Save the Date

• June 12 - 14th - Parish Retreat (info below)

In This Issue

• Music at St. Thomas
• Bulletin Addition
• Church Retreat - Cathedral Ridge
• Coffee Hour - 5th Sunday Fill ins

Music at St. Thomas - Leadership

“There is a sweet, sweet spirit in this place and I know it’s the Spirit of the Lord.” This hymn from Lift Every Voice and Sing embodies St. Thomas and its music. We are so enriched by the diversity of our music whether traditional Anglican choral , piano or flute works, African American spirituals, Spanish hymns, music from the Jewish experience or upbeat contemporary songs. Our eclectic approach to music strengthens our worship experience. The active participation of the congregation in the music reflects the working of the Holy Spirit at St. Thomas. When the Resistance Revival song, “This Joy” was introduced the entire congregation was engaged with the rhythm of the music and words with broad smiles of joy. The same happens when we sing the St. Thomas anthem, “Lead with Love” or when Angela Pleasants spontaneously engages us singing “Amen” following communion.

There are many reasons for this strong spiritual energy, chief among them our vocal and instrument leaders: Vocalists Geoff Wodell and Angela Pleasants, Kari Miles on piano, Brandon Bennett on organ and our small but mighty choir. Both Kari and Brandon have substantial classical training. For Geoff and Angela, music and its sharing are just central to their beings.

Working with Rev Terri and with input from others, Geoff Wodell puts together and leads our music each Sunday. Geoff joined St. Thomas prior to the 2020 Covid lockdown. He had been in spiritual groups led by our former music director, LaDamion Massey. When LaDamion could no longer lead our music, Geoff took over. He is an unusual leader for an Episcopal church. Geoff is Jewish and sings as a soloist and section leader for his synagogue, Temple Sinai. He has sung all over the world including Carnegie Hall. Geoff introduced us to the Jewish ancient ritual of beginning our service with the blowing of the shofar, a ram’s horn. During some of the most difficult incidents in our country, Geoff brought us the Jewish hymn, written during the Holocaust, “I Believe.” It is a hauntingly beautiful and meditative piece honoring the resilience and unwavering faith of the Jewish people. 

Geoff has sung in many venues, including several churches; he remains at St. Thomas because “ seeing the congregation sing is wonderful. St. Thomas is special because of the people here, many who have become my friends.”

Geoff grew up and went to college in Wisconsin. He met his wife, Lynn there. She was traveling west but ran out of money in Denver, fell in love with Colorado and stayed. Geoff joined her. They married. Geoff has been here since 1976. He has a daughter, Haaland, who is a flight attendant and also a singer herself. Her partner, Nick is a guitarist and their son, Dizzy, a middle schooler named after Dizzy Gillespie, is a trumpet player in the Monterey County Jazz Band and will be playing at their festival this year. What a musical family! This year Geoff has been honoring Lynn’s wishes spreading her ashes at their home here, in a treasured spot in Pacific Groves and at a friend’s home in Geoff’s beloved Norway. One of Geoff’s pastimes was rodeo bull riding. He’s since given that up but we can see some part of the cowboy remains when he’s wearing his cowboy boots.

You know our other vocal leader well, Angela Pleasants. We shared her rich and deep Episcopal story several months ago. She is our co-senior warden, serves on the vestry, edits our newsletter, is the president of the St. Thomas chapter of Daughters of the King as well as sharing her soul-filled voice with St. Thomas. She has been at St. Thomas since 2006 and always involved in its music. It’s hard to believe but Angela has never had musical training. She can’t read music but has a good ear and can easily follow music. Her wonderful abilities are clearly a gift from God being given to all of us. How often have we been stilled when we hear her acapella performance of “His Eye is On the Sparrow.”

Angela, a “cradle” Episcopalian, has been singing since she was a child including her early years growing up at Denver’s Church of the Holy Redeemer. Her parents also had beautiful singing voices. Her father was even part of doo wop group in his 20’s.

Angela works for Jefferson County. In her spare time Angela loves audiobooks, especially fiction centered around WWII. And of course, she enjoys her furry companion and dog buddy, Ruby.

Choir members joining Angela and Geoff include LeeAnne Wrenn, Morgan Harrower, Martha Lawrenz, and Laurie Zant. Laurie is working with a national group to produce a Spanish Hymnal. Laurie has already introduced us to some of that music.

