This Sunday, interim organist James is playing music by Joséphine Boulay and Eugène Gigout. Ms. Boulay, blind since the age of three, studied organ and composition at the Paris Conservatoire, and was the first woman to win first prize at the organ. For 37 years Ms. Boulay taught piano, organ, composition and harmony at the National Institution for the Blind. M. Gigout studied in Paris, and for 62 years served as organist at Saint-Augustin Church in Paris. This Sunday’s Toccata is Gigout’s best-known work, and for good reason!

At 9:00, the St. Michael’s Singers will sing two anthems in honor of St. Francis Day. At the Offertory, we will sing The Blue Bird, by C. V. Stanford. This is the centenary of Stanford’s death, and we are pleased to present Stanford’s best loved partsong. During Communion we will sing Kevin Siegfried’s arrangement of the Shaker song, Heavenly Display. “What heavenly things do the waves of the ocean, or the wheels of a timepeace imitate?”

At 11:00, the Choristers and the Saints & Singers Choir combine forces to sing A Song for the Season of Creation, composed by Malcolm Guite and Ian Stephens, on commission from the Church of England for the first Creationtide in England. Also, the Choristers will sing Butterflies and Moths, from Andrew Carter’s Benedicite. “All you fluttering and flittering and flying creatures, come magnify the Lord.”

Finally, thank you, James Walker! We have so much enjoyed your presence here at St. Michael & All Angels as our interim organist. You stepped right into whatever we asked of you, with a smile and good will. You’ve been a great part of our community while Hannah has been on family leave. Your great talent and experience made everything run very smoothly. We hope to see you again, soon. You have a permanent welcome here at St. Michael’s!