Dr. Mark Bennett
Director of Music
As the Director of Music, I am responsible for all things musical at St. Francis, which I do in cooperation with our amazing organist and keyboardist, David Knight, who also selects preludes and postludes for the many services in which he plays either organ or piano. My greatest joy and motivation is to find and select music for church services that inspires singing that moves, delights, uplifts, inspires joy or inward self-reflection, and brings listener and singer alike to that place beyond which words or music alone can manifest. I have been doing this for over 50 years, and I am no less enthusiastic and passionate about it than I was when I began!
My most fulfilling work is with the St. Francis Choir, with whom I rehearse 3 hours every week and conduct and lead in the 10 am service throughout the year. For me, the challenge is to find anthems for each service—there were 48 separate anthems in 2025—that match the scriptural context and seasonal themes as much as possible.
Since I am a teacher at heart and still love to teach, I often work with individual singers in the choir to improve their voices or prepare them for solos, duets, or small groups, or simply to help them with their choir parts.
I prepare all of the music included in the bulletins each Sunday, including using software to create the musical excerpts, select hymns and service music appropriate for each service, confirm the details of each bulletin, communicate with the staff and choir, prepare music for special services, select and prepare programs for concerts, such as Christmas Eve, including the planning of extra rehearsals, invite and hire additional singers, and manage the music budget and music office.
Since the pandemic, we have steadily grown in number both as a church and a choir, and I have every expectation that we will continue to do so. I welcome all new singers who would like to join the choir at any time. We rehearse the hour before each Sunday service (9 am) and on Monday evenings from 7-9 pm in the Sanctuary. If you are interested in singing with us, please feel free to contact me by email at sternstag520@gmail.com, by calling or texting me at (617) 217-1601, or simply come and speak with me after any 10 am service. You will be quite warmly welcomed by the choir!