From the Rector: Musical Chairs with the Organ Speakers

4 FEBRUary 2025

This past Sunday we celebrated the ancient feast of Candlemas. I mentioned in the homily that if this feast falls on a Sunday, it supersedes the Sunday after Epiphany. Some churches leave their nativity scenes out until Candlemas, as for many this is the feast that officially ends the Christmas cycle. Sunday was the fortieth day after Christmas, when we hear the final childhood story of Jesus - his presentation in the Jerusalem Temple where Simeon and Anna greet the Holy Family.

On Sunday if you thought the organ had a greater presence within the church, your senses were correct. Last week the organ speakers in the choir loft were repositioned. Years ago when the electronic Walker organ was installed, the majority of speakers were placed along the southern wall, where they were completely hidden by the defunct pipe organ. When the pipe organ was removed during the pandemic, the organ console was placed where the old pipe organ was positioned. The positive effect of this move was that the growing choir had additional room in the loft. The negative result was that the speakers were directly behind the organist. Thus, the organ often seemed too loud to the organist, and yet too soft for the congregation.

The good news is that with some creative repositioning of the speakers, the problem has been resolved, and even more wonderful, the speakers have been placed to better support the singing of the congregation. I noticed an immediate difference in how the organ sounds throughout the church. I am also happy that our organist will no longer have the speakers blaring right behind her. Our organist, Kathy Crosier, mentioned in her online blog that it was as if she was playing an entirely new instrument.

On Sunday we also celebrated my twentieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Many thanks to everyone for the congratulatory messages, and thank you for the lovely reception after High Mass. Thank you also to those who have given to St. Andrew’s Schools. As you read this letter, I will have begun a few days of vacation, as well as some days of spiritual retreat. I am so pleased that Father Douglas Fenton, retired Archdeacon from the Diocese of New Westminster (Vancouver), will be with you for the next two Sundays. Many of you have fond memories of Father Douglas from when he covered for me during my sabbatical. I have known Father Douglas for the entirety of my priesthood, and it is wonderful that he can be with us these two weeks.

Father Paul Lillie +