And the Music Plays on…
Contributors to this article in order: Ben Owen, Matthew Covert, Brenda Portman, and Jenny Cauhorn (aka our Music Ministry Team)
Our Music Ministry Team shares how they have adjusted over the last year to continue to bring the love and joy of Christ through music to our congregation and beyond. Each in their own words tell how they’ve adjusted and have been inspired to continue to make a difference through music.
Ben Owen, Director of Music One of the many challenges we have faced as a music ministry in the time of Covid is maintaining our sense of community and connection. The “full experience” of worship – the full choirs and ensembles, the filled pews, and the weekly ritual of connecting with your siblings in Christ – cannot be fully replicated under our current circumstances. We can feel confident in saying this: there will come a day when the choirs are singing together again, the full carillon choir is ringing, and the band doesn’t have to sing with masks on. We just don’t know whether this day will come sooner or later. We do know, though, that the music that we will make together on that day will be among the most powerful, meaningful, healing, and worshipful music we have made in our lives. So, don’t worry! Like Christ, we will come again in glory; maybe not to judge the living and the dead, but certainly to uplift each other and participate in deep worship together. In the meantime, I want to make sure you are aware of the music ministry’s adaptations during our “extended detour.” Since the beginning of this pandemic, weekly online hymn sings, two hours-long hymn marathons, and an increased YouTube presence have been introduced through the church’s social media channels. Both traditional and contemporary musicians joined together to lead our outdoor worship, Park n’ Praise, from August to October. Brenda and I presented an organ symphony along with the Canterbury Brass in November. During the Advent season, many were able to follow along with our online Christmas Carol Advent Calendar and sing carols together safely at Ault Park.
Matthew and the Praise Band continued to offer first-rate contemporary music in the 11:00 service as well as in the joint live-streamed services that were broadcast over the summer. Brenda continues to offer high-quality organ and piano repertoire throughout the year. The Organ Concert Series, under her leadership, has maintained its status as the finest organ series in the region. Despite the difficulties presented by the pandemic, Brenda adapted the series to include online broadcasts and safe in-person attendance. Jenny has retooled the bell ensemble into small groups and soloists to allow for safe and quality musical offerings in our services. Stan and Janice Kummer delivered their gorgeous newly restored harpsichord to the church and Jan Heiden continues to perfect our music library system. Perhaps best of all, we have left no service unsung throughout this crazy year thanks to the many volunteers willing to learn music quickly, sing solo or in quartets, and sing in not-always-comfortable masks. A HUGE thank you to those who have sung or played in our livestreamed services as well as those offering support through prayer and encouragement from home! God has truly blessed us, even in times of difficulty.
Matthew Covert, Worship Leader In this season of change having a team that is “on board” is such a blessing. With the pandemic Worship@11 has undergone some real changes. We, as a team, have adapted to these changes sometimes on the fly and sometimes thinking well ahead. At the outset of these changes we were blessed to participate in a blended service with our traditional service partners. We adapted our “sound,” going from electric guitars and big drums to acoustic guitars and hand percussion. The musicians who are a part of the Worship@11 Praise Team are the best singers and instrumentalists. They perform and play at a very high level. This allowed us to seamlessly adapt to the needs of a different sort of service.
