Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church

WORSHIP AND MUSIC MINISTRY

Worship matters in our church and lies at the heart of how we understand ourselves together. The Worship and Music Ministry oversees all aspects of worship: texts, ceremony, music, liturgical orders, and the nuts-and-bolts of who does what.

CRLC follows a three-year lectionary as the basis for hymn selections, prayers, confession texts, biblical lessons, etc. We also follow the church calendar, observing the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost.

CRLC also has contemporary worship elements interspersed throughout the year with regularlity, but not lumped into one service each week. Several times a year we have “Ruah!”, a service planned with diverse elements (more-recently composed music, skits, film clips, conversation, images, projection, communion, prayers, etc.) that unite in a less-formal style to appeal to a variety of ages and people who are at different places on their journey as Christians. To learn more about worship at CRLC, click on our worship booklet.

Opportunities to serve in worship:
Greeter
Usher
Lay Reader
Communion Assistant
Acolyte (lights the candles)
Altar Guild
Flower Committee
Nursery Volunteer
Choir Member
Cantor (soloist who leads worship)
Instrumentalist

Music Ministry
The role of music in worship is to support the praise and prayers of those who have assembled. Music always seeks to enhance various elements in worship, rather than take the main focus in worship. The role of choirs, cantors, and instrumentalists is always to lead the assembly in its song.

Most often one of the choirs presents special music during the gathering of the gifts, based on the theme or readings for that particular day or season. They also lead the singing of the hymns and psalms, as well as teach new music to the assembly.

Music Groups at CRLC

Adult Choir provides music leadership at worship on Sundays from September through mid-June, usually at the late Sunday service. Although the focus is on leading the assembly in its song, the choir sings a variety of styles of music ranging from classical to baroque to gospel to contemporary music. Including teens and adults, rehearsals are usually from 7:00 to 8:15 PM on Wednesdays in September through early May. During Lent the Adult Choir may practice on Sunday mornings.
	Children’s Choir includes children in grades K-6. They usually practice Wednesdays from 6 to 6:45 PM from September through May. In this group we learn many things about worship and singing well. The goal of the children’s choir is to learn to sing well with focus on Finding the “head voice” Diction Matching pitches Learning rhythm Learning the various elements of the liturgy Developing self-confidence Working within a group to make beautiful sounds Giving an outlet for creative self-expression learning to appreciate music and various styles of music
Instrumentalists perform throughout the year, sometimes with a choir, and often in leadership of hymns and liturgy songs. Groups of instrumentalists come together for worship outside in our Outdoor Chapel in the summer and to provide leadership for “Ruah!” services.
Organ, Harpsichord, Piano CRLC is blessed to have several instruments for use in worship: pipe organ, Yamaha piano, and a harpsichord. Organ In service since 1994, the 4-rank pipe organ assembled by Bill Ellenberger has been providing regular service to worship at CRLC. In 2007 an Organ Task Force made a report to the Vision Board to recommend another instrument be sought for CRLC and an Organ Fund was created. In 2009 a fine pipe organ was located and fund-raising began in earnest to be able to purchase the instrument. In March 2010 the congregation gave their approval to purchase the 1973 Schlicker pipe organ from St Johns Lutheran Church in Sinking Spring PA. Late in 2011 or early 2012 Holtkamp Organ Company from Cleveland OH will install the instrument in our sanctuary. Piano A Yamaha upright piano has provided fine leadership in worship since the sanctuary was completed in 1990 (exclusively from 1990 to 1994 before the organ). Harpsichord A refurbished harpsichord is being loaned to CRLC by a member who has purchased another harpsichord for the church. While he is repairing and enhancing that instrument, we have enjoyed the unique sounds of this small continuo instrument, accompanying the choir occasionally and providing prelude and offering music about once a month.