............Greetings of the New Year to each of you from the St. Paul Team of Music Ministers and myself!   We wish for all a healthy, safe and prosperous 2012!   These weeks of January have continued to fly by with many meaningful opportunities here at

St. Paul Church.

     I want to invite you to join us as our St. Paul Fine Arts Series offers a very delightful evening of food and music next week.   The concert season continues with our 7th Annual Valentine Dinner and Concert on Friday evening, February 3 in the St. Paul Activity Center.  Beginning at 6:00 p.m. we offer a scrumptious Valentine Dinner (by reservation only - @$15 per person) open to all by purchasing dinner tickets in advance no later than January 29.  Dinner tickets are available for purchase through the Church Office at 115 West 'B' Street during the week or by calling the Church Office at 618-233-3303.  We are thrilled this year to share in wonderful 'dinner music' which will be provided by string instrumental students of the Tinge Studio here in our area.  We will be serenaded by some of the most talent young string musicians in the Belleville area.  St. Paul organizations will have 'one of a kind' desserts to sell to complete your catered meal!  Please consider joining us for dinner as you will have the best seats in the house for the Evening Concert to follow!

     At 7:30 p.m. in the St. Paul Activity Center talented St. Paul Musicians including vocalists from the St. Paul Chancel Choir, Men's Ensemble and Women's Ensemble will share a Concert entitled "A CHORAL MEDLEY from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" arranged by Ed Lojeski.  The audience will be treated to songs from this ever beloved American Musical.   Accompanying at the piano will be Nancy Livingston and Mary Lu Bretsch with musical direction by Norbert Krausz.  In addition to the choral ensembles, we will be treated to special 'Musical Valentines' offered by Kent Karstens, Osceola Mueller, Amy Garces, Diana Trickey, Kris Mueller, Teresa Schmidt, Steve Schmidt, David Klingel, Lou Ryseff, Bill Guthrie, Linda Herrmann, Laura Sadler, Stephenie Bauza, and Pam Walton.  The concert is free of charge and open to the public.   A freewill offering will be taken during the concert.  Be sure to join us for this evening of food and music!

      COMING NEXT.......to the 2011-2012 St. Paul Fine Arts Series - THE WOMEN'S CHOIR & DANCERS of Cottey College 'IN CONCERT' in the St. Paul Church sanctuary on Friday evening, February 24, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.  This is a talented group of singing and dancing young ladies that will thrill you from this Liberal Arts College located in Nevada, Missouri.  A freewill offering will be taken during the concert.   Make plans to join us on Feb. 24!

     I SHARE WITH YOU the news of the very recent death of one of America's most gifted and giving Church and University musicians of our time - Dr. Gerre Hancock!   Dr. Hancock was for more than 30 years the Organist and Choirmaster at Saint Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City, concertized at the organ and taught master classes throughout the United States and across the globe, taught and directed boy choirs in the English tradition and had recently in his retirement, accepted a teaching position along with his wife, Dr. Judith Hancock at Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin.

     Dr. Hancock was a master at improvisation playing at the organ and did appear on the 1997-1998 St. Paul Fine Arts Series playing the St. Paul Schantz Pipe Organ.   He was very active in the American Guild of Organists and conducted master organ literature classes and played recitals up to the time of his sudden death.  Dr. Gerre Hancock was to have played an organ recital last Sunday, January 22 at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica and on January 23 was scheduled to present an organ master class for the American Guild of Organists - St. Louis Chapter at the Cathedral Basilica.   I give thanks for this very special servant of the Lord who made a difference in the lives of so many!

-May he rest in peace, Soli Deo Gloria for the life of Gerre Hancock! 

Norbert Krausz, Director of Music-Organist