Preparing For Christmas,

Since July, At Trinity

“Christmas in July.” It’s a familiar phrase used by retailers to snare customers for special summer sale days.

For Fiona Smith Sutherland of Trinity Episcopal Church, it means something very different… and much more important. Ms Sutherland Smith is Trinity’s music minister and she began planning the music for this year’s Christmas services last summer.

Trinity Church, at 30 Main Street, will have two Christmas Eve services on December 24. All are welcome to join members of the church for either of the celebrations.

Trinity has a long, proud musical tradition, which includes a number of choral groups: The Re-Creation Contemporary Group and The Instrumental Ensemble that provide music for the church services, and the Music at Trinity program, which presents special musical events throughout the year to the community. But it is on the holiest days of the year that the music reverberates most joyously up to the gothic heights of the sanctuary.

“In its own special way, music touches our souls and provides a special way for us to give thanks to God for all he has done for us,” says Boyd Schlaefer, a longstanding member of the choir along with his wife, Michelle McBride. Mr Schlaefer and Ms McBride are also members of the New York City Opera, a testament to the high level of musical talent that transforms Ms Smith Sutherland’s musical vision into superb reality.

“Performing on the New York stage is wonderful. But there’s something really special when we get to come home and sing with family and friends at Trinity,” said Ms McBride, adding, “and that includes our daughter Bronwyn, who’s a member of the Boys’ and Girls’ Choir.”

But why the need to start planning six months in advance? Partial blame can be placed on the high standards set by past Christmas services. Each year Ms Sutherland Smith must search for new ways to celebrate these special moments.

“If this year’s music program isn’t better than last year’s, well, then I’m not doing my job,” she said.

Another reason is that on Christmas Eve there are actually two, very different church services at Trinity, at 5 and 11 pm.

“The 5 pm service,” explained Ms Sutherland Smith, “is geared toward families, and the music reflects that. The Trinity Choristers, our choir of boys and girls in grades 3 to 12, leads the musical worship at this service. Quite a responsibility for a child. Our 21 young Choristers lead worship every week, giving them a true sense of their own importance in the liturgy. Our Primary Choir, for boys and girls grade K–2, also adds some special music at [the 5 pm] service.

“The 11 pm service is the traditional candlelight ‘midnight’ service,” she continued. “Our adult choir provides the music to lead the worship at this service. So the music does not take over the beautiful liturgy, we begin this service with a choral and instrumental prelude at 10:30. Many people want to begin their Christmas with lots of music, and we make sure they will.”

So what’s in the offing this year? At both Christmas Eve services the music will accompanied by harp and trumpet in addition to the traditional organ. The women of the adult choir will sing Benjamin Britten’s marvelous “Ceremony of Carols” with harp as part of the prelude, and the senior Trinity Choristers will sing three movements at the family service.

The adult choir also is singing the traditional “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” Berlioz’ A Shepherd’s Farewell, and an anthem by H.C. Stewart arranged for choir, trumpet, and organ. The trumpet virtuoso Doug Myers will also be performing during both services.

Additionally, this year there will be lots of international carols. The Trinity Choristers are singing in French, and the senior Trinity Choristers (grades 6–2) will sing in German. The children have been working on the Christmas music for the last two months, and the adults for six weeks. All three choirs rehearse weekly.

“It’s quite a commitment, and I’m proud and grateful for the contributions from each and every member who participates,” said Ms Sutherland Smith.

On the evening of December 24, the church will be filled with thankful parishioners joined together in joyful celebration of this most holy time of year. Their voices will be raised, their spirits will be bright, and all will be well.