Choir Notes

“Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God” Martin Luther.
Beginning on Christmas Eve, we are returning to singing hymns during the administration of communion. Although many think of the Rite of Communion as a very private, personal encounter with God, we actually need to look at the name of the rite itself, communion, to see that it is actually a time of community. It is the moment in our service when we join not just with the other members of our congregation but also with the saints of all times and in all places. We meet each other at the table as one body of Christ with our hands outstretched to receive our Lord’s body and blood which he so selflessly gave to us all. The purpose of singing during communion which starts with our singing of Lamb of God is to unite our spirits through the unity of our voices as we go forward to the table. We continue to sing throughout the distribution joining our voices with those gathered around the throne of heaven.
Luther tells us that “next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise…After all, the gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music.”
So please raise your voice during communion. Join the hymn and sing along with all your loved ones who have gone before you, all your friends and family scattered around the world giving praise to God for his gift of salvation.
God bless you,
Angela