A Special Announcement from Music Ministry

Summer Sabbatical

Our organist, Dr. Phillip Kloeckner, has been granted by Staff-Parish Relations Committee a sabbatical leave from service planning and playing duties at the church from May 25 through September 6, 2026. During that period, he will play for all weddings and funerals that are scheduled, maintain his weekly participation in the activities of the organ restoration project and The Opus 414 Society, and teach organ lessons on his current schedule. This is to say, he will be present, connected, and in communication, but not engaged in our weekly worship services.

As written by Phillip in his letter to SPRC, “My principal motivation for making this request is to create the time and reserve energy for extensive practicing. This is not a request for support during a time of rest or retreat, but for time to concentrate as I work to make up, partially, for the incalculable hours I have not been able to practice and maintain my skills and repertoire during the past nine years of working toward the goals of the organ restoration project.  My vision for the leave-time I am requesting is to provide the necessary hours of practice and musical study that will fully restore my technical skills and expand my repertoire sufficiently to use as a foundation for the first years of playing the restored Opus 414 in services and in recitals.”

Phillip and I have been working together on the schedule of guest organists who will be playing on Wednesdays and Sundays during June, July, and August.  Several of Phillip’s current students will be sharing their gifts with us, and our terrific Gospel Choir Director, Rev. Kelly Tiebout, will also be leading a few extra services beyond her usual 8:30 Gospel Choir Sundays and Saturday 5:00 worship services.  Summer Choir will continue in June with instrumental music being featured in July and our Temple Choir Section Leader soloists each taking a service in August.

Please continue to support our organ restoration project with your prayers and generous giving, and know that every Sunday this summer will have the quality and outstanding music you have come to expect.  We hope that you will enjoy the number of people who will be sharing their musical gifts and talents during all our services, as our musical offerings will remain in glory given to our Beloved God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Yours in Music,

Erik Nussbaum

Director of Music, Worship, and the Arts