The season of Lent, in addition to giving us moments of reflection, repentance and renewal, also provides opportunity for musical expression. We look especially to music that helps us prepare and allows us to trace the events in the life of the Lord in our midst in his roles as both teacher and healer, leading to his ultimate temptation of the cross and victorious resurrection. Such music is offered during the Lenten season in the Sanctuary Choir introits illustrating the scripture text, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a loving spirit.” It continues in the anthems: “Lord, I Want To Be A Christian,” “Living Water Of Life,” “Hush! Somebody’s Calling My Name” and “I Waited For The Lord,” featuring a duet by Kristen Sheau and Michelle Touton. The Covenant Ringers have also offered similar works, such as the dynamic “Down By The Riverside” and the introspective “What Wondrous Love Is This?”.

As we begin Holy Week on Passion/Palm Sunday, we will hear the musical account of Christ’s journey into Jerusalem, leading to his final sacrifice, in the cantata by John Henry Maunder, titled Olivet to Calvary.  The cantata will open with a palm processional and end with a candlelight recessional.  The congregation will join the choir in the singing of appropriate hymns interspersed throughout the work. Guest soloists, Chester Pidduck, tenor, and Krassen Karagiozov, baritone, will augment our singers for the cantata.  

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

On Easter Sunday, our worship celebrating the resurrection will include special music of rejoicing provided by trumpeters George and Brian Herrel and Izzy Jara at the Sunrise Service.  During our morning worship in the Sanctuary at 10:45, we will hear music by both the Sanctuary Choir and Covenant Ringers. The Sanctuary Choir will offer the premiere of Donald Dillard’s setting of “Psalm 95,” while the Covenant Ringers will play Cynthia Dobrinski’s “Joy And Elation” and Sandra Eithun’s “Jesus, Thou Joy Of Loving Hearts,” the latter with Glenda Hughes, mezzo soprano, and Phoebe Aaronson, flute. The service will conclude with the joyous “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah, which the congregation will be invited and encouraged to sing with the choir.  A brass ensemble will accompany the Sanctuary Choir as well as the congregational hymns and will offer an arrangement of Karg-Elert’s “Now Thank We All Our God” for organ and brass.

It is our hope and prayer that your journey through this Lenten season will be enhanced and uplifted through these musical offerings, and that you will be inspired to a closer walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

D. E. Dillard