musicMINISTRY


AUGUST 22

Retirement Celebration

  • 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Worship service recognition
  • 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast cake reception
  • Lunch reception and program following late service

This August, Dr. Mark Bender, Minister of Music, retires from 47 years of music ministry, and 30 years of faithful service and gifted leadership at St. Paul's.  


Everyone is welcome to join us as we “pull out all the stops” and give thanks to the Lord for Dr. Mark Bender on his retirement after decades of music ministry and countless other contributions he has made to the church-at-large.


All Sunday sanctuary services on August 22 will feature special music and Dr. Bender will be called forward for special recognition at the 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. (Note the late-service time change to 11:00 a.m. No Living Stone service will be held on August 22.)


Special recognition will also occur at the Fellowship Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the gym, and Mark will be available to greet friends in the narthex following the 9:30 a.m. service. 


After the late service, join us for a light lunch reception and program to honor Dr. Bender, including speakers and video presentations.


Gifts

Baskets will be provided at the retirement celebration to collect cards and notes. For those who may wish to contribute toward a retirement gift for Mark, checks may be mailed or delivered to the church office, to the attention of Laurie Barnett, no later than August 15.  Checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with “Bender retirement” in the memo.  

music opportunities

Music serves a vital role in the worship life of St. Paul's. A number of opportunities are provided for people to use their talents in proclaiming the Gospel through music. Prayerfully consider serving this season in one or more of the following music ensembles


For more information, contact St. Paul's Minister of Music, Mark Bender, or Associate Minister of Music, Matt Gerhardt, or those listed as directors below: Worship Team Director, Whitney Wade, and Handbells Director, Carol Petering. Click the addme icon to read more about each choir.

  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Men and women, high school to adult
    • Traditional, liturgical music, from simple unison to more complex literature
    • Rehearsals: Music Room, Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., late August through May

  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Men, high school to adult
    • Sings several times each year
    • Rehearsals: two or three weeks before singing; contact the director for dates and times

  • Director: Matt Gerhardt

    • Women, high school to adult
    • Sings several times each year
    • Rehearsals: two or three weeks before singing; contact the director for dates and times

  • Director: Carol Petering

    • Men and women, high school to adult
    • Some prior music reading ability required
    • Rehearsals: Church balcony, Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., late August through May

  • Director: Carol Petering

    • Adult women
    • Some prior music reading ability required
    • Rehearsals: Church balcony, Thursdays, 3:00-4:30 p.m., late August through May

  • Director: Mark Bender

    • Experienced instrumentalists, high school to adult
    • Brass, percussion, strings, woodwind
    • Rehearsals: Scheduled as needed

  • Director: Whitney Wade

    • Participate in our Living Stone service on Sunday mornings at 10:45am
    • Experienced instrumentalists & singers, high school to adult
    • Guitars, drums, bass, horns, strings, keyboards, woodwinds, and voices

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" 

PSALM 98:4

2020-2021

music at st. Paul's

Music at St. Paul's is a vital, self-sustaining component of our congregation's music ministry. Currently in its 29th season, this annual series of special services and musical events brings to St. Paul's guest ensembles and artists who, through words and music, proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This music series benefits the members of St. Paul's and serves as an outreach to the greater St. Louis community and beyond. In addition, Music at St. Paul's sponsors the music for some of the festival services in our congregation's regular worship life and provides enrichment for the overall music ministry of our parish.


To ensure that St. Paul's can observe county ordinances on capacity limits, and offer six-foot pew distancing, all those attending on-site music events will need to preregister in advance. For further assistance with registration, please phone our church office at 314-822-0447.


Masks Required: In compliance with county safety mandates, all event guests will be required to wear a face mask while on premises, and for the duration of the event. To read more about general safety procedures in place at St. Paul's, click here. 

  • Click here to support Music at St. Paul's with your donation online
  • Update your information or contact us here
  • Visit Music at St. Paul's on Facebook here
  • Downloadable 2020-2021 Season Poster here


Offerings during this season include:

  • SEPTEMBER 2021: PAUL GERHARDT HYMN FESTIVAL
    Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker, Commentator
    Mr. Matthew Gerhardt, Organist
    Sunday, September 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. 


  • NOVEMBER 2021: AMERICAN KANTOREI
    Dr. Maurice Boyer, Conductor
    Sunday, November 8, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. 

  • DECEMBER 2021: A SERVICE OF SACRED MUSIC FOR THE TIME OF CHRISTMAS
    Choirs and Instrumentalists of St. Paul’s
    Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
    Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. 

  • JANUARY 2021: ART AND SONG
    Kelly Schumacher, Artist l Erin Bode, Vocalist
    Sunday, January 31, 2021
    Art Exhibit 2:00-6:00 p.m. l Concert 4:00 p.m. 

  • MARCH 2021: KAPELLE CONCERT Video  Watch recording
    Dr. Charles Brown, Conductor
    Kapelle choral ensemble, Concordia University Chicago
    Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
    Choir sings at all four Sanctuary worship services March 6 & 7
  • MAY 2021: THE FESTIVAL OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
    Choirs and Instrumentalists of St. Paul’s
    Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Divine Service

  • POSTPONED (DATE TBA): ORGAN CONCERT
    Mr. Nicholas Quardokus, Assistant Organist, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, New York City, New York

radio interviews

with St. Paul's Music Ministers

SEPT. 25, 2020 BROADCAST: Listen here

Mr. Matthew Gerhardt, St. Paul’s Associate Minister of Music, and the Rev. Dr. Jon Vieker talked with KFUO Radio Coffee Hour hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth about Music at St. Paul's 2020-2021 season-opening hymn festival. The pair discussed who Paul Gerhardt was and what his life was like, the influences on his hymn writing, and the wonderful hymnody presented and sung at St. Paul's in September. 


DEC. 3, 2019 BROADCAST: Listen here

Dr. Mark Bender, St. Paul's Minister of Music, and Matt Gerhart, Associate Minister of Music, visited the KFUO 850AM studios as guests on The Coffee Hour show, with hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth, during the season of Advent. They discussed the Service of Sacred Music for the Time of Christmas, including the meaningfulness of the choral selections, and the Bible passages and liturgy behind them.