Music

Friends I’m really proud of the work our music director, Elaine Choi, and our music ministry and sanctuary choir did this past Sunday with Considering Matthew Sheppard. Now, granted, they had some 60 extra voices they brought in as support. I’m not sure when I’ve heard such beautiful sound in our sanctuary—and that’s saying a lot. But our choir leads were still the heartbeat of the performance.

Each of them had a solo at one point. We’ve heard these voices before. But there was something different in this… Read more

“What is the New Cathedral Project’?”

We were in a meeting envisioning our capital campaign next fall. The New Cathedral Project was on a list of things we want to fund, so it’s a reasonable question. But I found myself fumbling with how to explain it.

Basically, it means we’re at the source for the best “contemporary” worship music being written. We’re not just receiving it from others. John Arndt has helped his band “The Brilliance” and collectives like… Read more

What took you to Germany recently?

I was there by invitation from AMIS, the Association for Music in International Schools. I was invited to be the guest conductor for the European high school honor choir (they spell it the American way) last March in Poland. I wasn’t yet cleared to travel internationally, so they postponed and held it this year in Germany.

I am so glad it… Read more

One of the foundational texts most of us had to read in secondary school is Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, about a caravan of pilgrims on the way to St. Thomas Becket’s shrine in Kent. We complained about having to read it, but I feel sorrier for kids today not made to read it. It’s good for you. It’s beloved partly because it’s so secular—bawdy and ordinary and alive—and not just churchly.

The travels I have upcoming are a combination of sacred and secular, if a bit more PG than Chaucer’s… Read more

Jason Byassee 

I’ve enjoyed preaching at TEMC this summer perhaps a bit more than senior ministers traditionally have. Our Festival of the Word has brought amazing preachers, as we have had this summer in Paul Scott Wilson and Donyelle McCray from Yale. Thanks for indulging me the chance to preach through Judges with Pastor Dayle and Joanne.

Earlier in the summer I got to preach and teach at Lakeside OH’s Chataqua Institution. This was originally a… Read more

​Our team is doing their part to engage community and mend the world in one way or another. Take a look at what's going on: 

Jason is jamming his summer travel into a one-month window in late spring and early summer. He’ll be in Turkey for a pilgrimage commemorating the seven ecumenical councils and the seven churches in Revelation through the end of May. Then he’ll preach and speak at a Chataqua in Lakeside, Ohio the first week of June and will teach at Northern Seminary outside Chicago the second week of… Read more

We are grateful to have Ryan McDonald (TEMC, alto) curate a meaningful Maundy Thursday musical reflection for us once again—now for the third time. Read the program note and join us on Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. for an evening of inspiring music and thoughtful messages as we prepare our hearts and minds in prayer during Holy Week.

– Elaine Choi, Jason Byassee

Guest blog post by Ryan McDonald

… Read more

By Dr. Elaine Choi

Music Through the Storm: Elaine in Ottawa Choir Festival 

On February 26, the eve of my last chemo session, I had the privilege of working with over 120 students from the Ottawa-Gatineau region at a choir festival hosted by the University of Ottawa.

Throughout the day, 6 choirs took turns performing for one another and participated in masterclass-style workshops, where I had the… Read more

Written by Dr. Elaine Choi

A few weeks ago, I cried in front of my adorable two and a half year-old niece, and she sat on my lap, gently dabbing tears off my face, and said, “Don’t cry goo ma, why you crying goo ma* [ 姑媽 ]?” Listening to her sweet voice, I cried more! (How could you not?!).

The next day, the… Read more

Friends: you may have noticed some new faces in our official leadership ranks. They’re not all unfamiliar: Olivia LaPointe has sung for us for years, and has just moved back from New Brunswick. But Fraser Elsdon and Matthew Coulthard are brand new to us. Here is a bit about them. Note: always feed the interns! Seriously, they’re eager to get to know you, so ask them to coffee or meals and get to know them! - Jason

Olivia LaPointe

… Read more