Listen to Music from St. Stephen’s on WVIA on Sundays at 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, September-June.

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September

200th Regency Gala – Friday, September 15, 2017 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

In honor of our milestone anniversary, St. Stephen’s proudly announces its 200th Anniversary Regency Gala to honor the year of our founding in 1817 to be held, Friday, September 15, 2017 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

The 200th Regency Gala will be held in the beautiful Nave of the Church, featuring buffet stations and hors d’oeuvres by the Westmoreland Club and drink with friends and family across the country, dressed in period costume of the early 19th century if you so desire.

We invite you to join us in this celebration by becoming a Sponsor, Benefactor or Patron or simply reserve your ticket(s). Tickets are $50 per person. Please call Tony Brooks at 570-793-3631 if you would like to be a Sponsor ($1,000 for 8 tickets), Benefactor ($500 for 4 tickets) or Patron ($200 for 2 tickets) by August 7th. Names will be printed in the invitation and program. Invitations will be mailed the second week of August.

Thank you.

September 29  7:30pm – 9:00pm;  Stefan Kiessling Organ Recital

Stefan Kiessling is the Assistant Organist of the Thomaskirche (Church of St. Thomas) in Leipzig, Germany, where Johann Sebastian Bach served as Kappellmeister (Director of Music) from 1723 until his death in 1750, and where his remains are buried.

Herr Kiessling’s Wilkes-Barre recital, jointly sponsored by St. Stephen’s and the Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), will feature works by Bach, Mendelssohn, and Max Reger’s Fantasy on “A mighty fortress is our God,” in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.

A suggested offering of $15 ($10 for students with ID) will be requested of those able to contribute.

October

Viennese Choral Eucharist with strings
Sunday, October 8, 10:30 a.m.
(Prelude begins at 10:15 a.m.)

In commemoration of the 1817 Enrollment of Legal Incorporation of our parish, St. Stephen’s choir will perform movements from the Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo (“Little Organ Mass”) by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). The choir will be directed and accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach, supported by string players from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society.
Joseph Haydn moved to Vienna at the age of eight and spent the next nine years as a chorister of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. After leaving the choir, he began his career as a freelance musician for patrons that included the imperial court. For many years he worked as the court musician for the princes of the wealthy Austrian Esterházy family. By 1795 Haydn was one of Europe’s most popular composers, a well-known figure in Vienna. He spent most of his time in his home, a large house in the suburb of Windmühle. His music was certainly played and enjoyed at the time our parish was founded.

Choral Eucharist with Bishop Sean
Sunday, October 29, 9:30 a.m.
(Combined service. Prelude begins at 9:15 a.m.)

For the official celebration of our parish’s 200th anniversary, we will be joined by the Right Rev. Sean Rowe, Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of Bethlehem, as celebrant and preacher for a special Holy Eucharist. Special music by St. Stephen’s choir will be directed and accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach. The service will be followed by a catered brunch for parishioners.

Choral Evensong with Newly-Commissioned Canticles

Sunday, October 29, 5:00 p.m.
(Prelude begins at 4:45 p.m.)

In a continuation of the morning’s celebration of our parish’s 200th anniversary, a special Choral Evensong will be sung by the Choirs of St. Stephen’s and the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, led by Canon Mark Laubach and Stephen Williams. New compositions of the Evening Canticles (Magnificat and Nunc dimittis) will be premiered. The Canticles were commissioned through the generosity of parishioner Charles Ingram, as a permanent commemoration of this major milestone in the life of St. Stephen’s. We are excited that Robert Nicholls, the composer of the new works, will be with us for the premier and will direct the combined choirs.
Robert Nicholls is long-time friend to many at St. Stephen’s, who have come to know him through his affiliation over the years with the RSCMA King’s College Course. Robert describes himself as “a father, husband, musician, organist, improviser, choir master, and composer.” He began singing as a boy chorister at Westminster Abbey in London. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music from Cambridge University (Gonville and Caius College, followed by St. John’s College). After graduation, Robert accepted a position as director of music and organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Evansville, IN, where he directs a comprehensive Choir School program grounded in the RSCMA tradition. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Organ at the Indiana University School of Music. Robert is a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and in 2012 he won first prize in the AGO National Competition in Organ Improvisation. We are very blessed to receive these new works from a composer who is increasingly in demand.