Music Ministry Director

October 8, 2015

Dear St. Paul’s Friends,

I am very pleased to announce that Mr. Randy Day of Brunswick Maine will join the St. Paul’s staff as our permanent, part-time Music Ministry Director. Randy was one of three highly experienced and qualified candidates who interviewed with our St. Paul’s Music Ministry Director Search Advisory Team and the St. Paul’s Adult Choir.

Randy’s conducting abilities together with his organ performance, passion for teaching all ages, his six enthusiastic references, the excellent counsel from the Search Advisory Team and input from the Adult Choir were instrumental in finalizing my decision to call Randy to ministry at St. Paul’s. He will collaborate with Jane Burke and me as we move forward to deepen our spiritual lives through music while maintaining the best of our traditional Episcopal worship.

Randy moved to Brunswick 18 months ago and joined the Midcoast Symphony as a violinist. He currently serves as the musician for Islands Community Church on Bailey Island and directs the Thornton Oaks Singers.
Before moving to Brunswick, Randy served as Minister of Music at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hanover, Pennsylvania and for six years at St. John’s Episcopal Church as Organist and Choirmaster in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While in Florida, Randy also served Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, a mission church of 11 years.

I could not have envisioned our music ministry without the wise counsel of our Wardens, Pat Ryan, Senior Warden and Paul Womer, Junior Warden whom I wish to thank along with the Finance Committee who discussed the slight expansion of this position and its effect on the budget. I give thanks to the Vestry who deliberated over this ministry position for two meetings before I commenced our search.

I am deeply thankful to the committed members of our parish who contributed their time and good counsel (in addition to two meals for the choir at the auditions!). Please help me thank, John Cordts (Vestry), Leslie Brancart (choir), Julia Walkling (choir), Terry Leitzell (choir), Susan Brown (musician for Family Eucharist), Jane Burke (staff, Christian Formation Director), Ally Collins (High School Youth Group, Altar Guild and Acolyte), Tobey Lee (Christmas Fair and founder of the Book Group). They put in hours and encouraged me to finalize the search by interviewing the references for two final candidates.

Randy will begin his ministry with St. Paul’s on Tuesday, October 27. He will lead choir practice on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00pm. His first Sunday will be November 1, All Saints’ Day for “First Sundays: Life Together at 9am” when our entire congregation will meet together followed by a reception to meet Randy.

In Faith and Joy,

Carolyn +

The Rev. Carolyn H. Eklund