NEW LIFE UNFOLDS
It was with great thanksgiving and joy that we commissioned our new music staff. Megan Henderson is leading the chancel choir and accompanying our services with great talent and sensitivity, helping us to sing our prayers and praise with growing exuberance.
Molly Jo Rivelli is leading our youth choir rehearsals. Molly Jo comes to us with a wealth of experience as a singer and performer, and also as a music teacher. Owner of MJ’s Music School in Waltham, she not only teaches classes but oversees the instruction of over 200 students, organizing annual recitals and other performances. A long-time member and musician within the life of the church, Molly Jo enjoys leading our youth choirs and being a part of Payson Park.
We say ―thank youto Megan and Molly Jo, offering our prayers of gratitude to God for bringing us all together. Let us make a joy-ful noise!

It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as the new organist/choir director at Payson Park Church. For many years I have served as pianist for summer services at Payson Park, and have always enjoyed being part of worship here. In this new role, I am happy to now be playing the organ as well and directing the Adult Choir. Choral music is one of my passions. Since the early 1980's I have sung with the Schola Cantorum of Boston, a 12 voice acapella ensemble in Renaissance  Sacred Music. I have recorded and performed with the Boston Camerata and the Boston Bach Ensemble. As a conductor, I have worked with the PALS Children's Chorus, the Winsor School chorus and Village Harmony Summer Camp, where I studied and performed Shape Note, South African and Georgian music. I am very excited to bring some of that repertoire into the Payson Park choir to complement our more traditional offerings. In addition to my work here, I am on the faculty of the Brookline Music School and on staff at Harvard Extension and am the pianist and outreach director for the Winsor Music Chamber Series.
The Music Committee has decided to move the adult choir rehearsals to Sunday mornings to make them as accessible and manageable as possible for people with busy lives. This will also allow the choir to be joined by four paid section leaders. In this way we hope to build a great and joyful music program here at Payson Park. I welcome all of you to join us on Sundays at nine.

Megan Henderson
amdirector@paysonpark.org

I write this greeting as Payson Park Youth Choir Director with excitement and enthusiasm. In my career as music school owner and voice/piano instructor, I have had the pleasure of dealing with many wonderful children. However, one of the shortcomings of the private lesson environment is finding performance and ensemble opportunities for students. Even more, I believe students need to sing music that has a purpose for an appreciative audience. Those desires led me to Payson Park Church. I now have a roster of enthusiastic youngsters performing meaningful music for the congregation.
Coming from a family of church musicians, I have always been involved in church music. While at Whitworth College in Spokane, WA, a small Presbyterian college, I was heavily involved with various choral performance and music director positions. After receiving my degree in Music Education, I went on to teach in the public schools as a choral director. Later, while at Arizona State University obtaining my master’s in music performance, I chose to pursue an opera career. It was this pursuit that brought me to Boston. Since moving here, I’ve soloed throughout New England with opera companies including Boston Lyric Opera, Granite State Opera, and Opera Providence, and many orchestras including the Nashua Symphony and the Waltham Philharmonic.
In addition to performing, I have always taught private piano and voice lessons. After meeting my husband Chris, who is a drummer, we decided to open up our music school, MJ’s Music School in Waltham. We now serve over 200 students a week with 15 teachers. Although I am mainly a classical musician, we offer lessons in all styles and ensembles too. I have really enjoyed learning how to put bands together and play pop/rock and blues!
For the past several years I have spent my weekends subbing as cantor, pianist, soloist, and choir director in dozens of churches around Massachusetts. While I enjoyed being able to pick and choose my work, I felt I needed to do more. I am now glad to be part of this community, and have the chance to work with the same people week after week. I am excited about the musical and personal growth that will result. I am so honored to work with your children, thank you for this opportunity!

Molly Jo Rivelli
ymdirector@paysonpark.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Call family and friends! Our Christmas Pageant is onthe second Sunday in December, during the worship service. This program, put on by our Youth Choirs and Chancel Choirs, is always a special presentation. Don’t miss the opportunity to share this presentation with your friends and neighbors. Please invite them to church that day! The Christmas Luncheon and Party will follow the service. Join us for this festive time filled with food, fellowship and caroling. A gift swap with Santa will take place. Bring a gift item for the City Mission Society and Santa will give you a sweet treat.

In the months of fall, winter and spring seasons, the adult choir meets for rehearsals on Sundays at 9:00AM for the 10:30 worship service.

We celebrate Easter with a special chorus! We are alive in God’s Spirit of love and service! Alleluia!