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WORSHIP and MUSIC at Saint James
Worship is a unifying event in
the life of our congregation. It is the one time when all
members join together in a common purpose—to worship and thank
God for God’s grace given to all in Word and Sacrament. During
worship, the liturgy can connect all parish programs and
ministries: evangelism, stewardship, education, property, music,
the arts, youth, seniors, social ministry, fellowship, and more.
Click on the following links
for more information about:
How
Lutherans Worship
Music
in the Lutheran Worship Service
Saint
James’ Chancel Choir
The
Worship and Music Ministry Team
How Lutherans Worship
The words and actions through
which Lutherans worship God are many and varied. Lutheran
congregations are seldom identical in the way they worship.
Still, for most Lutherans, certain facts hold true:
Lutheran worship is
liturgical, following a common order of service adopted by the
Church.
Lutheran worship is biblical.
It has roots in the life of the Old Testament people and of the
New Testament Church. It uses the language of Scripture and
celebrates the biblical message.
Lutheran worship employs the
historic heritage of Christian worship common to major branches
of the Church, as it has developed over 20 centuries.
In the spirit of the
Reformation, Lutherans worship in the contemporary language of
the people. Lay persons, as well as the clergy, participate
actively in appropriate leadership roles.
Lutheran worship employs the
arts---musical and visual---as gifts from God to be used to
God's glory and for the instruction of God's people.
Most North American
Lutherans use the Lutheran Book of Worship as their liturgical
guide. It provides resources for a rich life of congregational
and personal prayer, centered in the Service of Holy Communion.
MUSIC
Within the context of the
historical liturgy, music functions not as an ornament or
entertainment, but rather as an integral part of the liturgy,
carrying prayer and praise and illuminating the proclamation of
the Word. The music of the liturgy invites all–-congregation,
choir, instrumentalists and pastors–-to participate. Because
each group is a part of the whole, each has its own role as it
takes a turn leading prayer and praise with the entire assembly.
Music's most important function is to illuminate the text that
allows us to see Christ and the action of God in our lives.
Music that overshadows the text and draws attention to itself
violates its purpose. The music that we sing should help us make
common things holy, link our faith to the communal life of the
assembly, and move us to embrace the church at all times and in
all places. For that reason, our music is old and new, familiar
and unfamiliar, and of many styles and ethnic roots. Effective
music in worship is varied but the best that each genre has to
offer.
The entire congregation is
called upon to participate actively in the liturgical action.
Worshipers’ primary musical role in worship is to sing the
hymnody, portions of the liturgy, acclamations, and music
accompanying processions. Hymns are chosen for their relevance
to the meaning of the day or season, and for their ability to
illuminate the assigned readings.
The hymn of the day is the
most important of these hymns and relates directly to the gospel
reading of the day.
Thoughtful introductions,
addition of other instruments, descants, and varied voicing on
hymn stanzas contribute to interpretations that enhance the
meaning of the hymn text.
The Saint James’ Chancel
Choir participates in our 11:00 am Sunday worship and for
special occasions.
The Chancel Choir meets on
Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Our Music Director is Tim Lloyd.
The choir has it own set of
musical responsibilities. Its primary function is to support and
enhance the congregation’s song. In that role, the choir helps
the assembly to sing with confidence and acts as a teacher by
helping the congregation to enlarge its repertoire of hymns and
liturgical settings. Participation with the congregation in
festive settings of the hymn of the day is of major importance.
The choir is responsible for
singing the "proper" portions of the liturgy (those parts that
change each Sunday) often in partnership with the congregation.
These include the psalm, alleluia and verse (Gospel
Acclamation), offertory, and music during communion.
The Worship Ministry Team
of Saint James – Come Join Us
All members are welcome to
join the Worship and Music Ministry Team. We met on the second
Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. For more information, please
contact the church office or
Allan Winter, the team chairperson,.
Overall
Responsibilities of the Worship and Music Ministry:
·
visioning (based on mutual learning and
involvement in the worship life of the congregation)
·
policy making (including making recommendations to
council)
·
overseeing subcommittees
·
evaluating regular liturgies and special events
·
receiving feedback from the congregation
·
coordinating with other committees
Specific Duties
·
training and coordination of particular ministries
(lay assisting ministers, lectors, altar guilds, acolytes, etc.)
·
planning worship (which may normally be done by
pastor(s), musicians(s), and at most several additional members)
·
environment and seasonal decorating
·
coordinating arts events (recitals, exhibits, and
the like)
·
arranging for event receptions and regular
fellowship
·
managing publicity for liturgies and other events
·
preparing explanatory and/or inspiring articles in
the congregational newsletter about particular services and
times in the church year
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