St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Music Philosophy, St John’s Episcopal Church, Saint Cloud

The principal purpose of music in the church is the worship and praise of God.

St. Johns Episcopal Church recognizes the essential need for a consistent, comprehensive, and inclusive music program. We understand that music speaks to many in ways that the written word cannot. For many, music speaks directly to the heart, not just the intellect.

Being a liturgical church with a distinct Anglican heritage the music should always support and illuminate the Word, the Sacraments, and the liturgical seasons. Additionally, as the preface to the 1982 Hymnal states, we "commit to maintain and enhance the rich repertoire which constitutes the singing tradition of the people of God.” We understand this to mean not simply traditional hymnody but the best of contemporary sacred music as well.

We believe that music in the church should provide a variety of creative opportunities and wideness of appeal for any and all who would give voice to their faith. We also affirm, as The Standing Commission on Church Music stated in the 1982 Hymnal, that the music of the church adhere to "theological orthodoxy, poetic beauty, and integrity of meaning" while at the same time "recognizing the diverse natures [of the] children of God.”

Music Policy, St John’s Episcopal Church, Saint Cloud

Colossians 3:12-7 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another, and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish each other in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The following policies will guide decisions made about music here at St. John’s.

The principal purpose of music at St. John’s is the worship and praise of God. Music engages us in three ways: as a corporate experience, an emotional experience, and an esthetic experience. These three must be kept in balance and incorporated for a full and satisfying music ministry in any congregation: to build community, to engage our feelings, and to provide moments of beauty.

As ministers of worship, the musicians are second only to the presiders or officiants in shaping, guiding, and sustaining congregational devotion and thanksgiving.

All musical actions are to be seen as a gift of the congregation’s first fruits: representative of the breadth of God’s household, congruent with our liturgical practices, conforming to the lessons and seasons of the Church, and our best offerings, offered as a principal and intentional gift.

Representative of the breadth of God’s household: St. John’s will cultivate a broad and blended sense of worship music, incorporating as fully as possible the different gifts, abilities, and interests of those who worship here. In living this out, we will utilize a full range of available music, from our heritage of hymnody to contemporary praise traditions, from a capella choirs to instrumental solos, in order to balance each act of worship (as possible and appropriate), each liturgical season, and each calendar year. Particular attention will be given to the musical range and abilities of children and of newcomers to enable them to participate as fully as possible in every act of worship. Given the variety of talent and high level of performance of many musicians currently attending St. John’s, opportunities will be incorporated into each Liturgical Year for a fuller and more focused offering of their gifts on those days designated as the Principal Feasts of the Episcopal Church.

Congruent with our liturgical practices: Musical selections will enhance and extend the intrinsic direction of the liturgy as laid out in the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnals of the Episcopal Church. Musical performances will not interrupt the flow of worship nor call attention to their own production. The time of the offertory can be considered as particularly appropriate for anthems and incidental music. Ongoing use of new hymns and new service music is desirable. Appropriate and accessible means will be offered to support the members of the congregation in learning and performing new music and to sustain the new elements until they become familiar.

Conforming to the lessons and seasons of the Church: All musical offerings will support the congregation in its response to the proclamation of the Good News as heard in Scripture and as lived out in the Church Year. Hymns and anthems will be chosen to help the congregation grasp the significance of the day, to illuminate further the lessons and the season, and to express the congregation’s prayers and praise.

Our best offerings: Every effort will be made to engage musicians to lead, to accompany, and to serve as vocalists and instrumentalists, who have developed a level of excellence and a deep commitment to the full expression of the musical life of this congregation. All musical choices of hymns, service music, and incidental music, are to come from accepted sources, to be approved by those overseeing worship at St. John’s, and to be performed according to the best standards of their musical style possible to our congregation at the time.

Offered as a principal and intentional gift: Care will be taken in the selection of service music, hymns, and incidental music, to ensure that St. John’s music policies are followed. Rehearsal time is understood to be included in all musical offerings, both voluntary and remunerated. All in the congregation are charged to encourage each other in offering full, unhindered, and joyful praise to God through the musical gifts given to them.