Music and Worship
Julia B. Hansen
Director of Music and Worship
Introducing the St. John Sanctuary Choir
In last month’s newsletter article, Pastor David answered the question, What is a choir for? He pointed to the many important functions a choir serves in Sunday morning worship.
These functions include music leadership, in which the voices of the members form one voice that leads the congregation in praise of God. But a choir is more than practical—it also provides us with a certain musical something special, so that our regular worship is made extraordinary with specially prepared musical pieces.
And for the singers themselves, there is so much to glean from singing in a choir. Not just a place for expert and trained voices, a choir provides a place for learning about music, from the director, as well as other choir members. But a choir is not all business. Many singers are life-long choir members who have sung for 10, 20, or 30 years...and why? Because singing in a choir provides a place for fellowship and fun. Time spent together in rehearsal is a great way to be part of something larger than yourself, to share the joy of music sung well, and to share a laugh when things don’t go as planned!
Finally, a choir (in my biased opinion) is the most glorious means of praising the One who made us, our Father in heaven. We glorify God when we make music, and I truly believe that, regardless of whether the music is pitch-perfect or not, there is no sweeter sound to our Lord than to hear his praises sung by us, his children.
Since accepting the job of Director of Music and Worship in February of this year, I have talked to many in our congregation about the role music plays in our worship. Over and over again, I have heard the members of St. John say how good it is to have voices leading on Sunday morning. I have heard enthusiasm expressed for forming a choir that will lead worship on Sunday mornings at the 10:05am service, as well as a praise and worship group to lead our contemporary 8am service.
Well, the time has come for that music leadership to begin. We are forming a choir to sing at the 10:05am service. The name of this group will be The Sanctuary Choir, and it is open to everyone—men and women, youth through adult—who desire to lift their voices in song on Sunday mornings. This group will have its first rehearsal on Wednesday, September 10th at our Fall Music Kick-off. On that evening, both of our St. John choirs—the Sanctuary Choir and the Men’s Choir—will rehearse in the sanctuary.
Be there at 6:55pm to be part of our Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal. We will meet in the sanctuary with men and women singing together until 7:30pm. At that time, the men will continue rehearsing with Mary Longhofer and hold their Men’s Choir practice until 8:30pm. The women will adjourn to the stage with Julia and practice some special things for the weeks and months to come.
I pray that you will keep our new Sanctuary Choir along with the Men’s Choir in your prayers in the coming days. Pray that we will enjoy one another’s music and praise God to the best of our ability. Pray that, as directors, Mary and I might choose the right hymns and words with which to lead this fledgling group. And most of all, prayerfully consider being a part of the music of St. John. We can’t wait to see you there!
In God’s praise,
Julia B. Hansen, Director of Music and Worship
Click play to listen to "Softly and Tenderly"
