"Banner Year" Testimony: sara evinger

How I came to St. John’s and why I’m still here.

In 1979, Joe and I had just moved to Oakland. As Joe got off BART at Rockridge a group was caroling and invited him to join in. When I disembarked they welcomed me, too. Tom Bowman invited me to come sing at St. John’s.

Committed to sing at another church, it wasn’t until the week after Easter that I contacted St. John’s Music Director and came to my first choir practice. He auditioned me and scheduled me to sing a lively Bach duet with Julie Booth (Knell) . On Sunday, the choir gathered in the room next to the kitchen where our robes were hung. The director didn’t arrive to rehearse us. It was almost time for the service: “You all don’t know me, but I can get us through the service.” Reilly Rix turned pages as I sight-read the Proulx Gloria. I did my best to conquer the small beast which was our Conn electric organ.

Following the service, Father McCann offered me the job of Music Director. (The former director’s resignation letter had been sitting on the organ.)

Fast forward two years, and the Booth Family had overseen the build-out of the altar area so we could see our priests during Communion. The altar rail was replaced by the carpeted “Squircle” and the baldacchino installed. We had the option of standing or kneeling for Communion. We were served real bread and real wine. We were worthy. For me, this was huge – my last exposure to the Episcopal Church had left me “not worthy to pick up the crumbs from under the table.”

In addition to taking over the direction of our choir and accompanying them, I restarted a Youth Choir which eventually grew to over 30 youth ages 4 – 17, who performed 57 concerts and sermons. (Kellor Smith was a big contributor of ideas and youth!).  Outreach included singing at Rockridge BART, the former Jack London Village, the downtown Marriott and several East Bay nursing homes.

We have so many long-time friends we’ve met at St. John’s. So many of those early kids are now in their 50’s, and are still my friends. Their children have been singing in our Youth Choirs (and we hope there will be more!).

I was invited; I was included, and the circle grew; I witnessed faith and a community in action.


Invitation, inclusion, faith, and action.

My banner: 

Make a joyful noise!  Come sing with us.