Bethany’s Podcast of Church services can be accessed here.

FAITH SINGS!
Bethany is a singing congregation. The primary and most important choir at Bethany is the congregation itself. The music program is therefore centered in leading the people in singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, according to the sound pattern of worship outlined for us by the Apostle Paul (Col. 3; Eph. 5). This principle shapes both the “vertical” dimension of our worship (God-to-us/us-to-God) and the “horizontal” (us-to-each-other). It guides both our vocal and instrumental music, and distinguishes our children’s music program as well.

THE VERTICAL AND THE HORIZONTAL
To be sure, both the “vertical” and “horizontal” dimensions come from God. He gives the gifts that we share. We like to say that it’s not “His Love/Our Response,” but “His Love/His Love,” because our lives are now hidden in Christ (Col 3:3) and only by His grace are we able to make sacrifices pleasing to God. Still, the distinction between “vertical” and “horizontal” helps to illustrate two types of music cultivated at Bethany. Vertically, there is the dialog of liturgical music, where God’s word is sung on God’s behalf by our pastors and assisting liturgists, and then the people of God sing back to Him the response of faith. This is primarily congregational song, though sometimes some musicians may sing on behalf of the congregation. Horizontally, there are the songs we sing to each other, particularly special settings of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that have been prepared by choirs or soloists. Here, by the power of God’s Word, the art of music is used to sing faith into people’s hearts. Both dimensions of liturgical music are greatly assisted by volunteer musicians who rehearse each week preparing to adorn and enrich our services.

CHOIRS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS
Our choirs and instrumentalists spend a considerable amount of time preparing to lead the congregation in song. Assisting this “vertical” sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise is the first and foremost task of all our music groups. Therefore they prepare to lead and adorn the congregation’s hymns, prepare antiphons for psalms, and adorn and enrich the various settings of the liturgy. Choirs therefore sing hymn concertatos and descants, and our instrumental groups prepare hymn accompaniments and special arrangements of the spiritual songs or “canticles” of the liturgy.

Of course, the efforts of our choirs and instrumentalists extend to the “horizontal” as well. They prepare special music for the psalms and scripture verses to be sung in the liturgy, and also add motets and even cantatas to our services on special occasions. Over 85 people attend rehearsals each week to help with this important work, along with about 110 day school students whose music also periodiclaly adorns our services. Music is a very important part of our life together at Bethany, and people of all ability levels are encouraged to take part.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU

*Proclaim - Our festival choir meets each Thursday night from 7:15-8:45, under the direction of Cantor Phillip Magness. Members range from high school freshmen to “seasoned citizens”. Currently we have 33 members in this group…….but have room for over 40. You are invited to come give us an audition! Come for six weeks and then decide whether we are a group you would want to sing with. We especially are looking for more basses this year, but welcome all voice parts.

*Schola Cantorum - Our parish children’s choir meets after school on Wednesdays (3:35-4:25) and includes day school, public school, and home school students in grades 3-8. This group has participated in choral festivals, brightend up Christmas in nursing homes, and sung for chapel at Concordia University, where they also served as a “model children’s choir” for the prestigious Lectures in Church Music series. This group currently has 24 young singers…….but we have more than 30 robes. Children may join at any time during the year. This group is also led by Cantor Magness.

*Praises Ring! - Bethany also has a 4-octave handbell choir, which meets on Monday evenings (6:45-8pm) under the direction of our Associate Cantor, Susan Keller. We own another octave of bells, so if you can hold up a bell and count to four, know that we can teach you everything else you need to know to become a ringer!

*The Bethany Brass - Each Wednesday night brass players who have signed up to play for an upcoming service get together to prepare for worship. They work under the leadership of day school music teacher and band director, Michael Vasilie. “Ordinary” Sundays might find just a trumpeter preparing some descants and a trombonist practicingi some counter-melodies. Feast days might find the full group: three trumpets, two french horns, trombone, tuba, and timpani. Do we have room for more? You betcha!

*Special Ensembles - Cantor Magness also works with a small contemporary choir called Veritas, which is orgnaized and directed by Susan Morrow. In addition, we have a “folk” group that plays every couple of months on Saturday night, and a youth ensemble, DaivdSong, that provides music for a Sunday service once every two months. Cantor also fields a men’s chorus a few times each year, and Susan Keller leads a womens’ chorus periodically as well. Most, but not all, of these voices come from Proclaim, but other voices are involved as well. Let Cantor Magness know if you are interested in any of our special ensembles.

OUR LITURGICAL STYLE: “AUTHENTIC”
(i.e. How do we answer the “worship war” question of “Traditional” vs. “Contemporary”?)

Worship at Bethany is both contemporary and traditional – and yet neither. Rather than divide the congregation according to what sounds they prefer, Bethany seeks to unite God’s family in worship that rises above stylistic preferences. We remember that worship should never be confused with the music that accompanies it. With worship, not music, at the center, we find it easier to avoid conflict and embrace the concord that is ours in Christ Jesus.

What is worship?
Christian worship begins with the crucified Christ, who comes to us in Word and Sacrament. He brings to the people of God forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through His Word and in the Sacraments, which are His means of grace. We in turn extol these gifts with joyful thanksgiving and praise, proclaiming the story of God’s love through His Word. This celebration is done in concert with the Church throughout the world, and finds its expression in the liturgy. Authentic Lutheran worship is therefore traditional in that it is part of the timeless culture of the Church, and contemporary in that it communicates the Gospel in ways that are appropriate to a given
place and time.

Why is this important for everyone – not just the musicians?
Worship is the vocation of all baptized Christians. An excellent voice is not required, just a heart for worship. And the good news is that God “has put a new song” in our mouths, “a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3a) Lutheran liturgy therefore invovles the whole assembly, and calls on all individuals to do their parts, that faith may be increased among all who worship, and that Christ may be most strongly confessed before the world. “Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:3b)