First Friday Concert Series - Season Two begins Friday 9/1 @ 12:10pm!

The First Friday Concert Series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located at 1000 Michigan Ave. in La Porte, will begin on Friday, September 1, 2023. This is the beginning of the second year of St. Paul's bringing free quality concerts to La Porte on the First Friday of each month. The concert season lasts from September through May. Each concert is approximately one half hour long, lasting from 12:10 pm until 12:40 pm. Anyone who would like to be considered for performing at a concert may contact the church at stpaullaporte@gmail.com.  

    The first concert will be held on Friday, September 1st, 2023, and highlights long-time La Porte musician, Rose Marie Dure, on the occasion of her 80th birthday. This concert was originally scheduled for May; however, one of the performers passed away suddenly and it was rescheduled for September.  This concert is being dedicated to our dear friend, Robert Richter. The program will feature Friends of Rose Marie Dure.  She will accompany these talented musicians:

  • Charles Steck, Flugelhorn

  • Susie Richter, soprano

  • Nick Bello, baritone

  • Lucy Vergo, contralto

  • Regina Smelser, piano

  • Bruce Johnson, tenor

Please join us for this showcase of La Porte musicians. Feel free to bring your lunch and relax in our beautiful air-conditioned worship space.

The Program

  1. Susie Richter - Soprano | Tammy - Livingston & Evans

  2. Regina Smelser and Rose Marie Dure, Pianists             
    Fly Me to the Moon - Bart Howard Autumn Leaves - Joseph Kidman

  3. Nick Bello - Baritone My Way | Revaux and Francois

  4. Charles Steck - Flugelhorn | Reflections - Joseph M. Stephenson

  5. Bruce Johnson - Tenor | Stardust - Hoagie Carmichael                                                          

  6. Lucy Vergo - Alto | Back Home Again in Indiana             

    Next First Friday Concert: Friday, October 6
    Donovan Diedrich, Pianist

Community Dinner - Tuesday 8/1/23

Join us on Tuesday, August 1st at 6pm for a delicious free meal of Sloppy Joes, pasta salad, bean salad, corn on the cob and more. Doors open at 5:30 for drinks and popcorn.

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. Feel free to email priest@stpaulslaporte.org with any questions.

Community Dinner - Tuesday 7/18/23

Join us on Tuesday, July 18th at 6pm for a delicious free meal of Veggies Burgers (with all of the toppings), potato salad, beans, pies and more. Doors open at 5:30 for drinks and popcorn.

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. Feel free to email priest@stpaulslaporte.org with any questions.

Mother Debbi's first Eucharist at St. Paul's

Mother Debbi’s first Eucharist at St. Paul’s was wonderful and Holy Spirit-filled. We are so blessed to have her with us at St. Paul’s. We celebrated her with cake, cards, gifts, and a lovely gift certificate to CM Almy. Welcome Mother Debbi!

St. Paul's receives an AED!

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is deeply appreciative to the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte who has honored us with the grant of an AED (automated external defibrillator), signage, a cabinet, AND training in both CPR and AED usage! We are thrilled to make St. Paul’s a safer place to worship and fellowship with this device.

Thank you Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte.

(Pictured - Mother Michelle Walker and Margie Bender at the AED Celebration.)

Bishop Doug's Visitation - 5/14/23

What a glorious celebration of the Eucharist with Confirmations and Receptions by Bishop Doug Sparks. We welcomed 5 new members (officially) to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church today. Praise the Lord.

(Left-Right) Jean Burns (sponsor), Sandra Provan (sponsor), Ann McDermott (received), Mother Michelle Walker, Bishop Doug Sparks, Joel Gay (confirmed), Eloise Gay (received), Lynn Grenough (received), and Paul Werner (confirmed).

Welcome to St. Pual’s!

A congregational picture with the Bishop!

CANCELLED - First Friday Concert Series - May 5, 2023

*** Due to the sudden and tragic death of one of the performers on Wednesday evening, Bob Richter, we have cancelled the May First Friday performance. Please keep Bob's family, especially his sister, sons, and their families, in your prayers.

And look for our second year of First Friday Concerts to begin in September. Have a wonderful summer! ***

The final performance in the First Friday Concert series for 2022-23 will be Friday, May 5, at 12:10 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., La Porte.

It will feature Rose Marie Dure and some of the many artists she has had the joy of accompanying during the more than 50 years she has lived in La Porte. Dure has been involved in many area theaters for a long time and she is retired from music ministries at the First United Methodist Church in La Porte.

Performers at this concert will be Nick Bello, Bruce Johnson, Susie Richter, Bob Richter, Charles Steck, Dure's daughter, Regina Smelser, and her grandson, Michael Smelser.

Dure sees the event as an opportunity to thank those she has accompanied over the years, making music has always been her goal.

There is no charge to attend, but a free-will offering will be gratefully accepted to fund future events.

The Set List:

1. Charles Steck - flugelhorn, Reflections - James M. Stephenson

2. Robert Richter - baritone, Can’t Help Falling in Love - Weiss, Peretti, Creatore

3. Susie Richter - soprano, Tammy - Livingston and Evans

4. Nick Bello - baritone, My Way - Revaux and Francois

5. Regina Smelser - piano duets ,Fly Me to the moon- Howard/Leonard, Autumn Leaves - Kosma/Leonard      

6. Michael Smelser - baritone/guitar, I Can Only Imagine - Bart Millard

7. Bruce Johnson - Tenor, Stardust - Hoagy Carmichael

First Friday Concert Series - April 2023

The First Friday concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1000 Michigan Ave., has been moved to the second Friday of April, since the first Friday is Good Friday.

On April 14, Leigh Morris, an elder at the La Porte Presbyterian Church, will present “Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord” at St. Paul’s. He will invite attendees to heed John Wesley’s advice about hymn singing: “Sing lustily and with good courage,” as they join with him in singing hymns of celebration, adoration, gratitude, and praise.

He will provide insights about the origin and significance of each of the four featured hymns. John Gouwens, Organist and Choirmaster at St. Paul’s, will be the accompanist. The program begins at 12:10pm and will conclude by 1 pm.

Final iconography update - 4/9/23

Our icons are finished and were displayed on Easter morning for a blessing. What a fun and challenging journey this has been. Thank you Pastor Kris for your faithful leadership.