Music Ministry
The St. Mary’s Music Ministry is composed of six choirs and is affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music.
If you have an interest in participating in one of our choirs, see the descriptions below and contact Gregory Hooker, Minister of Music.
Music Ministry
2026-2027
Musical Offerings
at St. Mary’s
Choral Evensong
for Saint Francis
October 4, 5:00 pm
An Arts Committee Reception follows the October 4 Choral Evensong featuring the opening of an exhibit in Merrow Fellowship Center.
Choral Evensong is an entry into the spiritual realm of prayer through the beauty of music. The service is short, requiring little of the congregation but open ears and open hearts.
At the English Reformation the monastic daily offices of Vespers and Compline were combined into one service called Evening Prayer or Evensong for use in cathedrals and parishes. (The daily offices do not include a sermon or the Eucharist.) At Choral Evensong the choir takes a primary role in offering prayer and praise on behalf of the congregation. Because of the rich and vast corpus of music written for Evensong by composers across the centuries to our present day, Choral Evensong has become one of the glories of our Anglican tradition.
St. Mary’s Choir will lead the congregation in prayers, anthems, hymns, a psalm and canticles. Come support the choir and receive the spiritual blessing of Choral Evensong.
100th Anniversary
Re-dedication Organ Recital
Sunday, October 23, 7:30 pm
Brenda Portman, Guest Artist
Co-sponsored by St. Mary's Music Fund and the American Guild of Organists Northern Virginia Chapter
In Celebration of the completion of St. Mary’s Lively-Fulcher Organ and St. Mary’s 100th Anniversary
All Saints Choral Requiem
November 1, 5:00 pm
Maurice Duruflé, Requiem
with Choir and Orchestra
Remembering the Faithful Departed
A Reception follows in Paca Hall.
Advent Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 6, 5:00 pm
St. Mary's Choirs herald the season of our Lord's Coming.
A Reception follows in Paca Parish Hall.
An Epiphany Procession
Tuesday, January 10, 5:00 pm
St. Mary’s Choir leads a service celebrating the gifts of incense, water and wine in the ministry of Jesus Christ and includes the Procession of the Three Kings.
Eve of Candlemas
Choral Eucharist
Sunday, February 7, 5:00 pm
St. Mary’s Choir leads this Eucharist commemorating
the light of Christ and honoring our Altar Guild.
Choral Evensong
Sunday, March 7, 5:00 pm
Followed by an Art Committee Reception in Paca Parish Hall.
Sung Compline
Sunday, April 4, 8:00 pm
Sung by St. Mary's Schola
Choral Evensong
Sunday, May 2, 5:00 pm
A Reception follows in Paca Parish Hall.
