Music at Messiah Lutheran Church
Ronald Butts-Boehmer, Music Director

Messiah Lutheran Church Organ — The Flentrop Orgelbouw Organ (1990).

Messiah Lutheran Church Choir — The choir assists in leading during the worship service singing the Service Music, Hymns, Psalms and Canticles.  Anthems are sung that reflect upon the Scripture readings appointed and the Liturgical Calendar.  The choir sings at the Sunday 10:30 a.m. Divine Service from September to June and at services for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Thanksgiving.  Rehearsals for choir members are Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Membership is open to all ages.

Messiah Lutheran Church Orchestra — This parish instrumental ensemble was formed in August 2016 to play at services.  Rehearsals are on Sunday’s from 12:30-1:30 p.m.  September through June.  Auditions are open for all instrumentalists.  The ensemble is currently composed of violins, 2 violas, violoncello, guitar basso continuo and organ.  Repertoire includes hymns, service music, anthem accompaniments, selections from Bach Cantatas, Handel Oratorios, Handel Organ Concertos and includes instrumental music of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Purcell and Vivaldi.

2019 — Past Events

• “Epiphany Lessons & Carols”, Sunday, January 6, 2019, 10:30 a.m. — Choir. Music includes:  Ord “Adam lay ybounden”,  Christiansen “O come, O come Emmanuel”, Tschaikowsky “The Crown of Roses”, Wood “Ding, Dong! Merrily on High”, Darke “In the Bleak Mid-Winter”, Titcomb “We have seen His Star”
• Ash Wednesday & Wednesday Lenten Vesper – Choir
• AGO RECITAL:  Potomac Chapter of the American Guild of Organists “Members Recital”, Sunday, March 31, 2019, 7:30 p.m. — Messiah Lutheran Flentrop Organ
• Holy Week and Easter Services – Choir
• Reformation Day,  Sunday, October 27, 2019, 8:00 a.m. Service (organ) & 10:30 a.m. Service (choir & instruments)
• Thanksgiving Eve,  Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Service (choir & organ)
• Wednesday Advent Vespers at 7:30 p.m., December 4, 11 & 18, 2019 (choir & organ)
• Service of Nine Lessons & Carols:  Advent IV – Sunday, December 22, 2019, 10:30 a.m. (Christmas Festival Choir & organ)
• Christmas Eve:  Wednesday, December 24, 2019
• 5:00 p.m. Service (soloists and organ)
• 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Carols
• 11:00 p.m. Service (Christmas Festival Choir & organ
• Christmas Day:  Thursday, December 25, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. Service (organ)
  
• New Year’s Eve:  Tuesday, December 31, 2019 – 5:00 p.m. Service (choir & organ)

2018 

• 2018 Lenten Mid-Week Services:  Wednesday’s in Lent at 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Holy Week 2018:  Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018, 10:30 a.m., Choir.  Holy Thursday, March 28, 2018, 7:30 p.m., Choir.  Good Friday, March 28, 2018,  7:30 p.m., – Choir
• Easter Day, April 1, 2018, 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. – Messiah Lutheran Choir & Orchestra:    Bach “Alleluia! Christ the Lord is Risen” (Cantata 207a)
• May and June 2018 – Messiah Lutheran Orchestra plays at services:  Handel “Concerto in F Major, Opus 4, No. 4”
• Thanksgiving Eve Service, Wednesday, November 21, 2018, 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Autumn 2018: The Messiah Lutheran Orchestra plays movements of Handel Concertos and Mozart: Church Sonata KV 145.
• Advent 2018 Services: Wednesday’s in Advent at 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Christmas 2018: Monday, December 24, 2018, 10:45 p.m.  Christmas Eve Prelude, 11:00 p.m. Midnight Service – Choir
• New Year’s Eve Service, Monday, December 31, 2018, 5:00 p.m. – Choir

2017

• 2017 Lenten Sung Vespers:  Wednesday’s during Lent at 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Holy Week 2017:  Palm Sunday, April 9, 10:30 a.m.,  Holy Thursday, April 13, 7:30 p.m., Good Friday, April 14, 7:30 p.m., – Choir
• Easter Day, April 16, 10:30 a.m.  – Choir & Orchestra
• Pentecost Day Concert – Sunday, June 4, 2017, 7:30 p.m. – Messiah Lutheran Choir and Orchestra
• Organ Recital – August 26, 2017, 7:30 p.m.  – Sergio Orabona organ (Stuttgart, Germany/Naples, Italy)
• REFORMATION 500 CELEBRATION: Handel Messiah Part Two – Saturday, October 21, 2017, 7:30-9:00 p.m. and Friday, October 27, 2017, 7:30-9:00 p.m. –  Messiah Lutheran Choir and Soloists:  Sally Martiny soprano, Roger O. Isaacs countertenor, Edward Lamberton tenor, Thomas Fegley and Kyle Pett bass. Reformation 500 Service:  Sunday, October 29, 2017, 10:30 a.m. – Choir & Orchestra
• Thanksgiving Eve Service, Wednesday, November 22, 2017, 7:30 p.m. – Choir and Orchestra
• Advent Evening Prayer, Wednesday’s in Advent at 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Lessons and Carols – Sunday, December 24, 2017, 10:30 a.m. – Choir & Orchestra
• Christmas Eve Carols and Service – Sunday, December 24, 2017, 10:30 p.m. – Choir & Orchestra

2016

• Reformation Day Organ Recital: Monday, October 31, 2016, 7:30 p.m.
• 2016 Advent Services: Wednesday’s during Advent at 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Service of Nine Lessons & Carols, Wednesday, December 21, 2016, 7:30 p.m. – Choir
• Christmas Eve Service, Saturday, December 24, 2017, 10:30 p.m. and Christmas Day Service, Sunday, December 25, 2016, 10:30 a.m. – Choir

Choir Music Lists for Spring 2016 and Summer-Autumn 2016 .