Second Sunday Jazz Vespers will resume September 8, 2019

Our 5th season of  Jazz Vespers, celebrated each month on the second Sunday at four o’clock in the afternoon during the academic year, will begin September 8, 2019.  The service includes much music, singing of hymns and songs, times of silence, prayers and a short homily from Pastor Clark-Jones.

The musicians for this service are led by David Hoffman, the distinguished jazz musician from Central Illinois who has played music around the world as a member of the band of the late Ray Charles as well as in the reunions of the band begun in the last two years.  The music is powerful and expresses our joy in the faith in a special way.  David writes special music for many of our services that fit with the theme for the day.  All the musicians are professionals in their field and bring the very best of jazz as an offering to God.

If you have been to our services in the past, we are always interested in what might be meaningful changes to the order of service or any other matter in which you might offer a helpful suggestion.  This service does not follow standard liturgies but is put together in a way to make an emotional and spiritual connection with one another and the Almighty.

Please check this page regularly as there will be some Jazz offerings during the summer months, but not on any regular schedule.  We will do our best to get the word out, and you can stay in contact with this ministry through this website.   Thanks for supporting us in the last four years … we look forward to jazz worship again this year.  In the meantime, you are always welcome to our more formal service every Sunday at ten o’clock.  We may worship in a liturgical style, but it is always welcoming and gives the congregation much opportunity to be a real, participating member of the worshiping family.

Peoria Presbyterian Church Gets Jazzy
WGLT, Sept. 23, 2016

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“Peace Like a River” featuring the Heritage Singers under the direction of Sharon Samuels Reed:

Take Our Jazz Vespers Survey

“As a newcomer to Westminster (in September of 2014), I’ve found it to be a most welcoming fellowship.  I look forward to going to services and events and find the warmth of the congregation to be most helpful to a newcomer to the entire area.  I find sermons challenging … music beautiful and well prepared … and a dignity in the worship that is all too lacking in most Protestant congregations.  Mix this with an open atmosphere where it is OK to question and still be seen as a good Christian, and I know I’ve found one important ‘home’ in Central Illinois.”