Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Lafayette, California

It's been said that the Church kept the arts alive during the Medieval period. I would add that the arts have been returning the favor ever since! Artistic expression through music, visual arts and dance gives us avenues of connection with God, whose creative and re-creative power made us, lifts us up, and inspires us to live with both passion and compassion. We are in the process of building this program with opportunities for those of every age and level of ability. Come share, come learn, come express yourself artistically to keep our Church vibrantly alive.

MISSION STATEMENT: WMA MINISTRY at Our Savior's

The mission of the Worship, Music and Arts Ministry is

1. to create worship experiences that begin with gracious hospitality and end with joyful challenge, encompassing

opportunities for listening, confessing, sharing, receiving comfort, and proclaiming the word in speech and

song.

2. to make worship a time in which persons of varied backgrounds and tastes are honored through the use of a

variety of musical, verbal and experiential means.

3. to develop spiritual, musical and artistic skills within the context of loving small groups, with opportunities for

all ages.

4. to offer musical and other artistic expressions to the surrounding community, embracing opportunities for both

service and sharing.

5. to do all this with the ultimate goal of helping persons make living, meaningful connections with God and with

each other, so that we can live in the richness of humanity demonstrated by the life of Christ.

(adopted by the WMA Ministry Team, October 2007)

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Worship

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Jesus' words from the gospel of Matthew seem to say that, when we get together on Sunday morning, he's going to be there, too. What does this mean? It's a question that's hard to answer, but well worth exploring. That's why we keep getting together on Sunday mornings — to make that connection with the Holy and with each other in the name of the Holy. But in the midst of this mystery is a lot of work behind the scenes done by people who help us practice hospitality, proclaim good news, and participate in the feast. Can you help?

WMA Ministry Team	9-10 meetings per year	Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 as called
The Worship, Music and Arts Ministry Team is comprised of members representative of people involved in WMA programs. They work to understand what worship is and how to make it a vibrant, relevant and empowering experience. They evaluate programs, set goals, celebrate victories, and keep lines of communication open with the congregation and within the department. Meetings are always open. Contact Martin Morley, 925.283.3722, martin@oslc.net.

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Altar Guild	Training available	Sunday services as scheduled
Altar Guild is a group of people who work behind the scenes to make sure some of the most beautiful and important parts of our worship run smoothly. They take care of all details regarding communion, baptisms, flowers, paraments, robes, candles and vestments. Please contact Martin Morley at the church.

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Greeters	Training available	Sunday services as scheduled
No one gets a second chance to make a first impression... this is true of churches as well as individuals. Greeters have the opportunity to make a great first impression for OSLC when visitors come. A smile, a handshake, directions to childcare...things that help a "newbie" feel at ease. Greeters also welcome our "regulars," reinforcing how good it is to come together as a church family. Sign up to be a greeter at your preferred service on your preferred dates (what a deal!) – on the bulletin board between the lounge and the side entrance to the sanctuary.

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Lectors/Cantors/Liturgists	Training available	Sunday services as scheduled
Leading worship is a holy art too important to be confined to the clergy! Our services are energized by worshipers hearing different voices from "up front" and by lay leaders who take their roles seriously enough to perform them with joy. Chanting, reading scripture, leading liturgy, guiding prayers and creeds... all are vital parts of our time together. Leaders inevitably find their own worship experience heightened. Training is available. Contact Martin Morley.

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Communion Servers	Training available	Sunday services as scheduled
What a wonderful privilege it is to be "waiters and waitresses" serving the Lord's supper of bread and wine to the rest of our church family! This simple but meaningful activity can be a real spiritual boost for families to do together as well as for individuals. Call the church office 925.283.3722 or email spirit@oslc.net to volunteer for this rewarding activity.

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Ushers	Training available	Sunday services as scheduled
Ushers orchestrate the logistics of our worship services, preparing the worship space and helping people have their best possible worship experience. Keeping the temperature set, passing out bulletins with a smile, finding seats for late-comers, gently directing communion participation and collecting the offering... very basic, but very essential duties. A great ministry area for those who like to actively participate in worship. To volunteer, contact Russ Rackow, 925-934-5278, russr@astound.net.

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Music

Music is a powerful way to worship. It's also a great learning tool: we understand our faith better by singing about what we believe. And making music together bonds people in community. Each one of our musical groups is a "family within the church family" where you will find wonderful friends and a rich, joyful way to deepen your faith. You are welcome to participate in our music program whether or not you are a member of OSLC.

