Holiday Concert News from the Diocese of New Jersey

The American Boychoir Christmas Concert At Trinity Church, Asbury Park, Dec. 6, 7 pm.

The American Boychoir is regarded as the United States’ premier concert boys’ choir and one of the finest boychoirs in the world. It continues to dazzle audiences with its unique blend of musical sophistication,effervescent spirit and ensemble virtuosity. Its members - boys from grades 4 through 8, reflecting the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of our nation - come from eight states and four foreign countries to pursue a rigorous musical and academic curriculum at The American Boychoir School,the only non-sectarian boys’ choir school in the nation. Founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1937, The American Boychoir has been located in Princeton, New Jersey, since 1950. In addition to maintaining an active national and international touring schedule, the ensemble performs and records regularly with such world-class artists and ensembles as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, soprano Jessye Norman, pop diva Beyoncé, and jazz vocalist and conductor Bobby McFerrin. They will make a holiday appearance at Trinity Church in Asbury Park this Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Tickets will be on sale after church or via the parish office (http://us.mc635.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=office@TrinityNJ.com or 732-775-5084). Call for more information.


The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra Choir of Christ Church, New Brunswick sings MESSIAH: A SACRED ORATORIO by George Frederic Handel

The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra Choir of Christ Church will perform Handel's Messiah on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, beginning at 8 pm. The orchestra is conducted by Mark Trautman, and features the voices of Diana Whitener, soprano; Giulia Utz, alto; Jack Zamboni, tenor; and John-Andrew Fernandez, bass. The concert will be held at the NJ State Theatre, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ. Go to the website http://www.statetheatrenj.org/ for more info.


Trinity Church in Rocky Hill Offers Christmas Concert Dec. 7, 2008 at 5 pm

The choir, parishioners, and friends of Trinity Church in Rocky Hill (in the Trenton Convocation) will present their annual "Christmas Concert" at 5:00 pm, Sunday December 7. All are invited to join the Trinity family for a program of music and fellowship, led by Choirmaster and Organist, Michael Rider. The concert will be followed by a potluck supper (provided by parishioners). Please join us in our historic church, consecrated in 1864. For directions or additional information please call (609) 921-8971 or visit our website at http://www.trinityrockyhill.org/. Email us at TrinityRockyHill@Comcast.net


Music at Trinity Church, Moorestown: Advent Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 4:00 pm

The Trinity, Coventry, Canterbury and Carillon Choirs, with Vernon Williams, director and Joanne Owen, organist. Music will include: Comfort, Comfort Ye My People ~ Claude Goudimel; Carol of Prophecy ~ Shirley W. McRae; Rejoice in the Lord Always ~ Anonymous; Magnificat ~ George Dyson; There Is No Rose ~ Pat Messick; Ave Maria ~ Franz Biebl; We Wait for Thy Loving Kindness ~ William McKie

Please join us on Sunday afternoon for a service of Advent Lessons and Carols in the beautiful setting of Trinity Church. The service will be similar in structure to the familiar Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas as sung at King's College in Cambridge, in which readings, hymns,and choir anthems are interwoven to tell the story of Christmas. In our service, of course, the readings and music will focus on Advent, the season of joyful preparation for and anticipation of the coming of our Lord. Three vocal choirs and the handbell choir will join forces to present a variety of music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Our guest organist, Joanne Koerber Owen began studying organ with Richard Wegner in Baltimore. She continued her studies with Paul Bunjes, Carl Halter and Richard Heschke at Concordia University, Chicago and received a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Church Music from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester where she was a student of Russell Saunders and David Craighead. Joanne has held positions as church musician in Chicago; Rochester; Wilmington, Delaware and Woodstown, New Jersey. From 1990-2002 she was Minister of Music and Arts at St. John's Episcopal Church in Salem, NJ, serving as organist, choir director, handbell choir director and director of the church's music and arts series. The concert is made possible by the Friends of Trinity Music, Trinity Episcopal Church, 207 West Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057. Phone 857.235.0811 The Rev. Philip W. Stowell, Rector

BREAKFAST WITH ST. NICHOLAS Saturday December 6, 2008, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 142 Sand Hill Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ

You are invited to come to our free St. Nicholas Day celebration! Bring visitors, neighbors, friends and family! Enjoy fellowship and a hot breakfast! Sing Christmas carols and listen to stories about Advent and the legend of St. Nicholas. Afterwards, the children will be invited to sit on his lap and share with him what they want for Christmas. Enjoy making Christmas and Advent crafts. Help us fill St. Nicholas's sack! Everyone is invited to bring a gift of new mittens, warm hat or scarf for St. Nicholas to take to children in an area shelter for the homeless, or bring in items* for him to deliver to the Seaman's Church Institute (SCI),which serves thousands of sailors located in Ports Elizabeth and Newark. Please RSVP to the church office at 732-297-4607 or office@stbarnabas-sbnj.org *items SCI has requested are: unscented hypoallergenic hand lotion (2-4 oz. bottles); unscented, colorless lip balm; sealed packages of holiday sweets; books or activities like Sudoku, word searches and playing cards; microwave popcorn and sugarless gum.