Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Music at The Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd Music at The Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd enables us to give God a joyous gift of ourselves as a sacrifice of praise throughout our Eucharistic 'sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.' Worshipers also experience music as part of the Liturgy of the Word shaped by the Revised Common Lectionary. Vocal music occasionally precedes our readings preparing our Christian consciousness for our appointed lessons, enabling us to claim God’s word in a richer way than speech alone can afford. Beyond directed anthems, our congregational hymns, psalms and music for the prayers of the Mass vivify our experience of scriptures and of the sacrament. Most of our common music is ncluded in our comprehensive weekly bulletin to facilitate participation and enable worshipers to easily and naturally transform music into liturgy itself- the work of the people.
We value our honored Anglican musical heritage as preserved in our choir's anthem literature and in the 1982 Hymnal. The Episcopal Church has published numerous multicultural hymnals which provide us with a broad palate of choices that enrich our liturgical experience. African-American and Feminist hymns or service music, as well as Revival and Contemporary choruses, find place in our liturgy. The diversity of our growing congregation finds affirmation in worship that is exciting, significant and increasingly "broad tent" rather than unflinchingly "high church" or resolutely "low church" in character.
Our music is directed by Roland Woehr Jr., who holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, having studied with Alan Harler. An avid sacred music composer of over fifty anthems and a number of large choral works, Roland continues to compose and arrange for us in order that we might “sing to the LORD a new song.” (Ps. 98: 1) Our choir meets at 9:30 AM each Sunday, September through June, to prepared the directed music for worship at 10:30 AM. Parishioners and friends of the parish who are interested in joining the choir are warmly welcome to meet with the choirmaster after services.
Cantate Domino, Omnes Gentes! Sing to the Lord, All People! (Ps. 117: 1)
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