Music and Worship at FLC

Music for worship at First Lutheran Church – WAM committee goals from this process

worshipmusicforum – general principles about music and worship used during forums

As you will have read in previous newsletters, information pills we are in an interim year with respect to the choir / music director position.  As part of this process, pastors, council and Worship, Arts and Music (WAM) committee thought it would be a good idea to revisit a goal identified during the call process: “evolving our worship offerings, as we foresee a need to incorporate a wider variety of high-quality styles and formats, especially in the area of music.”  What was meant by that?  We held two forums and provided a survey.  Around 40 people participated, including some of our youth.  Some had very well developed thoughts, others struggled to articulate feelings or were mostly present to listen.  I must say it was helpful for me, as one of your pastors, to hear your ideas but also what it is you value about music and worship at FLC.  It was one more way to get to know you better.

What now?  We pastors together with WAM committee are discerning ways to articulate some values about our worship and music, what some goals might be (short and long term), what further questions might be ahead of us.  Getting clear on this can help us know what to look for in a choir / music director and what we share with candidates about FLC.

What did people say?  It’s not easy to summarize, but there were some general and interesting ideas that seemed to be emerging out of this process (a few direct quotations below):

People highly value the music and worship at FLC, where we’re able to experience a full and rich liturgy and music that’s sophisticated, interesting, challenging and with real depth for adults and children.  We have a superb organ and first rate musicians who find spiritual meaning in how they serve us.  In our Lutheran heritage, “music per se is theologically important.”  We enjoy a rich artistic heritage, and music connects us to the communion of saints who have gone before us.  The recent use of piano / guitar / mandolin at 8:30 is “simple” and “genuine” and fits that service in its own way.

Let’s be thoughtful about the mission of the church and wary of simplistic answers about the way forward.  In many churches people are told: “get rid of the old hymns and use the new stuff, or you have no future.”  I don’t know if there’s anyone who would say that around FLC.  Some also question the wisdom of splitting into “contemporary and traditional” services, which can be divisive when many have a broad range of musical interest.  You don’t want things “bland” or “boring.”  Maybe it’s OK to be musically extreme, so long as we’re passionate about it.  Music is not a “gimmick” to get people in the door.  But as we get clearer about our mission in neighborhood and world, we’ll get more clear about future direction for music and worship.

One area of growth might be around involving the congregation more meaningfully, or music and in worship that’s more accessible.  Some feel “overwhelmed” or “intimidated” when music is unfamiliar, hard to sing or seems obscure.   It can seem “solemn” rather than “joyful,” helping us to “feel the gospel in our hearts.”  Some people mentioned the idea of doing further education, whether it’s teaching a song at the beginning of the service or explaining the pattern of worship.  How else might we strengthen the connection between musicians and congregation?  Some wonder about new ways to involve the congregation in singing or playing instruments, such as a temporary choir with less of a rehearsal commitment.   Or “jam sessions?  Community band camp?”  A particular area of interest / concern is in worship and music experiences that better involve youth and children.  Youth music group?  Worship experiences that are more child-friendly?

People are very open to using a great variety of music, with some question as to what variety we might pursue and how to do it well.  Some point out the variety of music that has already been in use in choir repertoire and other music.  Others point out that the variety goal wasn’t just about music but worship more generally.  What new worship opportunities can we provide?  More meditative?  More use of technology with appeal to a younger generation?  A wider variety of liturgical settings?  A few mentioned Taize’ – which will be the basis for our Lenten Sunday liturgy.  Also, jazz, gospel, world music, and the music they use at youth conventions – and adding more instruments.  A few people mentioned the possibility of a folk or youth-oriented service once a month or so.  Some say: as we add variety, let’s not sacrifice quality.