"As long a we live, there is never enough singing." Martin Luther

By Barbara Day Turner, Director of Music

Prince of Peace Choir, Choral Cosmo, and guests, at the 2018 Choir Concert "Small Dancing Lights". Photo by Anne Hess

​Martin Luther understood that music was a unique form of expression, with or without words. (Personally, it is my preferred language of expression.) He wrote songs, and texts, and quite a few sayings about music, including this gem---

"Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. No greater commendation than this can be found — at least not by us. After all, the gift of language combined with the gift of song was only given to man to let him know that he should praise God with both word and music, namely, by proclaiming [the Word of God] through music."
-Martin Luther

Many faith communities spend some time during the fall talking about stewardship. Centered around themes of gratitude and giving, stewardship is a time to talk about ways we can be good stewards of the gifts we’ve been given. One of these gifts is the making of music and in particular, singing. I am grateful to all the members of our congregation that take the time to participate in choir and band, to those who sing out during in services, and to those who choose to listen and experience. I really miss singing-choir, congregation, families, friends. This remark that I ran across on Facebook pretty much sums it up---"The longer the lockdown has gone on, the clearer it has become that singing together in church is something rare, wonderful, and hard to replicate through digital distance." 

Joe Deegan writes that "singing reminds us that there is a powerful, supernatural, magical force behind creation, and that force has invited us to engage with him in a powerful, supernatural and magical way. We were designed by God to sing." I couldn't agree more-and remember, there is always room for one more when we are making music!

If you would like to add your voice to our next virtual choir recording, or join the choir when we are able to sing in person, please contact me, Barbara Day Turner, at
bdt@propeace.org.