Pastor's Corner

It’s unfortunate when the unity of God’s people is shattered because generations are looking in opposite directions. In the Book of Ezra, chapter 3, the older men were weeping as they looked back with longing; they had seen the original temple before it was destroyed, and the new edifice was nothing in comparison. The younger men were looking around at the new temple with joy. Both the older and younger men should have been looking up and praising the Lord for what He had accomplished.

We have similar generational disagreements in the Christian church today, especially when it comes to styles of worship. Older saints enjoy singing the traditional hymns with their doctrinal substance; younger members of the church want worship that has a more contemporary approach.

But it isn’t a question of accepting one and rejecting the other, unless you want to divide families and split the church. It’s a matter of balance: the old must learn from the young and the young from the old, in a spirit of love and submission as the apostle Peter writes (1 Peter 5:1–11).

Good music and good singing have always played a great part in worship life. Therefore, the purpose of good singing is not to fill the Sanctuary on any given Sunday; even though good music is evangelism, our primary goal is to glorify God in making a joyful noise.

Alcee Chriss, our newest organist and Vivienne Deane, the choir director are two gifted musicians who would like us to explore new ways of improving our worship and enhancing the ministry in our congregation, St. Ansgar’s. I look forward to this chapter of what God has in store for us as a community of faith.

The church is a family; and as a family grows and matures, some things have to fall away so other things can take their place. This happens in our homes and it must happen in the house of God. To some people, “change” is a synonym for “compromise,” but where there’s love, “change” becomes a synonym for “cooperation with one another and concern for one another.” Good music makes the heart glad.

Be blessed,
Pastor Samuel

Web Page prepared by:

Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2016/04/05
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal