The music of liturgy is carefully selected and planned to integrate with other aesthetic aspects of the liturgy, to create an artistically and spiritually unified whole. We believe that church music is a spiritually centered art form that assists our worship on at least three levels. Speaking to our intellect, music effectively amplifies the words we sing, and the words we hear, words of Scripture and the deep and striking poetry of hymns and choral music. Emotionally, a poignant musical phrase, with or without words, might connect with our feelings of love or sorrow or anything else, helping us express them more fully and be more alive in our spirituality. And finally, forms of church music such as Gregorian chant are designed to reach past our conscious awareness, amplifying the alpha rhythms of liturgy and allowing God to speak to us in ways for which there are no words, to parts of our soul beyond the reach of our conscious mind.
Church music is a form of prayer.
In every religion, it is known that music enables us to express that which is otherwise inexpressible. It enables us to touch the central depth of our humanness. It opens a door and enables us to know the presence of God. We welcome them with love and look forward to accomplishing many things together both within our church family as well as in the community at large. The following was written by Ellen Ross, Esq., a member of St. John's family.