First Friday Concert - 2/7/2025 12:10 p.m.

Fred Nesbitt (from left) and Paul Werner, "Black Tie." are the featured musicians at the First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, La Porte, Feb. 7.

 

The First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, Feb. 7, will feature "Black Tie," the duo of Paul Werner and Fred Nesbitt. The concert begins at 12:10 p.m. for half an hour. There is no charge, but a free-will offering box is available.

Werner is a member of St. Paul's who sometimes provides music at the church's twice-monthly community dinners. A keyboardist, he has played in various locations in the Chicago and northwest Indiana areas, including the United Center for pre-game entertainment for Chicago Bulls games, Four Winds Field and the Century Center in South Bend, the Acorn Theatre and the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival. He currently plays with R&B singer J.D. Davis.

Nesbitt was fortunate to be born in the musical instrument capital of the world, Elkhart, Indiana. He was blessed early and often with many great mentors. Musical influences ranged from Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett to Kenny Loggins and John Denver and from Rogers and Hammerstein to Carlos Jobim and sacred music.

At 26 he picked up a guitar and taught himself enough chords to play and sing a few folk, rock, and Blues tunes. From him you’ll hear a mixture of jazz standards, American folk standards, 70’s pop ballads, cowboy blues, and who knows, maybe a samba or two.

The church is handicap-accessible from the Harrison Street entrance and people are encouraged to bring their lunches to eat during the concert.

Epiphany Tea - January 12, 2025 @ coffee hour

For more than 100 years St. Paul's has celebrated the Epiphany with a traditional Epiphany cake. Each year, around Thanksgiving, that year's baker makes the cake and sets it to marinate until Epiphany arrives. It is then iced, decorated, and served with tea to celebrate the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Epiphany season.

Join us for Sunday morning worship on 1/12/25 and stay for coffee hour, complete with our scaled-down version of the Epiphany Tea. All are welcome

First Friday Concert - 1/3/2025 12:10 p.m.

Victor Sirugo

The First Friday Concert performer at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, at 12:10 p.m. on January 3rd will be Victor Sirugo.

He graduated from La Porte High School and took piano lessons from Carey Scheck, who he credits with teaching him all he needed to know about performing and loving music. While in high school he was taught by Megan and Matthew Sullivan, Mickey Stisher and Joe Clark, all of whom he respects greatly. He performed in the marching, pep and jazz bands at La Porte High School.

Sirugo will graduate in June from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, with a bachelor's degree in piano, where he has been instructed by Prof. Michael Mizrahi, who has encouraged him to explore underplayed and new music.

The program Jan. 3 will include Chromatic Fantasy by J.S. Bach; Piano Sonata No. 27. by Beethoven and Fantasie in C. Major, by Schumann, which are some of Sirugo's personal favorites and very expressive and technically challenging pieces.

The concert begins at 12:10 p.m. for half an hour and people are encouraged to bring their lunch. St. Paul's is handicap-accessible through the Harrison Street door.

There is no charge for the event, but a free-will offering box is available to continue the series.

First Friday Concert - 12/6/2024 12:10 p.m.

Cathy Hofer, Vocalist

Donovan Diedrich, Accompanist

The First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, Dec. 6 at 12:10 p.m. will be singers Susie Richter and Cathy Hofer, accompanied by pianist Donovan Diedrich.

Richter, a member of St. Paul's Choir for 27 years, has performed and directed at La Porte Little Theatre, is a member of The Singing Company of La Porte and has performed at Footlight Players in Michigan City,

Susie Richter, Vocalist

Hofer retired as a music teacher after 38 years. She has been in numerous shows at La Porte Little Theatre, been a soloist with the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra and sings with the Power Train at First United Methodist church.

Diedrich,  a LaPorte native now living in South Bend. has been playing piano for 15 years in numerous college recitals, businesses, weddings and assisted living homes. His favorite music is ragtime/swing and especially Christmas music.

The program will be all sorts of Christmas music.

There is no charge for the concert, but a free-will offering box will be available to support future performances. The church is handicap-accessible through the door on Harrison Street. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch to eat during the half-hour program.

FREE Community Dinner - December 3, 2024

Join us on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 6 p.m. for a delicious free meal of sloppy joes, potato chips, green bean casserole, coleslaw, baked beans and desserts. Doors open at 5:30 for drinks and popcorn and close at 7 p.m.

Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend. Share this post. Hope to see you there!

St. Paul’s is located at 1000 Michigan Avenue but please enter from Harrison Street doors.