“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col.3:16-17)
Music Ministry of St. Michael's Lutheran - Richville, MI.
Here at St. Michael's Lutheran Church and School, we are committed to the spread of the gospel and sharing the story of salvation won for us through Christ's redemptive sacrifice. It is because of that hope that we have, that we use the talents and gifts each of us has been given including music. We realize that as each day passes, the joys, obstacles, trials, and sorrows change constantly but, the Word of God does not change. One of the many ways that God's Word comes to us is through music. Martin Luther had this to say about music and its role in the church.
"The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as
before the Word of God... Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and
makes people cheerful. Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." - Martin Luther
Music is more then simply opening hymnals, speaking words, and closing them. It is an avenue in which God continues to plant the seeds of the lessons and teaching we hear through preaching and meditation on our hearts. "So that in everything we do... we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17). One of many hymns found in Lutheran Service Book (LSB) perhaps sums up the real purpose of music within the church.
"We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!" (LSB #941)
Reflecting on what God has done for us and continuing serve Him through missions both here and abroad, we here at St. Michael's maintain a ministry in music which seeks to glorify God in the way it is presented. Music used in worship reflects not only God's Word and His saving work of redemption but also represents a proper statement of our relationship with our Heavenly Father - one of mercy and grace. In our school, we strive to not only teach the fundamentals of music but also teach the "fundamentals" of faith which are spread through song. Music is a universal language, one in which not only emotion may be found, but faith may be nurtured and grown. Above all, music is not a performance in worship, but an avenue by which the Word of God may travel through the hearts and minds of those gathered. This is not to say that a multitude of instruments may not be used. King David in his book of Psalms says, "Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:3-6) It is to the glory of God that we sing, play, and make music here at St. Michael's in worship, teaching, and performing.
To God be the Glory!
Dr. Jon Eifert
Director of Music
Soli Deo Gloria!
"The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles, flees before the sound of music almost as much as
before the Word of God... Music is a gift and grace of God, not an invention of men. Thus it drives out the devil and
makes people cheerful. Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." - Martin Luther
Music is more then simply opening hymnals, speaking words, and closing them. It is an avenue in which God continues to plant the seeds of the lessons and teaching we hear through preaching and meditation on our hearts. "So that in everything we do... we do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17). One of many hymns found in Lutheran Service Book (LSB) perhaps sums up the real purpose of music within the church.
"We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!" (LSB #941)
Reflecting on what God has done for us and continuing serve Him through missions both here and abroad, we here at St. Michael's maintain a ministry in music which seeks to glorify God in the way it is presented. Music used in worship reflects not only God's Word and His saving work of redemption but also represents a proper statement of our relationship with our Heavenly Father - one of mercy and grace. In our school, we strive to not only teach the fundamentals of music but also teach the "fundamentals" of faith which are spread through song. Music is a universal language, one in which not only emotion may be found, but faith may be nurtured and grown. Above all, music is not a performance in worship, but an avenue by which the Word of God may travel through the hearts and minds of those gathered. This is not to say that a multitude of instruments may not be used. King David in his book of Psalms says, "Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:3-6) It is to the glory of God that we sing, play, and make music here at St. Michael's in worship, teaching, and performing.
To God be the Glory!
Dr. Jon Eifert
Director of Music
Soli Deo Gloria!