Music at St. Mark's

"Who sings well prays twice," Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
"Prayer is our whole service to God," John Donne (1571-1631)

St. Mark's liturgical life is enriched by a full and varied ministry of music. We rejoice that musical and liturgical leadership continues to be needed, valued, and appreciated in our parish. Our goal is to insure that our worship is strong in substance, movement, and variety, and honoring to God. Ultimately all the music we offer is related to liturgical prayer, our "whole service to God."

The 11:00 AM Sunday Liturgy is the weekly occasion where the parish expresses itself most fully as a Eucharistic community, making use of the fullness of the riches of liturgical language, music, and ceremonial from Anglican Tradition, and earlier Eastern and Western Church traditions. Consequently, the music we use is broad in scope. Over time we sing English cathedral choral music, motets from the Latin Renaissance, Russian Orthodox chants and choral pieces, German Lutheran works, and music from our own day.

St. Mark's Parish Choir, which sings the year round at the 11:00 AM service, has continued to grow into a highly capable, flexible, and cohesive choral ensemble of about 20 adult volunteer singers. As always, openings in all sections exist and need to be filled.

The 9:00 AM Sunday Liturgy, which is less formal than the 11:00, makes use of more elements from the contemporary church.

We are reminded that St. Mark's Choristers, formed in 1887 as a Choir of Men and Boys, led this parish for more than a century, and provided excellent church music. The success of its work was due to high levels of personal and family commitment to the priorities and values of Christian formation and the unique experience of participation in Anglican worship.

We rejoice in the vitality of our present music making, even as we recognize that there are significant differences in our current situation. Singers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to see choral and liturgical singing as a unique Christian witness to and thanksgiving for the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ. If you should choose to remain in the pews, we encourage you to sing heartily. The invitation for your participation from within choir or congregation is constant. Please pray for our music ministry.

Please contact the church at music@stmarksevanston.org for information regarding membership in the St. Mark's Parish Choir.