First Friday Concert 3/6/26 - Cathy Hofer & Susie Ricther

Susie Richter & Cathy Hofer

The First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, March 6, at 12:10 p.m., will feature Cathy Hofer and Susie Richter, accompanied by Garfield Sallman. The program is "Give My Regards," with selections from Broadway.

Hofer is retired as a vocal music teacher of 38 years, 32 of them at Westville schools, She has been in numerous shows at La Porte Little Theatre, been a soloist with the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra several times and sings with the Power Train at First United Methodist church

Richter has been member of St. Paul's Choir for 27 years, 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,

Sallman, a graduate of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, has been a frequent visitor to St. Paul’s, where his parents were members. Currently living in Des Plaines, IL, he is the Compensation Manager for Lawson Products, Inc. His love of music led him to performing in the Oakton Six Piano Ensemble for more than 20 years and now finds him singing in the Park Ridge Chorale.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their lunch to the half-hour performance. There is no charge, but there is a free-will offering box to support the series. The church is handicap-accessible from the Harrison Street entrance.

Lenten Stations of the Cross, Soup Supper, and Study

Join us Wednesdays in Lent (2/25 - 4/1) for a service of Stations of the Cross (in our worship space) followed by a soup supper and Lenten study in our parish hall (basement). Come for part or all of the evening.

This Lenten Journey we will read and study the book "Signs of Life: Nurturing Spiritual Growth in your Church" by Jay Sidebotham. An accompanying Study Guide will be provided to each attendee. All are welcome. No prerequisite reading is required but is available if you desire.

Ash Wednesday - 2/18 @ Noon

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, our journey with Jesus to the cross, his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. It marks a time set aside to be present to and to resist some of the temptations of life that draw us away from our love for and relationship with our Savior.

Join us on his Holy Day to remember our many sins and weaknesses, to confess them, and to begin our own personal journeys through the Lenten season. All are welcome. Ashes will be imposed, if desired. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated.

FREE Community Dinner - February 17, 2026

Join us on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 6 p.m. for a delicious free meal of pancake, sausage, and desserts. This meal aligns with our annual celebration of "Shrove Tuesday".

The word "shrove" or "shrive" means to confess your sins and be offered absolution by a priest and is done the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins. It is customary to splurge on Shrove Tuesday (aka Fat Tuesday) before entering into your Lenten practices (the next day). Believers would empty your cabinets of indulgences like sugar and butter and use them up in making pancakes (or King cakes or ???).

You don't have to do any of that. But please DO join us for pancakes and sausage on this Community Meal day!

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.

First Friday Concert 2/6/26 - Bruce Johnson

Bruce Johnson will be the featured singer at the First Friday Concert Feb. 6, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte. He will be singing the music of Hoosier composers. John Gouwens, organist and choirmaster at St. Paul's will accompany him on the piano.

Johnson has been singing as long as he can remember. A La Porte native and graduate of LaPorte High School where he sang in many choirs, Johnson graduated from Ball State and Valparaiso Universities and has completed post-graduate work in Comparative Education, History, and Culture at the Universities of London, Paris, Moscow, and Beijing. He taught at schools in the West Indies and Liberia and eventually for the South Central Community School Corporation for 40 years and was guest lecturer in the Education Department at Purdue North Central for 7 years.

A member of the La Porte Little Theatre Club for 54 years, he has performed in 43 different productions. He also performed for several years with Susie Richter and Rose Marie Dure in “Sentimental Journey," with Robert Dure and Matthew Daniel in “Tenors Three” for 20 years, and has been singing at Bethany Lutheran Church for more than 60 years.

Johnson is currently serving as the official County Historian for La Porte County and serves on numerous boards of directors.

St. Paul's is handicap accessible through the Harrison Street door. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch for the half-hour program. There is no charge, but a free-will offering box is available for donations to continue the series.

First Friday Concert 1/2/26 - Black Tie

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, Jan. 2, 2026.

The First Friday Concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte, Jan. 2, 2026, 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.