Music Ministry

Ascension Lutheran Church Music Ministry

This page was last updated on Sunday, January 04, 2009 03:22 PM

"I am not satisfied with him who despises music, as all fanatics do: for music is an endowment and a gift of God, not a gift of men....I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise" -Martin Luther,

Preface to the Wittenberg Hymnal (1524).

Raymond Barley, Ph.D., CEA

Director of Music Ministry and Composer-in-Residence

scholarmusician@aol.com

Thank you, Ascension. Though I have been with you, and you with me, for too short a time, you remain in my thoughts and prayers. May this community of faith continue to thrive and prosper. God's blessings to all the people of Ascension Lutheran Church. - Ray

Auggie Cook

Organist and Accompanist

Ascension's Music Ministry is thriving--join us and help us grow!

The goal of Ascension's Music Ministry is to lead our church family as we praise and glorify our Lord in song.

Music and Worship Committee Meeting: Tuesday, January 6, 7:00 PM

All members of ALC are welcome to submit topics for discussion at the monthly Music and Worship Committee meetings. If you have a concern you'd like to be addressed, please contact Ray.

Praise Band Musicians Wanted:

ALC is forming a Praise Band to lead our congregation in contemporary Christian worship. We're recruiting guitarists (acoustic and electric), vocalists, electric bassists, keyboardists, drummers, and brass and woodwind players. All interested musicians are urged to contact Ray as soon as possible.

Choir Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:00 PM

Choir Robes

With the return of the colder weather, the Chancel Choir is again wearing their robes during worship. Any choir member in need of a robe is asked to contact Ray as soon as possible.

Christmas Program:

"Heaven's Child"

Sunday, December 21, 10:30

We want to express our gratitude to all those who worked so hard to make the Christmas Program possible. In a world where so many seem obsessed with "what did you get for Christmas?", the Ascension Kids teamed with the Adult Choir to GIVE something for Christmas. Our heartfelt thanks to Bob, Mary, Diane, Nancy, Kurt, Auggie, Megan, Aaron, Kristin, Angel, Linda, Jen, Seth, Billy, Carolyn, Abigail, Emily, Arianne, Brielle, Abbey, Bryce, Lauren, Shawn, Allie, Ben, Kara, Zack, Isabella, Lucianna, Brett, Samantha, and Pastor Larsen.

While we remain committed to our Chancel Choir and value the wonderful traditional worship music the Chancel Choir provides to our church, we're expanding our music ministry to include Children's Choirs, Childrens' Bell Choir, vocal and instrumental soloists, and a Praise Band!

All interested church members are welcome to participate in the music ministry. To discover your place in the music ministry, contact our music director, Ray (if you address him as "Dr. Barley", he'll just look at you funny) at scholarmusician@aol.com.

Also, Ray's website, found at http://www.virtualmusicclassroom.com is now available to members of Ascension's Music Ministry who wish to further develop their musicianship skills. Again, contact Ray for more information.

A Music Minister's Prayer

Most merciful, all-powerful, and ever-living God, I ask that You tune my voice and ears, guide my fingers, and inspire my mind today as I lead this assembly of Your people in the worship of You our Creator, with the gift of music that You have given to us.

I ask also for Your forgiveness for those times when my human frailty causes the music within me to go silent and humbly thank You for the small bit of music that I may offer: for if it were not for You, I would have no music at all.

This I pray in the name of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ, who joined His voice with those of His apostles to sing a hymn of praise to You on the night before He died for me.

Amen.

Ascension Lutheran Church Welcomes you!