Geoff Woddell, Kari Miles, Brandon Bennett, Angela Pleasants

Ron Miles, a nationally renowned jazz musician, had been a long-time member of St. Thomas. Three years after his passing, his wife, Kari Miles, joined St. Thomas as our pianist and flutist. Kari has been with St. Thomas for 3 years. While having played in other Denver churches, she is particularly fond of St. Thomas because of its beauty, the kindness of its people and its acceptance of all people. Playing music here also brings her a connection to Ron from which she draws comfort. 

Kari comes from a family surrounded by art and beauty and wants to be a contributor to making the world more beautiful through music. She completed her undergraduate music training at the Lutheran founded, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She grew up in Minnesota, which she continues to love for its green plushness and lakes. She came to Colorado when she was accepted into the Master of Music program, with a specialty in flute, at the University of Colorado. She met Ron there where they became soulmates. They raised two children also drawn to the arts. Both of Kari’s children, a son and a daughter are artists. Kari’s brother is a sculptor as was her late brother. Art has been and continues to be part of Kari’s life. As she said in an article in Shout Out Denver, her life is filled with creative energy.

In addition to her work at St. Thomas, Kari teaches piano and flute in Park Hill to all ages. She has performed here in Colorado and other parts of the country. In the Shout Out article, she shared that “As a teacher and performer, my mission is to pass on the joy of music to my students and to those who hear me play in church services.” We receive that joy at St. Thomas with pleasure and appreciation and enjoy periodically being treated to solo flute performances of works like “ Jesu, Joy of Man of Desire.”

There is an unusual Norwegian connection between Geoff and Kari. Both have their ancestral roots in Norway and have a deep love of that country. Kari can trace several generations from Norway to Minnesota.

The more recent member to the music team is our fine organist, Brandon Bennett. Brandon joined us on Christ the King Sunday in 2024. Brandon was drawn to our pipe organ. He says it’s an interesting and challenging instrument that has both digital sounds and traditional pipe organ mechanics. It allows for an infinite number of sounds enhancing our choir, supporting congregational singing, music ensembles and solo performances.

Brandon has had a long love of the piano and organ. When he was 3, years old, he asked his parents for help in playing the piano, began lessons at 7 and began playing the organ at 14. He went on to study both organ and harpsicord at Brown University with a major in organ performance. He did graduate study in organ at Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT.

In addition to piano, organ and harpsicord, Brandon played saxophone in high school and college. He was the Drum Major for his high school band and at Brown where he was also the assistant conductor for the Brown University Band, Hockey Band and Wind Ensemble.

Brandon was raised in the Midwest but has lived in many areas in the US. Most of his liturgical work has been in Episcopal churches. He is the founder of a music venue with showcased baroque and romantic chamber musicians. He has served as a consultant for parishes in search of new or rebuilt organs and has performed a number of solo organ recitals.

Brandon moved to Denver in the fall of 2001 for his primary career in nursing. His interest in nursing was sparked in high school by a desire to help people. It took shape following his music training at Brown. Brandon stayed at Brown and earned an undergraduate degree in literature and music performance. He then completed undergraduate study in nursing at Rhode Island College. Brandon also holds graduate degrees in nursing including a doctorate in nursing practice. His nursing career spans over 50 years and includes several clinical specialties. More recently he has been engaged in executive leadership and consulting assignments. He is currently working as a subject matter expert consultant to an academic medical center. Brandon is clearly a man with multiple gifts. While his nursing career is consuming, he continues to enjoy organ study. We are the beneficiaries of that continued study and his over 45 years of experience as a liturgical musician. He will be playing an organ solo for the offertory this Sunday.

Bulletin Addition

If you turned the page after the recessional on Sunday, you may have noticed a new addition to the bulletin. The new section is titled "Would You Like to Know More About St. Thomas or Become Involved?" and contains a wealth of information about the church. Check it out!

Parish Retreat

Reduced price and updated registration link.

Coffee Hour

There are no teams assigned to 5th Sundays, so miscellaneous members pitch in. If you would like to join a coffee crew team please contact Emma Jurado Hillenburg at emma.jurado@gmail.com

Newsletter Editor: Angela Pleasants

St. Thomas Office Hours

Tuesday, 10:00 - 3:00

Send submissions to srwarden@saintthomasdenver.org