The Blog

As an organist I’m always expected to prepare at least three musical selections every Sabbath. These selections are often named in the church bulletin as prelude, an offertory, and a postlude. To some this might be an easy task, but a great deal of thought comes with choosing just what to play. These three genres…

Happy new year everyone! I thought I would share my morning playlist with you today. This is a “highly curated” playlist that I religiously play right after my personal devotions. It’s just seven songs, 26 minutes and 25 seconds long. Long enough for me to take a brisk walk (about 3,000 plus steps) and breathe…

Across the world, a remarkable group of church musicians lead about 25 million people in song at worship every Sabbath. These musicians are called music ministers, music coordinators, organists, pianists, soloists, song leaders, choir directors, instrumental ensemble directors and a variety of other names. Sometimes they have no title and just volunteer their talents and…

Foremost among those who were called to lead the church from the darkness of popery into the light of a purer faith, stood Martin Luther. Zealous, ardent, and devoted, knowing no fear but the fear of God, and acknowledging no foundation for religious faith but the Holy Scriptures, Luther was the man for the time;…

One of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most popular sonnets is “How Do I Love Thee” where she lists the depth of her love for her husband through hyperbole, or exaggeration. Joachim Neander wrote “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” in the same vein by listing the reasons why we should praise God. However, instead of using…

The year was 1670. The Pietist movement was sweeping fast across the Protestant areas of Germany. Many sermons placed an emphasis on personal religion. And at St. Martin’s church in Bremen, it was no different. Using 1 Peter 1 as a basis of his sermon, the preacher gave a powerful call to a real spiritual rebirth,…