Good Friday, April 2 services

Noon - 3:00 pm
the Preaching of the Passion
A service shared with the
First United Methodist Church, Williamstown
(35-minute segments, come and go as you wish)

5:30 pm Stations of the Cross for Children
(all ages welcome!)

7:00 pm Good Friday liturgy

Maundy Thursday, April 1

7:00 p.m.

This service commemorates the Last Supper

and Jesus's washing of his disciples' feet,

and prepares us for the events

of Good Friday and Easter.

Join us.

Parish Meeting on Sunday!

Sunday, Mar. 21 - 11:30

We're at an important juncture in refitting our buildings. The Facilities Committee has been working with Gary Corey of Centerline Architects in Bennington to envision better ways of utilizing our spaces. A new concept is emerging that brings our longed-for new kitchen tantalizingly within reach rather than a distant dream.

The Committee has reported to Vestry, and together with Vestry invites all parishioners to attend a meeting Sunday, March 21 at 11:30 in order to:

- Review the goals and status of the Campaign for St. John's - Revisit the Preservation Project and hear the latest about the structural repair and refinishing of the Lower Room - Learn about a possible new plan for reconfiguring the spaces adjacent to the Lower Room, including a new kitchen. The Facilities Committee and Vestry members are eager to hear from you as we discern our best options in realizing the goals of the Campaign for St. John's.

Compline this Thursday!

A Service of Compline: a peaceful way to end the day

Bask in the beauty of ancient chant and hymns accompanied by candlelight. Our choir leads the music; those in attendance can join in or simply sit back and enjoy the sounds around them and the opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of the day.

This contemplative service lasts 20 minutes.
Join us.

Benefit Concert Friday, March 5

St. John's Episcopal Church, Williamstown,

presents

Igor Lovchinsky, Piano

in a recital of music by
Haydn, Liszt, Medtner, and Gershwin

All proceeds will benefit
The Berkshire Food Project,
The Williamstown Food Pantry, and the
St. Stephen's Table of Pittsfield.

Russian-born American pianist Igor Lovchinsky has been hailed by Gramophone as a "star of the future" and acclaimed by Germany's Piano Magazine for the "elegance and rapturous beauty" of his playing.

Come hear him play the grand piano at the Williamstown Elementary School, and support hunger relief for your neighbors right here in the Berkshires.

WHERE: Williamstown Elementary School, 115 Church St. Williamstown, MA
WHEN: Friday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for students and seniors, and can be purchased from the office at St. John's Church (Monday-Friday 9-5) or from the office at the Williamstown Elementary School (during school hours). Tickets will also be available at the door.

The final free concert of the 2009 Summer Noontime concert series at St. John's Episcopal Church will be held on Monday, August 20. Featured performers are New York-based violinists Emily Kalish and Abigale Reisman in a program of music by Bartok, Hindemith and traditional fiddle tunes.
Audience members are invited to bring a bag lunch to eat during the concert. St. John's will provide drinks and cookies. The concert has no admission charge, but donations to offset expenses are welcome.

Emily Kalish grew up in Great Barrington, where she was a student of Alla Zernitskaya. She holds a Bachelor's of Music in violin performance from The Hartt School, where she studied with Katie Lansdale, and a Master's of Music in violin performance from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Burton Kaplan. An avid chamber musician, she has attended Charles Castleman's Quartet Program and worked with members of the Colorado, American, Ying, Brentano, Borromeo, Orion and Miami Quartets. She is a member of the Berkshire Symphony and the Westchester Chamber Orchestra, and is on the faculty of the Enchanted Garden Conservatory in Ridgefield, CT. This past summer she was a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO. She is the first violinist in a string quartet that will spend next three months performing aboard the cruise liner Zaandam on its voyages to Alaska and Hawaii.

Abigale Reisman started her violin studies at age 5 in Atlanta. When she was 15 she joined the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra where she played for two years. She spent her senior year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Abigale currently studies violin at the Manhattan School of Music with Burton Kaplan. She has recently become very interested in Klezmer music and all types of fiddling, and hopes to pursue these newfound passions.

This is the final concert on the 2009 series - we look forward to seeing you next year!

loadbang in concert!

Members of loadbang performing at St. John's Episcopal Church on Monday, August 10. The concert was part of the annual Summer Noontime concert series, held on Mondays in July and August. The concert included works by well-known composers John Cage and David Lang; new works by emerging composers Ya-Jhu Yang, Alexandre Lunsqui and Scott Worthington; free improvisation by the group members.

About loadbang:
Baritone Jeffery Gavett, trumpeter Andy Kozar, bass clarinetist Alejanro T. Acierto and trombonist Will Lang met as part of the first class of Manhattan School of Music's Contemporary Performance program, and have been playing together ever since. In the past year they have premiered more than 15 works for their unique instrumentation (bass clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone voice), including several work written by members of the band, and a new arrangement by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang. They also perform works for indeterminate ensemble, including such New York School classics as Brown's December 1952 and Cage's Four6.

Not content to dwell solely in the realm of notated music, loadbang is known for its searing and unpredictable improvisations, exploring the edges of instrumental and vocal timbre and technique. Most recently they made their first trip to Boston for a joint show with ai ensemble and to Philadelphia to perform as a part of the Sci-Fi Philly series. They have performed along side musicians and ensembles such as So Percussion, Lukas Ligeti, and Newspeak. Their recent performances in New York include appearances at The Tank, The Stone, The 1st Annual New York New Music Bake Sale, and an all John Cage evening at the Gershwin Hotel.

To hear samples of their music, and find out more about the group, visit www.myspace.com/loadbangmusic