Search Process Begins for Organist/Choir Director the Saltire Update from Josh and Rosanna
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Business Name The Saltire July & August Search Process Begins for 2014 Organist/Choir Director by the Rev. John Rohrs In This Issue It has been a summer of transition in the music minis- try of our parish. In May, Dr. VBS Wrap Up 3 Jim Kosnik resigned his posi- tion as Organist/Choir Direc- Flower Fest Update 4 tor and concluded his re- markable thirty year tenure at Calendar Highlights 5 St. Andrew’s. We honored him on Sunday, May 18 dur- Vestry Updates 5 ing our 10:15 a.m. service, which featured the type of Prayers/Thanks 5 special music that Dr. Kosnik has often brought to our worship. That morning, News and Notes 6-7 we hosted the Laramie County Community College Chorale (Cheyenne, Wy.), di- rected by Dr. Judy Ransom, a former student of Dr. Kosnik’s. It was a bittersweet Graduates 7 and beautiful send-off, and a reminder of the central role that music has long played in the life of our church. That tradition will continue. While Dr. Kosnik leaves big shoes to fill, we are excited about the future of our music ministry. The Saltire is a bi- See Organist Search, Page 2 monthly newsletter of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Through fea- ture stories, photo- Update from Josh and Rosanna graphs and updates on events past and future, by Josh Stephens The Saltire provides a Greetings from the School of Theology at the University of the South! I have window into the vibrant life of our parish family. just finished my first year of seminary and Rosanna is nearly finished with the first Historically, a “saltire” is year of her emergency medicine residency. We had a really good year all around. I the X-shaped cross as- was able to take classes in Old and New Testament, Greek, Church History, Spiri- sociated with St. An- tuality, and even Environmental Theology. Rosanna is now quite comfortable in drew. For us, as for him, the ER, including dealing with the region’s most serious traumas. it is a symbol of faith See Josh and Rosanna, Page 2 and life! PAGE 2 THE SALTIRE JULY/AUGUST 2014 Organist Search, from page 1 Our parish is growing, and ing on a link on the homepage of Richard Rigg is a more familiar opportunities to make a joyful our church website. face, having sung in our choir for noise abound. We plan to sustain Meanwhile, we are very ably nearly thirty years. When he is not the excellence and primary role of led during this interim time by Dr. directing the band and orchestra our traditional adult choir, while Joe Khoury and Richard Rigg. Dr. at Virginia Beach Middle School, also continuing to grow and em- Khoury, a new he also serves as phasize our supplemental choirs: parishioner at our Assistant the handbell choir, the junior St. Andrew’s, Choir Director, choir, and the Gospel Lights is serving as with responsi- string group. our Interim bility for coordi- A search committee, chaired Organist. Over nating the hand- by parishioner and choir member the past bell choir, junior Jerry Butler, has begun receiving twenty years choir and Gos- resumes for a part-time organist/ Dr. Khoury pel Lights. Dur- choir director. We hope to visit served as the ing this transition time, Mr. Rigg with select candidates in the late substitute organist at The Chapel will serve as our Interim Choir summer/early fall, and we will of the Cross Episcopal Church in Director, taking charge of the keep you posted as the process Chapel Hill, N.C., where he regu- adult choir as well. He will pro- unfolds. In addition to Mr. Butler larly accompanied the Cantus, vide important stability and lead- and the Rev. John Rohrs, other Senior, Junior and Parish Choirs. ership in the months ahead and members of the search committee Prior to that, Dr. Khoury studied will work with Dr. Khoury to en- include: Jeff Barnum, Stephen piano, organ and music theory for gage the congregation during this Batten, Judy Blevins, Molly Dey, nine years with Roseanne Elmlin- time of transition. Be on the look- Jon Glass, Ellen Golliher, Leslie ger in Akron, Ohio. When he’s out for a possible “Bach’s Lunch” Hennessey, Doug Mitchell, and not on the organ bench, Dr. concert series in the late summer/ Anna Smith. Please feel free to Khoury is a full-time Medical Di- early fall as we build excitement contact one of them. You may rector at LifeNet Health in Vir- about the musical life of our par- view the job description by click- ginia Beach. ish. Josh and Rosanna, from page 1 We are loving our time exploring the trails, caves, waterfalls, and lakes of the University and its sur- roundings. Starting June 2, I began my summer