The trumpeter in the pulpit

East Bay, RI

East Bay Newspapers

Friday, September 9, 2005

The trumpeter in the pulpit
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The Rev. Dr. Evan Johnson has two deep callings in life, the ministry and music. Since 1960, his vocation as a Methodist minister has taken him from Enfield, Conn., to Brockton, Newton, and Milford. His flock was just as likely to hear Rev. Johnson using his trumpet as his words as a way to encourage worship.

Ever active in his local community, Rev. Johnson has been involved in Head Start, school committees, civil rights advocacy and leadership activities in ecumenical groups. Since retirement from the ministry in 1991, he served a term on the Westport Conservation Commission. He and his wife June discovered Westport in 1972. They bought their Shirley Street home in 1985 and have been year-rounders since 1991. Rev. Johnson served in World War II and Korea and was a member of the United States Military Band at West Point. He often boards his boat around dusk and serenades residents on the East Branch.

INTRODUCTION TO WESTPORT: "In the early 1970s, the clerk at the Westport Friends Meeting took my wife, June, on tour ending up on the Nubble. June said we should own a piece of this!"

FIRST TRUMPET: "My mother was an organist in a small church in Portland, Maine, for 40 years. She insisted that her children play an instrument and play it well. I was craving to play the trumpet. By time I got mine I was couldn't get enough of it. I began playing it on a small pond outside my aunt's cottage when I was 16."

MILITARY BAND: "When the Korean War came along, I auditioned for the band. I served in it for four years then got back into teaching music and then began to study for the ministry"

CALL TO MINISTRY: "Growing up in such a deeply religious house, religion was always a part of my consciousness. In my 30th year, I was teaching in Hartford and playing in the Hartford Symphony. It felt natural to enter Hartford Seminary and accept a student pastorate in Enfield, Conn."

TRUMPET OPENS DOORS: "In 1972, we rented one of "Cooper's cottages" on Drift Road. The first night, I rowed to the middle of the river and blew my horn. The next day, someone showed up at the door and wanted to know where the trumpet player lived. He heard we were looking for a cottage to buy and within the hour we had committed to buy it. We vacationed here while I served at Central Methodist Church in Brockton."

TRUMPET FROM PULPIT: "When I became a pastor in Brockton in 1967, I walked to the pulpit one Sunday and said, 'I make a lot better sound on this trumpet than I do with my voice, and with your indulgence I'll use this trumpet on the hymns.' It inspired the congregation to sing better. I've used it ever since. My horn is my best gift."

CHURCH AND STATE: "I was involved all my life in politics beginning in campus politics. The clergy have to be quite circumspect in terms of being partisan but to activate people into the political life always felt to me to be one of the best things that could happen."

WATER MUSIC: "I take my Boston Whaler out around Cadmans Neck around dusk and play for 30 or 40 minutes. I'm a bit of a romantic and think there's a mystique about playing in the darkness."

WHAT HE PLAYS: "Everything! Jazz standards, hymns, symphonic themes, Gershwin, Rogers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, love songs. When July 4 comes along I blow every patriotic song in the book."

STAYING ACTIVE: "I'm retired but not retiring, I ran unsuccessfully for selectmen. I've been on the Conservation Commission and just completed a three-year term on the Interchurch Council of Greater New Bedford."

SECOND HALF LEARNING: "I've taken courses there and taught. I co-led classes in presidential politics, world religions and 'Great Decisions: U.S. foreign policy.' I serve on the curriculum committee at Second Half."

FULL LIFE: "I marvel at the full life June and I have led during our 57 years of marriage."

By Paul Tamburello

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Copyright © 2003, The East Bay Newspapers

Comments

[Evan]

Paul,  Thanks for the careful treatment in the Shorelines article. As I conveyed to you, I usually am uneasy when quoted in media, especially something as personal as one's own story or a portion thereof.  Thus, much relief and delight in the kind way you put that all together.

 
I just came in an hour ago from playing out over the river: Malotte's "Lord's Prayer; "People Who Need People;" "Yesterday;"  "It Was A Very Good Year;" "Misty;" "Can't Help Lovin' That Man;"  Schubert's Ave Maria...couple others ands Taps. Biggest Audience I recal for years. Parties on West side of River, and East, Lower Spectacle island, Cummings Lane, Hillcrest Acres, and several clusters in Cadman's Neck .....lights blinking and hands clapping from several directions. I think you've got to take credit for drumming up that crowd, Paul.
 
Again, many thanks
 
Peace,
Evan