harp plus this week

Advent III. Every church musician knows the heightened pace. Lots of music. Lots of children and big people. Lots of expectations.

This Sunday is no different. A big effort to tell the story of Jesus.

There will be lots of songs. Lots of instruments. One of them will be this harp which my daughter, Sarah, plays. Behind it, my piano at home.

high school musicians

Know any of these young musicians? Some of the youth at Zion would. About half of these students are C Dock and half are Lancaster Mennonite. The ocassion is the annual festival of Mennonite high school instrumentalists. This year, yesterday, it was held in Lancaster and Dorcas and I went. Part of being a church musician is tracking the young musicians of a church and encouraging them or at least caring about what is going on. What is going on is some really high level of music.

Vast musical resources in congregation

The musical forces at Zion are vast. Last evening someone told me of a young person who would like to study organ. I'm told there are seven outstanding pianists among the congregation. There are two organists besides myself.

There are not a lot of woodwinds. Perhaps no brass. But many guitarists and other instruments. I keep learning.

I love this. It gives musical momentum. It gives a critical musical mass which makes a lot of good things possible.