Worship and Music

October is upon us. Cooler fall temperatures, leaves changing colors, high school and   college football games, the State Fair – all serve as reminders that the year 2019 is rapidly    nearing its end.  But just because all the anthems have been chosen through the Christmas season doesn’t mean that I, or the singers, can rest on our laurels. 

Church music isn’t like any other kind of   performance. When you go to a concert, the band, orchestra, or choir have been rehearsing for months and the concert is the culmination of those months of practice. Once the concert is over, they move on to the next concert. 

The foremost difference between church music and other vocal or instrumental groups is that church music is NOT a performance.  It is, in its purest form, our prayer, our praise, our expression of gratitude to our Lord and Savior for His unconditional love, mercy and grace.  For me, it is an ongoing, constant looking ahead to the next season, and the one following; always working ahead so that the musicians have ample time to develop the musicality of each piece that we sing or play.  It is a challenge to look so far ahead and choose hymns and anthems that will not only compliment but enhance the Scriptures, and sometimes, I do miss the boat.  But it’s those other times, the times when everything fits together like a giant puzzle; I know that the Holy Spirit was guiding my choices.  

For that, I can only say …Soli Deo Gloria (to God Alone the Glory),

Laurie