A Legacy of Song

Music has always been a way for Christians to connect deeply with God, express our gratitude and joy, and proclaim the Gospel.

As Lutherans, we inherit a rich tradition of music that has been central to our worship since the days of the Reformation. Reformers like Martin Luther emphasized the importance of the congregation’s direct engagement with God through prayer and song and believed that worship should be accessible to all, leading to the introduction of hymns and chorales in the vernacular language, allowing the congregation to understand and actively participate. As congregational singing became a central aspect of church services, communal music-making fostered a sense of community and shared faith.

When you enter our worship space, you add your voice to our congregational choir, and your voice becomes part of a larger song that stretches back through generations. The songs we sing together bind us to the saints who came before us, and they guide us as we pass that gift on to future generations. We are all stewards of this legacy.

Step into Joyful Worship

Martin Luther once wrote, “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly.” Now, this doesn’t mean we should aim to make mistakes, but that faith and forgiveness are powerful gifts, and we should give ourselves fully to God in worship, even if we’re unsure of how it will turn out.

With that in mind, I’d like to encourage Christ Lutheran Church to adopt a new paradigm: Sin(g) boldly.

When we sing, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about offering our hearts and selves. God doesn’t ask for flawless voices; God asks for joyful, willing hearts. The Psalm says, “Make a joyful noise”—not a perfect one.

Vocal Vulnerability

Here’s where we have to acknowledge a few important things: Singing is an incredibly personal thing. Our voices are so intricately connected to our sense of self. To sing is to be vulnerable, to open ourselves up both physically and emotionally. You may feel like you can’t sing or that you’re not “good enough.” Someone, maybe a teacher, parent, or friend, may even have told you back in seventh grade to sing quieter—or not to sing at all.

Now we don’t have time to unpack all that trauma here (when it comes to the voice and the psychology behind it, those kinds of words are traumatic), but before we can move forward, we have to acknowledge the deep and vulnerable place from which singing comes, because that is precisely why your voice is one of the best, most precious, and most important gifts you can give back to God.

So, by the power invested in me as a Minister of Music at Christ Lutheran Church and a Master of Music by Florida State University, I hereby pronounce you, no matter your perceived skill level or the words of another human years ago, a singer. And if you’ve ever been told—or told yourself—that you can’t sing, I would like you to acknowledge the pain of those statements and respectfully ask you to let those words go. Every voice is precious, and your voice belongs in the song.

Welcome to the choir! :)

And now, fellow choir member, I have to ask a personal and convicting question: Are we giving our best? Are we offering all we have to God through our voices?

Moving from Talk to Action

We often talk about what we need—whether it’s more singers in SpiritSong or Christ Choir, or more children involved in our Wednesday music programs—but talk alone won’t bring about change. We need action. We need you. It’s time to step up, to move from talking to doing. It’s time to make the active decision to take our place and join in the song wholeheartedly. It’s time to stop waiting for others and to lead by example.

As we embark on this endeavor together, I ask for your trust and your support, but more than anything, I ask for your participation. Whether it’s singing louder in the pews, encouraging someone to join a choir, joining a choir yourself, or in some other way helping create a more vibrant music ministry, we all have a part to play. Don’t wait for someone else to lead the way—step forward and be the change. You and your voice matter.

Finding Your Voice

If you’re feeling hesitant, don’t worry! I’m not asking you to dive into weekly choir rehearsals (. . . right away). There are smaller steps you can take that will help you ease into more active participation:

• Step 1: Start by simply singing a little louder in the pews. Let your voice be heard with the congregation. Let the joy of the music take over and carry you forward. Welcome, compliment, and encourage your neighbors. If you feel exposed or lonely, silence the inner critic, and trust that everyone else around you is with you and cheering you on. If you need some external support, grab a buddy, let them know you need some help, and get them to sing with you.

• Step 2: Consider participating in a lower-stakes musical opportunity: try out Christ Choir from now until Easter, join the summer choir, volunteer to help with VBS, or reach out to Mark or me about what other opportunities exist. Parents and grandparents, bring your children to Wednesdays Ablaze to have fun and make music with the skilled members of our Music and Family Ministry Teams. These are all great ways to experience the power of group singing in a less formal setting!

• Step 3: If you feel called to go deeper, reach out to Mark or myself about joining SpiritSong or Christ Choir. Come observe a handbell rehearsal. Try it out, and see if it’s for you. These musical communities function as ready-made small groups, allowing you to sing and make music regularly, grow your faith and musical skills, and contribute to the spiritual life of the congregation in a really tangible way.

It’s not about how you begin; it’s about beginning. Take the first step and see where it leads. When we all participate in the music-making, it makes our worship ever more rich and meaningful.

We’re Here to Help You Learn and Grow

Maybe you’ve been hesitant to join the choir or participate more actively in worship because you’re unsure of how to start or worried about your skills. Maybe you’re concerned that you’re not “good enough” or will somehow bring the group down. Don’t worry! Your fellow singers and our music staff are here to help you grow, learn, and improve. Whether you’re joining one of our choirs or singing in the pews, we are committed to supporting you as you develop your musical gifts and live out your faith.

Our team of dedicated musicians is ready to walk with you every step of the way. Whether it’s learning new music, working on breathing or vocal technique, or just finding the confidence to sing out, we’re here to encourage and guide you. Everyone—no matter your experience or skill level—is welcome. We believe in your potential, and we want to help you shine.

A New Paradigm of Worship

As we embrace the new paradigm and “sin(g) boldly,” let’s create a culture of bold worship—a place where everyone feels empowered to sing, to participate actively and passionately, and to offer their best to God. Let’s model Christ’s love and joy, and lead with the Gospel in everything we do.

So this is my invitation to you: sin(g) boldly. Whether you’re standing in the pew or joining a choir, sing with joy. Sing because it’s a gift. Sing because it’s an act of worship. And sing because, in doing so, you help us all breathe renewed life into our community.

When we breathe, we share the same air as those who came before us, and the generations that will follow. And when we exhale, when we speak and when we sing, let it be filled with the strength of our faith and theirs, buoyed by love and joy.

Let’s lift our voices together and make a sound that glorifies God and fills our hearts with the joy of His presence.

Let’s be a congregation where the love of Christ envelops us, where the grace of God fills us, and where the Spirit breathes in, with, and among us. Let’s embrace a fresh spirit of worship.

It’s time to sin(g) boldly.