I've been thinking about the word "nurture" lately. In the film Avatar, the inhabitants of Pandora are nurtured and healed by the glowing trunk of a massive and ancient tree. In Precious, an abused and illiterate teenager on the margins of society is nurtured and protected by a teacher that believes in her potential. In Julie and Julia, people are nurtured and fed—literally!—by the joy of cooking and eating delicious food. And our theme for Lent this year is how the "Bread of Life," given to us through the Lord's Supper, nourishes us through our many journeys.

Last month, the Session identified their vision for the work of this church in 2010: to nurture people to grow in faith and find their passion to serve God. As the Session, along with everyone at First Pres, comes to understand and act upon this vision, the question is: How can we—as we all are ministers—nurture each other to grow in faith and nurture our individual passions to serve one another in Christ's name?
I wonder what nurtures others to live out their call as Christians—Is it praying? Worshipping? Reading the Bible? Is it silence? Is it service to others or getting involved in organizations that further a Christian mission? As the Music Director, I wonder how the music ministry at First Pres should nurture others to grow in faith and in passion to serve God. I know others are ministered to in ensembles (choir, band, bells, etc) through fellowship, music-making, prayer, and sharing of joys and concerns. I realize it doesn't happen to everyone all the time—but I know it happens. Sometimes I see how people are inspired to live out God's call in some way because of the inspiration they receive from music. Or perhaps they grow in faith and understanding by hearing Scripture in a different and more personal way because of a particular musical setting. Or they're simply moved by a moment in time that music has captured.
A band member at First Pres told me how much they enjoyed singing Chris Tomlin's Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) last month in worship. Numerous choir members told me how moving it was to sing Fauré's Requiem last fall for All Saint's Sunday. And another found that singing carols in the Parade of Lights was a meaningful time of fellowship with others. A congregational member mentioned how special it was to sing a particular hymn recently. And still others find meaning through simply listening to others make music. These spiritual experiences don't have to be directly related to church music either: I've had faith-filled experiences sharing music with others unrelated to the church, and listening to the final movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony sure feels like a religious experience to me. (How can it not be?!)
I believe the purpose of music in the church is to nurture us, soothe us, or stir us up; to bring us into the presence of God and to have a dialogue with God; to challenge us the same way good preaching does; to give voice to our joys and sorrows in ways the spoken and written word cannot; to suspend us, lift us up, and get us outside of ourselves. I'll close with a few thoughts from others:
Is anyone among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. —James 5:13 (NRSV)

What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also. —1 Corinthians 14:15 (NRSV)

God, the Lord, is my strength; God will make my feet like the fee of a deer, and make me tread upon the heights. To the leader: with stringed instruments.—Habakkuk 3:19 (NRSV)

Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion!—Psalm 9:11a (NRSV)

Song is a response which engages the whole self in prayer. Song unites the faithful in common prayer wherever they gather for worship whether in church, home or other special place. The covenant people have always used the gift of song to offer prayer. Psalms were created to be sung by the faithful as their response to God. Thought they may be read responsively or in unison, their full power comes to expression when they are sung.—excerpt from The Book of Order 2009-2011, W-2.1003

My heart, which is so full to overflowing, has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary. –Martin Luther

The Church knew what the psalmist knew: Music praises God. Music is well or better able to praise God than the building of the church and all its decoration; it is the Church's greatest ornament. –Igor Stravinsky, composer

The music at First Pres may not always nurture you or stir up your passions—perhaps much of it will not—but I pray that this season of Lent will bring you one moment—however fleeting—when it does.

Michael, Director of Music