MIAMI BEACH — "For the first time in my life I sang "Ave Maria," at Evensong," church and choir member Jennifer Hudson said. "It was a beautiful moment for me — so many voices uplifted in song and praise! I believe that connecting a community through the arts, especially when the artists are actually a part of that community, helps to instill a sense of togetherness, understanding and pride."

That experience was part of a new program at St. John’s United Methodist Church here called The Arts at St. John’s that is helping the church reach out to its community.

The Nov. 19 Evensong concert was a collaboration of people from the Miami Beach community, including a quartet from the New World Symphony, the South Beach Gay Men’s Chorus, renowned Black gospel singer Maryel Epps and the St. John’s choir. It was held in remembrance of family and friends who have died of AIDS. Sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt were displayed courtesy of the South Florida Names Project.

"We saw the quilts and felt the loss to which they testified," said Areanne Breedlove, chair of St. John’s administrative council. "…God was present in this place, knitting people together in one hour of shared peace, healing and artistic beauty…"

St. John’s is a reconciling church located in an area where "change" is the demographic of the day. Its members come from many groups and walks of life, and its congregation has typically been more transient.

Successful ministry has been difficult for many mainline churches in South Florida because of diverse ethnicity, language and culture. The challenge in doing evangelism has been knowing how to be inclusive and welcoming of such a diverse population. St. John’s members decided music is a common denominator.

"Music has a way of breaking down barriers and warming hearts. Even if one life is changed or one preconceived notion is shattered, the program we’re working so hard with will then be successful," Hudson said.

The Arts at St. John’s program was developed to increase the visibility of the church, attract new visitors and members, and build community. Its goal is to use the arts as a medium for bringing social, spiritual and personal transformation and reconciliation and a means of encouraging intercultural understanding, sharing and dialogue.

The Rev. Dr. L. Annette Jones, now in her second year as pastor of St. John’s, supported starting the program at St. John’s and says she is committed to letting God’s creative Spirit take the lead in opening the doors of the church to all persons who have a desire for God.

"I’m excited about the programs that the Arts Board has planned for this year. They are an excellent vehicle for our faith community to touch and minister to the larger community…," Jones said. "When we tap into the spirituality of arts, music and culture, they can become bridges that transcend barriers to community."

Each of the program’s scheduled concerts or events emphasizes "community." The Oct. 20 concert featured Mantra, an Afro-Caribbean jazz group that represents the cultural diversity of Miami. The Jan. 11 family concert, Crayons at a Concert, opened with an outdoor concert by the Miami Beach High School Rock Ensemble, which has been featured on CNN and MTV and was honored by the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. The Lincoln Road Ensemble, from the New World Symphony, also gave a participatory concert during which children were encouraged to draw their impressions of the music with crayons.

Arts at St. John’s is a non-profit corporation affiliated with St. John’s United Methodist Church, its sole voting member. The program is directed by the Rev. Dr. Carol Hoffman-Guzman and has a board and steering committee. Hoffman-Guzman is an ordained deacon in full connection in the Florida Conference and former director of Miami Urban Ministries. She also has 12 years of experience running an arts organization in Denver, Colo.