Sunday Evenings At 7PM, December - Spring 2009

A much anticipated and exciting new ministry entitled Night Song will begin at 7 PM Sunday, December 7th and continue every Sunday evening through the Feast of Pentecost. Night Song, directed by Jamaica Plain resident Daryl Bichel, is a joint ministry of St. John's Episcopal Church and the Society of St. Margaret in Roxbury. Sr. Carolyn Darr, Superior at the convent, is Associate Director for Night Song. While many parishes offer Evensong on Sundays, there are very few churches in the area where one can attend the later office entitled Compline - which we are calling Night Song - on a regular basis.

Night Song will offer an hour of meditation and contemplation every Sunday evening - a refuge from the stress and frantic pace of daily lives. Through the stillness of the church, burning candles and incense, bells, sacred art, and most especially music, Night Song is intended to bring serene beauty and abiding peace into your life. It is an hour during which your silent prayers and hopes can rise up with those of others as incense, the lifting up of hearts as an evening sacrifice.

Night Song is inspired by the Office of Compline as sung at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle. Compline has been sung there on Sunday evenings for over forty years under the direction of Peter Hallock. Hundreds attend and it's an institution in Seattle. Mention of it is even made in the tours given at the top of the Space Needle, and it is broadcast on the radio as well.

Our version of Compline will be rather unique, with the music being a fusion of contemplative instrumental jazz with ancient and modern chant, as well as sacred motets from the Renaissance. Mr. Bichel and Sr. Carolyn have organized two choral ensembles, one mixed and one all men, to sing Night Song. In addition, smaller groups will sing on some Sundays. And we are very fortunate to have Ben Schwendener, also a Jamaica Plain resident, as coordinator for the jazz component. He is on the faculty of the New England Conservatory in Boston.

Please join us on Sunday evenings in December as we launch this program. You are encouraged to make it a regular part of your spiritual life, and to invite others. Any questions you may have about Night Song, including participating in the choral program, can be directed to Daryl Bichel at 617.312.8328 or darylbichel@aol.com.