POCATELLO This Sunday, July 6, Trinity Episcopal Church will host an outdoor morning prayer service with a live New Orleans-style jazz band, bringing together church tradition, patriotism, and jazz.
The event is open to the public from 10 to 11 a.m. on the patio next to the church, which is situated across from Pocatello High School at 248 North Arthur in historic downtown.
Geoffrey Friedley, who will speak at the event, was instrumental in getting the jazz band to play at the special service, even though the Rev. Haydie LeCorbeiller is the church’s priest in charge. He is also a local musician, an ISU music instructor, and one of Trinity’s worship leaders.
James Breker on bass, Joe Babcock on trumpet, Jonathan Armstrong on banjo, Erin Armstrong on clarinet, and Friedley on trombone lead Sunday’s musical group.
At 9:30 a.m., Trinity’s float will participate in the Pocatello Fourth of July Parade, which has as its theme The American Spirit, down Main Street with the same ensemble of musicians and snare drummer Gabrielle Lowman.
We’re participating in the Fourth of July parade for the fourth or fifth time, and this is going to be the best band yet, Friedley said. It just made sense to participate in the parade and then play at Sunday’s church service to carry on the celebration.
The service on Sunday will have all the elements of traditional Episcopal worship, including music, canticles, prayers from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, and scripture readings from both the Old and New Testaments, even if it will not include the Holy Eucharist.
“Patriotic hymns like America the Beautiful, My Country, Tis of Thee, and When the Saints Go Marching In will be interwoven with traditional church hymns throughout the service in honor of the July 4th weekend,” Friedley added.
For over a century, Trinity Episcopal Church has been a vital part of Pocatello. Completed in 1898, the Gothic Revival stone structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the city’s architectural and spiritual monuments because of its 92-foot bell tower, exquisite stained-glass windows, and lengthy history.
In keeping with that tradition, church leaders believe Sunday’s outdoor celebration will highlight the church’s continued dedication to innovation and community involvement, as well as the beauty of Episcopal liturgy.
Regardless of allegiance or background, everyone is welcome to attend the church at any time.
Trinity Episcopal Church can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (208) 233-2640.
