Holy Eucharist is celebrated in the chapel on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon.

There are special services on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.

Adults sometimes wonder why we bring small children into the church. Having them there is rather like having them eat at the supper table even though their manners are not elegant. They wiggle, poke and swing their legs simply because they are children; they also sing, pray and give with us. We do not want our children to be disruptive or hamper the church's worship; but on the other hand, we must remember that baptized children are members of the Body of Christ--the Church--and children should be among the worshipping people. They must participate in their own way, for they cannot participate as adults. They are growing in understanding and learning to take their place in the church family. Human beings, both large and small, attain meaning only after they have experiences to interpret.

We as adults can accept and perhaps even value the children's restlessness during worship, but they are learning:

• that it is important to come to this place on Sunday;
• that the sights, sounds and feelings of the church are good, though they aren't always understandable;
• that something is expected of them in this place; and
• that they respond with song and prayer and offering.

St. John's Parish Choir, led by Peggy Howell and composed of men and women, rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm as well as on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. We sing a wide variety of interesting and challenging music, from Medieval chant to Renaissance polyphony to Shaker pieces to African-American Spirituals to music by many contemporary composers. We also sing for special events: this year we have an Evensong in November, an Advent Lessons and Carols Service in December, a Celtic Evensong and Eucharist in January, and a church opera in April. If you like to sing, and are interested in the Parish Choir, please call Peggy Howell at 528-1138 ext. 20. We are always on the lookout for new singers!

Our choirs for young people are part of the Royal School of Church Music program. Children begin by participating in a Training Choir, where they learn to sing as well as to develop skills necessary to participate in worship services. The Training Choir is open to children who are at least in second grade. It meets from 4:00-5:00 on Wednesday afternoons. When they are ready, usually at some point in February, children become full members of the Treble Choir and receive an RSCM medal. The Elementary-school-aged Treble Choir meets from 4:15-5:15 on Wednesdays. Children in the Treble and Training choirs usually sing in church twice a month. Call Peggy Howell to enroll your child in Treble or Training choir.

The St. Cecilia Choir is a group of older elementary, middle school and high school girls who sing interesting challenging 2 and 3 part music. They rehearse on Wednesday afternoons from 4:45pm - 5:45pm. They sing two or three times a month with the Treble and Training Choirs, with the full Parish Choir, and with a small group of women from the Parish Choir.

"The Pilgrim," a church opera by Richard Proulx, will be presented at St. John's Church on Friday, April 4 and Sunday, April 6, at 7:30 pm.  Nine soloists, a chamber orchestra, a monastic choir, and a handbell choir will be featured in this liturgical music drama based on texts from medieval Easter plays, poems of Christina Rosetti, other liturgical texts, and Gregorian hymns.  Peggy Haas Howell is the director.  Tickets are $12 for general admission and $25 for reserved seats and are available at St. John's Church (Elmwood Avenue, off Rivermont Avenue), or by calling 528-1138. Click here to learn more about this event.