St. Stephen's Episcopal Church will hold a Pride Service of Choral Evensong Sunday, June 2, at 5 p.m. The service is offered by the St. Steophen's Choir led by St. Stephen's Minister of Music, Derrick Goff (pictured). A meditative service of prayers and music, Evensong is a staple of the Episcopal Church’s Anglican heritage. The event on June 2 will feature the music of composers from the queer community as Ridgefield celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride in Ridgefield.
The choir will offer Benjamin Britten's joyful “Jubilate Deo,” a choral setting of Psalm 100 written in 1961 "at the request of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh." It has been performed often, including on Prince Philip's 80th and 90th birthdays, and for his funeral April 17, 2021. The other anthem, “For Everyone Born,” was composed by Brian Mann in 2006 and arranged by Tom Trenney in 2016. The stirring text by Shirley Erena Murray speaks to God's inclusive spirit and our need to be creators of justice. The choir will also offer service music by American composer Craig Phillips, the director of music at All Saints Church in Beverly Hills, and a hymn setting of “O Gracious Light” by St. Stephen’s own Derrick Goff.