Dear St. Mary's Choir Members!

I hope to begin using this forum to give you updates on important information about our choir. Don't worry, I will still send emails to make sure that everyone receives necessary and pertinent information.

This Sunday is the first Sunday that we're back to a normal schedule at St. Mary's. Only one Divine Liturgy at the cathedral at 9 am, and one Divine Liturgy at the cemetery chapel at 9 am. It's also the first Sunday of Church School. In addition to this, we are in post feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (September 8) and, in some ways, preparing for the great feast of the Elevation of the Cross on September 14. As is the tradition here at St. Mary's, since we're in post feast period, we will sing festal antiphons instead of the typical psalms (103 and 148) and Beatitudes. I will prepare a outline for all this in hopes to make it easier for everyone.

At the singing of the second antiphon, we will sing the refrain "O Son of God, who rose from the dead, save us who sing to Thee! Alleluia!" instead of what is written in the music (O Son of God who art wonderful in Thy saints, save us who sing to Thee! Alleluia!). I will remind everyone about this on Sunday.

The Troparia and Kontakia at Sunday's liturgy will be as follows:

Resurrection Troparion, Tone 3
Festal Troparion, Tone 4
St. Theodora Troparion, Tone 8
Resurrection Kontakion, Tone 3
Glory...St. Theodora Kontakion, Tone 2
Now...Festal Kontakion, Tone 4

Here's a link to music of the above troparia and kontakia (with the exception of the ones for the Resurrection).

Two Prokeimena. The first for the feast (My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, Tone 3) and the second for the Sunday before the Feast of the Elevation of the Cross (O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, Tone 6).

I felt we had a wonderful first-back rehearsal this past Wednesday. I'm very much eager and looking forward to working with all of you again.

Deacon Gregory Ealy