Pastors' Blog

"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

The hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is called the Battle Hymn of the Reformation. Written by Martin Luther, it has been called “the greatest hymn of the greatest man in the greatest period of Germany history.”

Christian music—Jason Gray

I really enjoy Jason Gray’s music. One of my favorite songs is “I Will Find a Way,” which you can hear on YouTube.

Christian music—GLAD

GLAD is a Christian vocal group formed in 1972, but I really like their Acapella albums starting from 1988. I put together a YouTube playlist with a few Easter hymns that I think you’ll like. Listen here.

Music for Lent and Easter

Mrs. Karen Merseth has recorded some piano mini-concerts for you to enjoy this Holy Week.

Hymn singing during cold-and-flu season

The CDC recommends humming “Happy Birthday” while you wash your hands. But how about singing a Christmas hymn to yourself instead?

The hymn “The Day of Resurrection” is one of the oldest hymns in our hymnary—written more than a thousand years ago by Saint John of Damascus. At the Easter Eve midnight service it is customary in Eastern Orthodox churches for worshipers to carry unlighted candles which are lighted on signal while this hymn is sung.

The hymn "How Lovely Shines the Morning Star" (hymn #167 in our Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary) is one of the monuments of Lutheran hymns and is called the Queen of Chorales. It was used so extensively at weddings, that the idea really became common that if this hymn were not sung at the wedding, the persons were not properly married.

Some people like to sing in church. Other people don't. Should we ask everyone in worship to sing?

Some people like organ music, some like piano, some like guitar, some like drums. What kind of music should we use in Christian worship and living?

Hymn #466 in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (“We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer”) was originally written as a prayer of thanksgiving in the Netherlands after the English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.

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