There are many opportunities to be involved in music at Messiah. From the youngest to the oldest, all members of Messiah are invited and encouraged to share their musical gifts with the congregation. Music is one way to glorify God during worship.
Praise Ministry
Messiah offers a blended worship format with a wide range of music. All worship services include vocal praise teams and musicians. Each weekend's music complements the sermon theme and comes from current popular Christian music by such artists as Michael W. Smith, The Newsboys, and Robin Mark, as well as traditional hymns from Lutheran hymnals and new arrangements of hymn favorites created for praise singing which have a more upbeat tempo.
Messiah is blessed to have four vocal praise teams that rotate every four weeks and stay together for a six-month period (August-January and February-July). The teams meet the Tuesday prior to their scheduled weekend (beginning at 7:00 p.m.). They commit to sing for all three services on their weekend. Substitutes are always in demand and new members are always encouraged to get involved. Our "There's always room for one more" motto keeps the groups fresh and allows anyone interested in being involved in music the opportunity to do so.
Instrumentally, Messiah is blessed with many pianists and organists who rotate as their schedules permit. We currently have three guitarists, one bass guitarist, two drummers, and two flutists who also play as their schedules permit.
We are ALWAYS looking for additional musicians and vocalists to share their musical gifts. If you have an interest in participating in Messiah's praise ministry, contact Sue Martindale at 952.431.5959, or via email at sue@messiahonline.org.
Festival Choir
Messiah's Festival Choir does not meet on a regular basis, but rather meets when there is an opportunity to sing for special church holidays. The group, which varies in size from 20 to 40, practices for a few weeks prior to each scheduled performance, usually on Wednesday nights following WOW! during the school year. This enables participants the opportunity to sing as their schedules permit, without having to make a commitment to be at choir practice every week. When singing for a particular weekend, Festival Choir sings at all three weekend services.
Handbell Choir
Messiah's Handbell Choir has four octaves of bells. The choir meets September through May and practices on Monday nights (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.). They assist in worship about every four to six weeks. Anyone who has an interest in learning to ring bells is invited to participate. Chimes were recently added to Messiah's bell choir.
Confirmation Chime Choir
Kids in Messiah's confirmation program (5th through 8th grade) are invited to participate in the Chime Choir. The kids get service credit, but, more importantly, enjoying playing occasionally for their peers for WOW! openings on Wednesday nights and for worship.
Special Music (Vocal solos/duets/groups or instrumental pieces)
There are opportunities all year long for anyone with a gift for singing or playing to add special music to worship services, usually during the offering (or as a part of preservice on Christmas Eve). Musicians and vocalists wanting to do special music will be assigned to a weekend where their song fits the theme for a particular weekend and are asked to sing at all three weekend services.
Children's and Youth Music
Younger children have music time during WOW! on Wednesday evenings and during Sunday school. Children attending WOW! sing in worship about six times during the school year. They learn their special music for the weekend as well as a praise song that that will be sung by the congregation. Sunday school children also sing a few times each year. Children usually sing during the offering at the 8:00 a.m. service and at the beginning of the 10:30 service. Children who attend Vacation Bible School sing several of their new songs at a special program for their families on Thursday night.
High school youth are encouraged to sing/play on a praise team or provide special music.
