The art of music is among the greatest of God’s gifts to us. Its capacity to move us from the depths is not only a sign of God’s redeeming love for us but it is a tangible witness to the active presence of God in our lives. Through the use of music in worship, we can at once feel the rushing wind of the spirit or hear the still, small voice of calm. We can know the power of God to speak directly to us without uttering a single word.
Music is a way of prayer to proclaim the Gospel and to tell the story of our redemption in manifold ways. It can provide a structure to worship and it can serve as a means of either active expression or passive reflection for the congregation. Above all, its purpose is to enable us to say to God and to one another that which can in no other way be said.
The Lutheran worship tradition seeks to ‘ornament’ the Word of God with music and all of the arts together into a Great Thanksgiving which is lifted up through worship, praise and adoration of the Holy Trinity.
Through speaking and singing, action and silence, ceremony and gesture, a liturgy replete with the arts serves to express the depth and richness of our relationship with God and with one another as members of Christ’s body.
Music is a way to connect generations. Music begins first at home and school with young children and moves through our lives in both obvious and subtle ways. Many studies of patients with memory loss have found that music is retained much longer than other memories. At St
Luke, we have music for all generations. We make music boldly with the voices and gifts God has given us!
