Music Ministry Purpose Statement
A worshipping community, encouraged by the Holy Spirit to worship joyfully.
Summary Statement:
The purpose of our music ministry is driven by St. Paul’s mission and overarching Anglican Worship music traditions of Eucharistic celebrations, Evensong, Ordinations, Baptisms, Holy Matrimony, etc., liturgies that are ripe with wonderful music. Choir anthems, organ voluntaries and glorious hymns are carefully selected, well rehearsed by talented and dedicated music ministers and given by the worshipping community to God the Father, the only true audience in worship. Our God is worthy to receive our best.
Therefore, as good stewards of God’s gifts and love, in worship we are required to give from our finest resources. If we have the resources of talent and treasure to do so (and we do), then the fingerprint sound of our worship music is artful and delightful. We are not performing but using the beauty of art to act out our love for, praise and adoration of our merciful God.
Objectives of our Music Ministry:
1. Worship Music lifts our hearts and minds and Glorifies God. The nature of music, in all its vocal and instrumental forms and diverse musical styles, releases our spirits from human concerns and directs our attention to God’s glory in whose presence we give God thanks and praise.
2. Worship music connects people to Christ through participation in making worship music and in listening to worship music. Through congregational song, choir anthems, organ and other instrumental music, and service music, our musical offering delivers our spirits to Christ’s throne of grace and glory.
3. Worship music transforms the lives of people taking part in worship. Music, by its very nature, is a transformative power. When added to the poetry and prose of our common prayer and to God’s word from the lectionary, the spiritual words and ideas of the same take on additional power, transforming the lives of the singer and the listener.
Douglas Starr, Organist and Choirmaster