Dear ones of St. C’s, 

I come with exciting news to share about who will be filling in for Susan after Susan goes.  Now when Susan resigned from their position Susan and I both had the same initial thought - this is a very unique community musically and not any run of the mill Episcopal Music Director will be a good fit.  Many of you come from different faith traditions and even those who were born into the Episcopal church like a variety of music. And then Susan and I both had the same second thought, what about Lacey Brown?  Lacey and I actually worked together many moons ago.  I have always hoped and prayed that Lacey’s music would be the future of the Episcopal Church.  And if I decide to hire Lacey for this position, we as a community can be a part of that dream I had over 18 years ago.  I am not only excited about Lacey because of my past dream for the Church, but because I think St. Columba’s is uniquely fit for Lacey to continue to blossom and create new music here. 

Lacey and I have spoken and she is really excited about this possibility, but we both want to make sure this is a good fit for us mutually and that her gifts and passions align with our communities hopes and desires. So we have decided to make this a contract-to-hire position.  Which means we will bring Lacey on for several weeks or months as we discern our potential future together. I will listen carefully to you all, especially our current musicians, but I want you to keep in mind that I will not be making this decision based on individual musical preferences (which we all have varying opinions about) but on if Lacey is a good community fit.  I invite you to enter this process with a similar goal in mind. 

Lacey will begin her contract position with us on August 10th.  Susan agreed to put the bulletins together until August 3rd.  Susan and I will work to make sure we have a piano player assigned for every Sunday.

Both Susan and I really think this could be an excellent fit, and that Lacey will take what Susan has already begun here with music and continue to introduce our community to new ways of doing music and singing together. 

Lacey is hands down an incredible musician, but her real passion is getting people to sing together and working with other musicians to create a collaborative, inviting, and fun environment where beautiful music can be made in community.  Lacey’s musical strengths are drums/percussion, guitar, singing, arranging hymns and writing songs for worship. While she also plays keyboard instruments, piano is not her main instrument but loves playing from time to time and working with pianists in collaboration as well. This will be a change from Susan’s piano based musical leadership so we might be open to hiring a pianist when needed if that feels important to our worship experience. I am asking that for the first month Lacey is with us, you just experience her leadership and how it resonates with you. 

We will feel out together if we need the piano as much as we thought we did.  Or if that is less important to us than just having a talented musician who helps us sing together.  I honestly don’t know the answer to this question and I am excited to listen and discern with you all in this next season. 

Last thing I want to add - what a joy it is to be at this point with you all in our journey together.  Think of all the work we have done to become a flexible, open, and welcoming community that brings people from such different backgrounds and generations together, so that we can figure out how to live together.  

With hope and excitement, 

Meghan

Check out some worship songs that Lacey wrote by clicking here.