First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma Annual Report for 2021

Music Ministry JANE SHELLY, MUSIC DIRECTOR 2021 saw the music ministry navigating all the ins and outs of Covid protocols as we continued to provide service music for the congregation.

We started the year hopeful that “in no time at all”, we would be back in person able to sing in church, perhaps even maskless…… right…..

My underlying mantra for 2021 has been gratitude that we developed the hybrid service model and did not let it go even when it looked like we would be back. Under Pastor John’s leadership, we navigated the waters while allowing everyone to gauge their own comfort level and following county guidelines.

The Choir continued to make Acapella recordings. We performed anthems during Lent and for Easter and then one more in April. We reconvened in the fall, hoping to be able to sing in person. The first couple of rehearsals, we met outside – many thanks to Homer for donating the keyboard. Then it got too cold and too dark so we moved indoors. We sang live on a monthly basis until Advent, at which time we sang weekly through Christmas Eve. We have six stalwart members to whom I am extremely grateful.

The Worship Ensemble sang each week that enough of us were available.

Many thanks to Shawn Dooley, Dan Ellecamp and Grete Hansen for stepping up and performing with us when you were available or needed.

Jenny and I continued to make recordings of the hymns to be sung. Even when Jenny was back in the church playing the hymns live, we continued to pre23