Voices of Praise		Thursdays 7:30-9:00 (Sanctuary)
This is a group of youth and adults, instrumentalists and singers who enjoy the more contemporary music used in the late Sunday service. We tend to get more out of worship because we've had a sneak preview of the music and themes that will be shared each week. It's a friendly, fun and spiritual group that supports each other in music and prayer... and is always eager to have new members join. Come see for yourself. Director: Martin Morley, 925.283.3722 x222, martin@oslc.net

Bellissimo		Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 (Sanctuary)
A handbell team of youth and adults with a passion for ringing. This group rings in services about once each month. Music reading ability is required. Fall rehearsals begin September 15. Director: Martin Morley, 925.283.3722 x222, martin@oslc.net

Chancel Choir		Thursdays 6:30-8:00 (Sanctuary)
This choral family of youth and adults sings anthems from classical, modern and gospel traditions and supports worship in the early Sunday service. Each spring we collaborate with professional musicians to present a major work (in 2010, it will be the Requiem, Opus 54 by Camille Saint-Saëns). We love new members - come to a rehearsal and audition us to see if we meet your standards! Director: Martin Morley, 925.283.3722 x222, martin@oslc.net

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Major Works at OSLC

2006

250thAnniversaryof Mozart's Birth

Coronation Mass

2007

Beaux Sons (Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc)

Fauré Requiem

2008

Music in the Twentieth Century

Rutter Requiem

2009

Bicentennial Concert 1809-2009

Haydn's Missa in Angustiis

excerpts from Mendelssohn's Elijah

2010

Saint Saens: A Requiem and a Carnival

Requiem, opus 54 and The Carnival of the Animals

Special Musical Events
(All open to the public free of charge; freewill offering taken unless otherwise noted)

Our past seasons have included a broad variety of musical offerings: voice recitals, piano recitals, world premieres of commissioned music, various instrumentalists, major choral works, handbell soloists and ensembles, and holiday music. The 2009-2010 series is full of exciting, accessible, high quality performances. All concerts are wonderful for families but childcare is always provided.

The New Life Band is like no other group. Not only are they wonderful and versatile musicians, presenting both

traditional African music and music in a Western style, they are equally gifted in using music as a tool for teaching

at music camps and concerts across Africa. Once every three years, they tour the United States. Our Savior's

has enjoyed a special relationship with this incredible group for years now and the music department is proud to

co-sponsor their appearance here with our Mission Team. To see more about their amazing work with African

The Dancers Circle is an interfaith group established in 1975 by Genia Simpson and Gini Sungar to present

workshops, concerts and worship services in sacred dance throughout the Bay Area. They have been featured

artists at United Church of Christ Conferences at Asilomar, at Pacific School of Religion's Earl Lectures Series, at

WomenSing concerts, and many other Bay Area venues. Choreographed by Ms. Simpson and by Jacqueline Corl-

Seidel (who also designs their beautiful costumes),this group's combination of dignity, playfulness, artistry and

theological potency thrills their audiences. Their OSLC program is part of a day-long celebration of international

mission and will include dances to music from Hungarian, Amazonian and Icelandic composers as well as spirituals,

Choirs, handbells and congregational carol singing— nostalgic and fun, sometimes surprising and always

family-oriented, followed by a glittering reception. Never an admission charge nor an offering taken – it’s our

We are truly thrilled to host a performance by one of the premiere handbell ensembles in the world. "I didn't

know you could make that kind of music with handbells" is a comment often heard followinga Sonos performance.

They tackle transcriptions of the most difficult orchestral and keyboard music fromthe classical repertoire, ring jazz,

pop and ethnic music, and present cutting edge modern music, some of it commissioned themselves. We expect

this performance to draw a large crowd; once the sanctuary is filled, overflow seating will be provided in the church

Back by popular demand, this powerful pair drew our largest audience of the 2008-2009 season, several of whom

have successfully completed their post-traumatic therapy sessions. David and Martin present classical music in an

entertaining way, and entertaining music in a classic way. If you miss this performance,you'll simply have to endure

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was an extremely long-lived man for his generation, and left behind a huge oeuvre

of compositions. This program combines one of his least-known works, the Requiem Mass opus 54 (written in only

eight days in 1878), with his best-known work, The Carnival of the Animals (dashed off in February 1886). The

mysticism and drama of the Requiem provide a stark contrast to the light parodic humor of the animals' musical

We give thanks to God and to our congregation for their support of the music department by presentinga program

of our greatest hits from the past season, plus—as usual—a few fun surprises. All OSLC musical groups share in this

You will simply be the first to receive details about our new season and periodic cyberflyers about upcoming concerts.

Other Arts

Liturgical Art Group		Meetings as called
What do you see when you enter a worship space? How is color used? Symbols? Light? What do the stained glass, paraments and banners say to you? Is it intimate sacred space? Is it foreboding holy ground? Does what you see comfort you, unsettle you, or both? Our Liturgical Art Group seeks ways to speak meaningfully through visual means—sometimes dramatic, sometimes subtle. We want the sanctuary to reflect different seasons and different sentiments, to inspire and challenge worshipers by what they see as much as by what they hear or sing. Our members have gifts in interior design, in visual art, in sewing and crafting, in imagining potential and in standing on ladders! Is this a place where your passion lies? Contact Martin Morley, 925.283.3722 x222, martin@oslc.net.

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Liturgical Dance Troupe
Would you be interested in expressing your worship through liturgical movement? No previous dance experience necessary. If you'd like to try this with other like-minded folk, contact Martin Morley, 925.283.3722 x222, martin@oslc.net.

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Worship, Music and the Arts

MISSION STATEMENT: WMA MINISTRY at Our Savior's

Worship

Music

Special Musical Events (All open to the public free of charge; freewill offering taken unless otherwise noted)

Other Arts

Special Musical Events
(All open to the public free of charge; freewill offering taken unless otherwise noted)