Music in Worship
As Christians we live a life of praise in joyful response for all God has done for us. It is a life centered on Christ, the very Word and God sent to save His people. Our worship is therefore Christ centered and is intended in every way to focus our thoughts on the Word. Martin Luther formulated it in this way: Music is second only to theology in the teaching mission of the church.
At Faith Lutheran our ministry in music serves the Word and the saving message of the Gospel. It is a message for all generations and all times, and we live that out in our worship by not creating separate services for certain demographics or musical tastes. We aspire to use the best musical resources for worship with the goal of keeping the family of God united within our congregation and the church at large. The liturgy and hymns of the Lutheran tradition which have proven their value as teachers of the faith for centuries are central to our worship, yet we also borrow frequently from other traditions and musical styles for variety.
The central musical expression of our worship is congregational singing. We encourage active participation in worship through the inclusion of familiar music, clear leadership and providing printed service folders for following the order of worship. The congregation’s song is further supported by all the other music ministries of the church.
The Adult Choir leads the congregation in song, teaches new hymns, and offers special music in the form of choir anthems supporting the themes of the day and of the church year. This choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:45 to approximately 8:00 p.m. It is open to all singers from high school age to adults, regardless of experience. Periodically we also form choirs for special musical occasions that require a shorter time commitment.
Our children’s choirs provide special music for worship and serve as an opportunity to teach the faith in song. The times and locations for these choirs are integrated in the educational curriculum of the church.
- Cherub Choir (pre school through first grade) sings together at the beginning of the Sunday School hour (9:15) each week and participates in worship as scheduled.
- Youth Choir (second through fifth grade) also practices at the beginning of the Sunday School hour (9:15) each week and participates in worship as scheduled.
- JAM Choir is made up students from grades six through eight enrolled in confirmation instruction and practices at from 5:20 - 6:00 p.m., immediately before classes on Wednesdays.
The Adult Handbell Choir meets on Thursday evenings from 5:45 to 6:45 to prepare arrangements that add an extra dimension of sound and color to worship.
A handbell choir of sixth through eight grade students known as JAM Handbells practices during the Advent and Lenten season from 5:30-6:15.
The music program is also blessed with a roster of skilled instrumental musicians who add variety to our worship. These include trumpets, trombones, horns, flutes, oboes, saxophones, strings, guitars and drums.
If you are interested in participating in any of these groups, please contact the Director of Music, Paul Heiser, for more information.