in- ternship as a hospital chaplain at Rosanna’s hospital (UT-Erlanger Medical Center). My responsibilities will include patients and families in the ICU, stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, and hospice. It’s going to be a very challenging summer, but I’m truly ex- cited about offering comfort to those suffering and becoming a better pastor in the process. We miss you all, pray for you often, and think of you daily. We could not be pursuing our vocations without your support, so thank you. Sincerely, Josh Stephens and Rosanna Couture JULY/AUGUST 2014 THE SALTIRE PAGE 3 Vacation Bible School Was A Huge Success! For the first time in ten years, St. Andrew’s hosted Vacation Bible School this summer from June 23-26. Thirty children participated, alongside a large cadre of wonderful volunteers. Under the terrific leader- ship of Sunday School Coordinator Jessica Chesson and the Rev. Andie Wigodsky Rohrs, children learned about the expansiveness of God’s love for us using a curriculum titled “Weird Animals: Where Jesus’ Love Is One of a Kind!” They had a blast! PAGE 4 THE SALTIRE JULY/AUGUST 2014 Flower Festival Planning Underway Flower Festival Survey Highlights The results are in! More than half the parishioners who responded to the 2014 St. Andrew’s Flower Festival Survey would like for the event to be re-organized in the future, with a focus on the arts, music, A total of 80 individuals re- and/or the bazaar. For a social event to accompany the festival, respon- sponded to the 2014 Flower Fes- dents were almost evenly divided regarding their preference to keep it as tival Survey, which was distrib- is - a semi-formal event with entertainment and heavy hors d’oeuvres - uted in April via the church email or have a more casual multi-generational gathering. With Halloween list, website, and hard copies. falling on Friday, Oct. 31 this year, most would rather have the signa- Highlights include: ture social event celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 1. This year’s Flower Festival Committee has taken the findings to Attendance: Of the respon- heart, and the group has begun planning for a fall event during the Feast dents who said they attended of All Saints, Nov. 1-2, to suit a variety of interests and ages. the 2013 Festival (68%), the “Based on the survey feedback, the committee has decided that this Friday evening gala and the year’s festival will span a Saturday-Sunday time period, and we’re plan- Saturday bazaar were the most ning a fun social event for Saturday evening,” said Chairwoman Amber attended. Pickrell. “With Halloween falling on Friday, we felt that more people of all ages would enjoy this approach.” Future Direction: A com- The original concept of the festival was to be a gift to the commu- bined 52% said the festival nity. The committee is brainstorming ways to re-emphasize that mis- should be re-organized with a sion by thoughtfully including more neighboring friends and local busi- focus on the arts, music, the nesses. While the group is still ironing out the details, the general event bazaar, or “other.” Forty- agenda is shaping up as follows, with times to be confirmed: seven percent preferred it stay the same, with a focus on the Saturday, Nov. 1 flowers. Festival Bazaar (9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - featuring the Church Social Event: When asked Mouse, local vendors, bake sale, Christmas tree and wreath for their preference for a so- orders, flower sales, music performances, and a ticketed lunch. cial event accompanying the Social Event (5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.) - family-friendly event will festival, 41% said they would appeal to all ages and include food, beverages, live music, a like to keep it as is, featuring a silent auction, and children’s activities, with an emphasis on semi-formal event; 39% pre- Ghent-area purveyors. ferred a more casual fam- ily/multi-generational event; Sunday, Nov. 2 14% wanted a less formal re- ception; and 6% marked Evensong Service (5:00 p.m.) - service of choral evensong with other. guest musician(s), followed by a festive wine and cheese reception in White Hall. Social Event Date: Hallow- een lands on Friday, Oct. 31 As to the floral decorations that have been a festival focal point, the this year, and thus a combined group is still thinking about how best to incorporate flowers to comple- 59% of respondents said they ment the event’s changes. “We may not have as many decorations as in would like to move the social years past, but that’s to be decided,” said Pickrell. “This event is evolv- event to Saturday, Nov. 1. ing, so this will be a year to try some new things and see how we like them.