A Post of Gratitude

I write this article to voice my appreciation for all who have supported me on my quest

First Summer of Classes, 2013

to receive the Master of Arts in Church Music degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.  You can read about the beginning of the journey on my blog at http://smljax.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-new-endeavor.html.

Financial support from St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was critical. This support came primarily through the line item for continuing education in the spending authorization.  There were also several times when our Council approved extra money when the academic and financial load got a little heavy. Thank you to St. Mark’s.

Also thank you to the St. Mark’s Foundation for giving grants that helped me to complete my work.

Thank you to those who made additional contributions to the continuing education line item.  Contributions to the Christmas purse over the last several years have also helped to pay for classes and books. Thank you to all of you for your financial and moral support.

You may be curious to know what requirements I had to fulfill to receive this degree.

Since the degree is actually a theological degree (rather than musical), there were several core theology courses: Systematic Theology, Introduction to Worship, New Testament, Old Testament, Lutheran Confessions, and Themes in Church History.

There were also some core classroom music courses: Music in the Contemporary Church, Music and Worship in the African American Tradition, Music and Liturgy, Leading the Church’s Song, and Building Parish Music Ministries.

Liturgical Choir was an important summer course.  This meant working with my colleague/classmates (and now dear friends) to provide musical support for the daily worship services at TLS.

Ready for Worship in Schenck Chapel

Some of the friends I worked with and our Professor, May Schwarz

Most of the above I completed on campus in Ohio during the three-week summer term.  I did a couple via Skype during the regular academic year.  (Old Testament was not offered by Trinity at a convenient time, so I took it through Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.)

John Carter and Me

During the regular academic year, I studied “applied music” privately.  This included three semesters of organ study with Dr. Laura Ellis at the University of Florida, voice lessons with Dr. James Hall of the University of North Florida, and composition with Bob Moore and John Carter.

Additional degree requirements called for 13 hours of electives, Boundaries Training, and a Racial Awareness Seminar. Finally, I was required to demonstrate musical competence through the completion of two “juries.” My juries included composition and keyboard/organ performance.

Several people have asked me, “What’s next?”

I’m fairly certain that my formal academic education has come to an end.  I look forward to spending some time living with what I have learned and putting it to deeper practice. I’m considering a certification program through the American Guild of Organists. Mostly, I am looking forward to becoming active again in the AGO and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

Trinity Lutheran Seminary helped to form me as a musician and as a Christian.

I am honored to have received this degree and feel a great sense of accomplishment.  I hope St. Mark’s shares this feeling with me because I could not have done it without you!

Trinity Lutheran Seminary Class of 2019

Music for the Sixth Sunday of Easter: May 26, 2019

Prelude: Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal   arr. Dan Edwards (St. Mark’s Ringers)

This great hymn had its genesis in shape note singing, a phenomenon that came to the United States from England in the 18^th century. In this hymn we hear echoes of the Revelation reading as the redeemed sing “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah to the Lamb. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the great I Am."

Detail from a window at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, Ohio

Gathering Hymn: All Glory Be to God on High (Allein Gott in der Höh) ELW 410

This brisk, rhythmic hymn is a Lutheran favorite. It comes from the pen of Nikolaus Decius (1485-1541), a German monk, Protestant reformer, and hymn writer.  Most singers would never guess that Decius chose the music from a 10^th century chant of the Gloria in excelcis Deo.

Hymn of the Day: Glorious Things of You Are Spoken (Blaenwern) ELW 647

Musical Offering: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing arr. Michael Larkin

Warrenton is another tune from the shape note singing schools. You’ll recognize Robert Robinson’s text from ELW with an added refrain of “I am bound for the kingdom will you go to glory with me? Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!”

Communion Hymns:

First Lutheran Church
San Diego, California

Come and Fill Our Hearts (Confitemini Domino) ELW 528

The Taizé community is the source of this sung prayer.  We’ll sing it several times.  Try to sing it from the hymnal once or twice, then set the book down and sing it by heart. It’s a simple prayer for our hearts to be filled with peace.

The music of Taizé has found its away around the world.  Services include scripture readings, prayer, intentional silence, and the singing of these unique chants. In many cases the chant is sung while cantors sings verses and instrumentalists play obligato parts over the assembly’s singing. Candles and icons are also often included during these contemplative services.

Jerusalem, My Happy Home (Land of Rest) ELW 628

Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song (Bridegroom) ELW 403 

Peace and the Holy Spirit are both promised by Jesus in today’s gospel reading - and both are important parts of this modern hymn.

Sending Hymn: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (Houston) ELW 815

Postlude: I Know That My Redeemer Lives setting, Charles Callahan