Music Notes
by Karla Porter
Nativity Music Director

(From November 2000 Nativity Tidings)

The Holy Spirit and Song

At the end of the month, we will celebrate Thanksgiving – here at church, in our homes with family and friends, and in the greater community. First and foremost, we thank God for His many blessings to us. We also need to remember to thank God for the worldwide community of believers. What does this have to do with music, you ask. Having recently attended the Lutheran chapel service on the campus of St. Olaf (Northfield, MN) and also having participated in the Eucharistic celebration at the Diocesan Convention in Punta Gorda on November 14, I was once again struck by the power of the Holy Spirit to empower us and join us together in the songs of worship.

At St. Olaf, Professor of Music and Organist/Choir Director, John Ferguson, had chosen a Kyrie sung to a contemporary tune from Ghana; for the Gloria, the traditional text was set to a traditional Peruvian melody; the sequence hymn was an Hasidic tune.

At the Diocesan Convention service, much thought and care went into selecting new music (for us "traditional" Episcopalians!) from the hymnal supplement, Wonder, Love, and Praise. We sang one of the communion hymns first in Spanish and then in English. From the way the congregation sang it, the hymn (Holy, Holy, Holy) was very well accepted. And you will probably see it on a bulletin insert here at Nativity in the near future.

Once again, God never leaves us in the place where he found us/we found him. Let us remember that much of the music we like really is an expression of our preferences. We thank God that we live in a nation where we can choose to worship the way we "prefer" to worship – a little like having our cake and eating it too. Let us also thank God that we have the opportunity to expand our repertoire, learning some of the "preferences" of the wider fellowship of believers!