plan future musical events. The committee currently consists of
Bob, Shawn, Elaine and Jack. If you are interested in helping out, let any of
the committee members know. The ultimate goal is to have a regularly scheduled
series of concerts between the months of September and June (before the lack of
air conditioning becomes problematic). Preliminary discussions have been initiated with some of the performing
arts groups in the area as to the possibility of hosting concerts at St.
Michael’s, and given the splendid piano and the wonderful acoustics in the
church, these concerts might now be possible, provided there is enough support
and interest within the church to support such an effort.
3. Second Annual
Assisi Music Fest. Benefit Concert: Sunday, May 31, 2009
We will not have
to wait too long for our next concert. On Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 3:00 pm, St.
Michael’s will again be hosting the annual benefit concert for the Assisi Music
Festival. This concert will bring together many of the musicians who will be
spending this coming July in Assisi, performing in one of Italy’s major summer
music festivals, including our own Bob Violette. Bob will be singing at the
festival for the sixth consecutive year.
The performers
will be coming from throughout the country to be at St. Michael’s just a few
weeks before they depart for Italy. This will be their only U.S. performance.
The concert will be representative of the music that will be performed at the
festival, including classical instrumental pieces as well as blues, jazz,
Broadway and operatic vocal selections. Tickets will cost only $15.00 for the
general public, and $10.00 for parishioners of St. Michael’s. Proceeds from the concert will be apportioned
between the Assisi Music Festival and St. Michael’s Music Program Fund. Anybody
who would like to help out with the concert should talk to Bob. Save the cost
of the airfare by seeing the festival musicians in Trenton instead of Assisi!
4. Clergy
Schedules
Fr. Jarrett Kerbel and Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt will continue to divide Sunday services between them, though both will be present on Easter Sunday (one to celebrate, one to preach) and for the Annual Parish Meeting on April 19. In addition, Fr. Michael Ruk from St. Paul’s in Levittown will continue to do most of the Wednesday noontime services, as he has been doing since January.
Fr. Jarrett will be performing services on March 22, April 5, April 10 (Good Friday, noon), and April 12 (Easter, celebrant).
Rev. Joanne
Epply-Schmidt will be doing conducting services on March 15, March 29, April 9
(Maundy Thursday), and April 12 (Easter, preach).
5. Choir News
Music Director
Robert Violette would like to remind all who might be interested that there is
plenty of room in the choir for anyone who would like to participate. Choir
practice is scheduled for every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm, from September
through June.
6. ECW News
Several events
are being planned by the ECW including the following:
1. April 5: Drawing for a $200.00 Shop Rite Gift Certificate. Tickets are $2.00 apiece.
2. June 6: ECW
Tea Party. Details to be announced.
3. Sept.
26: Game Party and Penny Auction. Cost $8.00 each, including a light lunch.
7. Other Upcoming
Events: Save this date
On August 22nd we will be having
our annual parish trip to see the Trenton Thunder. Details to follow.
8. News from the
Vestry
Status of the River City School at St.
Michael’s: As most everyone
is aware, St. Michael’s has been approached by members of the newly-formed
River City School to locate the school at St. Michael’s. A new contract was
drafted by the vestry and forwarded to the school. It has recently been
returned to the vestry with the school’s comments. When and if the
details are agreed upon by the parties, the agreement will be sent to the
Diocese for its review, and the members of St. Michael’s will thereupon have
another opportunity to meet and discuss the proposal. Stay tuned for further
developments.
9. Remember our
members who are ill or recuperating
Please remember
in your prayers those of our parishioners who are ill or who are on the mend
including Dorothea Austin, Dorothy Peterson, Estelle Taylor and Patricia
Stewart.
10. St. Michael’s Web site
Thanks to the efforts of
Shawn Fay, St. Michael’s once again has a functioning web site. Shawn has
included information on the website pertaining to parish and diocesan events,
as well as links to other related topics. A copy of the newsletter will also be
posted there. The web site can be accessed by going to www.stmichaelstrenton.com.
11. Memorial
Service for Etta Martin
Former St.
Michael’s parishioner Etta Martin of Edgewood Avenue in Trenton passed away on
Februaruy 12, 2009. St. Michael’s hosted a memorial service on February 28. Thanks go to Yvonne, Maggie, Shawn,
Dorothy, Annie and Elaine who helped to host the repast following the service.
12. For further
information
For additional
information, to be added to our email list, or to include something in a future
newsletter, please contact Jack Sade at 609.298.4332 or send an email to st.michaels.trenton@verizon.net.
Copies of the
newsletter will be sent via email to all who submit an email address. The email
address need not be your own --- if you don’t have email consider having it
sent to a friend or relative who will agree to print it out and give it to
you. Copies will also be made available
on Sundays at St. Michael’s
Unfortunately,
for the foreseeable future, and unless/until someone donates funds to cover the
cost of envelopes, postage and administrative help, we cannot send it out via
“snail mail”, ie, through the US Postal Service, especially since it will soon
cost $.44 to send anything through the mails.
Your understanding is appreciated.
