Notes from the Music Director
Dear friends in Christ,
A smile. A frown. A look of concern, worry, joy or sadness.
These are just a few of the expressions that you will see on the faces of fellow saints as they return to their
seats after receiving the Lord’s body and blood in Holy Communion. Such expressions give evidence of the
unique lives to which God has called each of his children.
Because we are not God, it is never wise for us to attempt to discern what a particular individual might be
thinking after communing. Yet we’ve all wondered at one time or another as to why Mr. Baker looks so glum or
Grandma Smith so troubled. And for that matter, there have been times when we’ve departed the Lord’s altar
wondering why we aren’t feeling a greater sense of joy.
Such a focus on feelings is frequently a wasted endeavor. Feelings come and feelings go. They are as fickle
as waves that wash up on a beach. But the gifts that God gives in his Holy Supper are sure and certain:
forgiveness, life, and salvation. No matter what our feelings may be at any particular moment, we can have
complete confidence of our standing before God. And even if we don’t always “feel” it, we can be certain that
we are at peace with God.
As the pastor dismisses the communicants, his final words are, “Depart in peace.” That’s not a wish; it’s a
blessing. In a sense we’re being told, “Leave this altar knowing that you are at peace with God, even if you
don’t exactly feel any peace at the moment.” We often sing about this peace, using the words of Simeon, the
Nunc Dimittis:
Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared before the face of all people, a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Your
people Israel. Luke 2:29-32
So, how do these words apply to us who have received the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper? We
hold no infant Jesus in our hands, as Simeon did. We have no individual revelation from God.
What we have is Christ himself! It’s true that we haven’t held him in our arms. But every time we go to Holy
Communion we eat His body and drink His blood. Not only do we see His salvation through the eyes of faith,
we literally taste and see that the Lord is good! Even more, in Christ we have God’s final and fullest revelation
of his mercy and goodness toward us. Unlike the various ways in which God spoke to ancient Israel, He now
speaks to us through his Son (Heb. 1:1-2a). Through Christ’s teaching and redemptive work, God has
accomplished and made known His salvation. On his account we are at peace with God and with one another.
While we could conclude the distribution with any number of hymns or songs, there really is nothing more
appropriate than these words of Simeon. There may be trouble, fear, and anxiety in our lives, but these all find
their proper end in the peace that God grants in his Holy Supper. Like Simeon, God sends us forth in lasting
peace. 1
Hope to see you in worship!
Yours in HIM,
Scott Kamman
Music Director
1 Reprinted from the LCMS Commission onworship on Worship
Instrumentalists/Singers Needed for Contemporary Worship Teams
In case you haven’t noticed, we are not running on a full Praise Band. We are in need of some new blood in our Praise Team Band! Talk to Scott Kamman if you’d be interested in helping out. We’ve also lost a couple of singers and instrumentalists in our roster. If you would like to sing or play on a regular basis, talk to Scott (426-1130 or scott.kamman@gmail.com ). Time commitment depends solely on you, as little or as much as you desire. We need you!
Worship Reminders:
•If you partake of the individual communion cup, please clearly hold the empty cup in front of you to help the communion assistant who is serving the common cup to see that you have already communed. Thank you.
•Please respect the quiet time of meditation before the service begins. Silence your phone. Enter the sanctuary reverently and with worship in mind. Socializing is best done in the narthex or lounge areas before and after the service. Also, please remember that if you arrive late for church, wait until the congregation begins singing a hymn or piece of the liturgy before being seated. That is the appropriate time to enter into worship. Thank you for maintaining a worshipful atmosphere.
Worship Notes:
In an effort to try to help us all learn about our worship life and liturgy, we offer this little “tidbit” of information each month. It can serve as a review for you, an answer to that question, “Why do we do that?”, or as a teaching tool for our children or grandchildren. Please share this with your family. Discuss it prior to worship. If there is something you would like to have answered, let me know. I’ll do my best to find out! Check out this month’s edition of “Worship Notes” below.
This month’s Worship Note:
The familiar blessing at the end of the service that begins, “The Lord bless you and keep you,” is given the name “Aaronic” because it is the blessing God commanded Moses to give to his brother Aaron to speak to the people. Look it up in Numbers 6:24-26.
Monthly rotation of hymnal liturgies for
8:30 services:
First week: Divine Service Setting 1
Second week: Divine Service Setting 4
Third week: Divine Service Setting 5
Fourth week: Divine Service Setting 3
Fifth week: Matins (with communion)