25 August 2022

Dear Falls Church Community,

It is with deep respect that I share the letter below and news of Julie Huang Tucker's departure from The Falls Church as Director of Music. Her final service with us will be on 4, September.

Arriving at The Falls Church in September of 2012, Julie has long been the most senior member of the church's staff, and she has seen TFC grow from the faithful remnant that returned to this historic campus to a vibrant and bustling parish of hundreds. An accomplished musician, she has moved us with sound, whether on the organs, pianos, and keyboards of our parish, but also in her singing and in the leadership of the choirs. She has worked patiently with choristers from young to less-young and coaxed music from the congregation that filled our spaces with praise, praying twice, as St. Augustine said, for that's what singing is. Julie has maintained both organs at The Falls Church, sometimes climbing into the case in the contemporary church mid-service to adjust a misbehaving pipe or quell a persistent cipher, and she has brought us visiting artists from around the community to enrich our worship. Julie has built relationships in this place that are enduring, called this community home, woven herself into our common life, and The Falls Church is richer for her ministry here.

Julie's relationships with the larger musical world of the Washington area have afforded us access to wonderful instrumentalists and vocalists over these past ten years, and we have been fortunate to enjoy beautiful music from these visitors, whether at Christmas, Easter, or recently my Institution as Rector, or any given Sunday morning worship service. Scott and Zoe, too, have been joyful parts of our life together. Scott's contributions to a myriad of instruments and his rich voice have graced these walls and supported our worship. Zoe has grown up among us and delighted countless with her curiosity and independence. This community has also grown up around Julie, and she, with the three rectors under whom she has served, has formed our musical expression as a congregation.

While Julie leaves us to pursue other endeavors, we wish her only the very best in the next chapter of her life and assure her that she is always welcome in this place. She goes with our blessing and with our appreciation for a decade of musical arts at The Fall Church.

Please join us for a festive coffee hour and presentation of gifts after the service on 4 September to say thank you to Julie for her ministry here.

Sincerely, 

The Reverend Burl Salmon 

Rector

My Dearest TFC Family,

After one decade of composing and singing a new anthem together, and of finding and keeping our rhythm, I now play my final chords for you. TFCE has been my professional cornerstone, one I started with hope, prayer, and a shoestring at a time the church was in dire need. I took on that challenge because, well, you know I love a good challenge. And because I believed in this place, in YOU, and the potential we shared as an active, authentic faith community. I had the unique opportunity to create a music program from scratch (imagine, no one saying “that's not how it's done here” at a church founded in 1732), and I‘m proud I have kept it going strong through the ups and downs in my tenure.

I still remember asking Scott after my audition: “would it be weird if I didn't get this job but still came to church here?” Thankfully, I didn't have to find out, because I chose you, and you chose me right back (even after accidentally dinging the Councilors’ car in the parking lot that day). We started small in an overwhelming labyrinth of a campus and lived into our big dreams with faith and thanksgiving. From this mustard seed sprouted three different choirs, including the Falls Churchlings (a highlight was a staged musical production of ”Jonah and the Whale”); participation of talented youth and adult instrumentalists; a fully funded concert series (featuring the Tallis Scholars, and inaugurating the Choral Arts Society Chamber Singers). We performed ecumenically collaborative choral-orchestral works and hosted diocesan-wide events. While I feel gratification in these accomplishments, my most meaningful work has been behind-the-scenes in weekly choir rehearsals, at the intersection of ministry and musicianship. That is where I grew the most as a ministry leader and sensed the Spirit moving. I am much obliged to my dedicated singers for all they've taught me (and put up with), working with them has given immeasurable fulfillment to my vocation here. None of this would have been possible without each of you who valued and supported the music making at every turn; singing from the pews, listening to the postludes, complimenting choral members on the anthem, attending concerts, contributing to organ repairs, and volunteering in small and big ways.

Just as important, if not more so, this has been my personal church home — and that of my family. It is where Scott and I were married; our first home was blessed; our daughter was born (the day of the bishop‘s visit, June 11, 2017) and later baptized. I’ve celebrated at your weddings (a distinct honor was playing for Rob and John, whose union marked the first gay marriage in our church history); I have mourned at your funerals (my first was for centenarian and FC Schools pioneer Jessie Thackrey). I've accompanied the baptisms of your children and grandchildren, and the graduation acknowledgments of countless others. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives in this intimate way, these memories will remain cherished souvenirs. I cannot imagine having spent the past ten years any other way, nor would I have wanted to.

I take my leave by imparting the chorister's prayer: Bless, 0 Lord, us thy servants who minister in thy temple; Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Always,

Julie Huang

Director of Music