Episcopal School Sunday was a wonderful time last week and a full house; what a great celebration of Saint John's largest outreach ministry. Over the last 55 years we have been able to show God's love in a very real way as the school touches the lives of thousands of students and parents.

  

This past weekend the student's touched our lives as they read the lessons, and participated in worship. When you see those smiling and energetic students you can begin to understand the joy I receive each Monday morning through the school chapel. Please know that you are always welcome to join us at 8:30 on Monday mornings; the first Monday of the month is Holy Eucharist, the other weeks we read Morning Prayer. It is always a delight and always full of song.

  

We heard some of the musicians in the school as they offered the music at the beginning of the service, and the upper school choir voices sung a wonderful anthem at the Offertory. I am so pleased that they were able to offer that music in praise to God; music is such a wonderful contribution to our worship tradition.

  

Many of you may not be aware of the care and effort that goes into selecting music for our worship. Our minister of music, Jim Kreger, carefully reviews the readings for the day and also accounts for the liturgical season as he sorts through musical options. If you listen carefully to the text of the music you will notice how well these support the readings and the season.

  

It has always been my view, and the view of my professors, that worship begins with the first note of the organ and concludes with the last note following the dismissal. As the psalmist says we praise God "with lyre and harp", or for us organ, voice, and bells.

  

I encourage you to listen to the opening organ music as it opens our worship and sets a tone for the service. Knowing that terms familiar to me are not always language that everyone else knows here is a brief explanation: hymns are sung by choir and congregation, anthems are sung by choir alone. We most often have anthems at the offertory and the beginning of the distribution of communion.

  

Sing the hymns with love knowing that God hears and loves our voices. Listen carefully to the anthems as their text and tone is an integral part of our worship. Give your attention to the choir as they sing for they have given us their attention in preparing this beautiful music.

  

As music enhances much of our worship, the silence found in the 8am said service is also fulfilling. Those same moments of silence are also a welcome contribution to worship that is punctuated with song. The rhythm of worship teaches us that worship is most fulfilling when we acknowledge those moments of joyful noise and those moments of listening to God in the silence. "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord."