*Green Parish*

                Music Director’s Report

                January 19^th 2009

                Aaron Purdie- Music Director

To the Parish membership and leadership of St. Johns,

                As you are surely aware, Tracy’s leaving left a gap in many ways. Tracy’s talent as a musician was a true blessing. When I was approached to take over Tracy’s position and lead the music at St. John’s I knew that it would have to take a different form.  This year we have been lucky to have many guest musicians at our Sunday morning services as well as our special services.  Linda Halverson, Tessa Dudley, Maryann Amor, Meaghan Bruce, Joy Keeler, Colleen Koop, Ed Cole, Carol Grolman and Kelly Coubrough were all willing to donate their time to the music at St. John’s.  Recently Linda Halverson has joined the parish as our musician on an ongoing basis. 

                This year we turned our ministry inwards and focused on nurturing the church family with songs of healing both familiar and unfamiliar.  We also began a partnership with the Squamish United Church to continue having Taizé evening prayer services. Our special services this year were very special indeed. We had many soloists performing instrumentally as well as vocally. Our loyal choir continued to assist in leading the music. Our Maundy Thursday service was especially poignant.

                I have shared this first year with Wendy (Eyre-Gray) and I truly feel that I couldn’t have done much of what we did without her support. Thanks to everyone else who helped with the music at St. John’s this year.