Dear St. Lukers,
Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head and you just cannot get it out? No matter what you do it keeps playing and playing – you find yourself humming the tune? Honestly, for me, it’s usually either a 90’s hip-hop song or a hymn/worship song. Two weeks ago I found myself humming the tune of “Baby Shark.” But I couldn’t for the life of me get it out OR figure out why it was there. Until I started working on the message for our Lessons from Lasso worship series and realized I was humming a cheer they do at the soccer games in the show: “Jamie Tartt do-do-da-do-da-do…”
That’s the power of music. It lodges into your brain and even if you can’t remember your own birthday, you remember the melody of a song and the moment you heard it. When Tony Bennet was in the last stages of his diagnosis of dementia, unable to recall most things, it was his music that would bring his eyes back to life and he would sing every word. So it is with many of us and the power of the music we have learned in worship. It doesn’t matter what style, worship music reminds us of our faith, Scripture, creeds, and moments of worship that have transformed our lives.
We have the exciting opportunity to partner with Disney’s Encore! Performing Arts to present: HymnSong. This special concert event consists of a 100-member choir (including members of Encore’s choir and St. Luke’s Sanctuary Choir), orchestra, and amazing featured soloists, who will tell the stories of some of our favorite hymns of faith. There will be two shows, one on Saturday, February 10, and one on Sunday, February 11, both at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Tickets are on sale now (click here to reserve your seats), and all proceeds will be split between GOPAR (Greater Orlando Performing Arts Resource) and our Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra Endowment Fund.
One of the songs on my heart this week is a Lenten hymn called “Depth of Mercy.” Found in our hymnal and sung by our Contemporary Praise Band, its lyrics remind us of the depth of God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ’s works on the cross. I’ve been thinking about it a great deal as we move into the next lesson of living Life on Purpose, which is to live a forgiving life. We will use the story of Peter and Jesus on the beach following Jesus’ resurrection to remind us of the power forgiveness gives us to move forward in new life. Make sure to listen to Pastor Jad’s podcast episode on John 21:16-19 as you prepare for our ALL-IN Sunday this week, where all ages will gather in worship and center on the Table. I can’t wait to see you there with a song on your hearts.
Keep humming,
Jenn.