Saskatchewan Synod

On Sunday afternoon, June 11, Lutherans, Anglicans and other Christians from the southern half of Saskatchewan assembled at Christ, Regina, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in song. Luther College and Christ, Regina, with help from the South Region of the Saskatchewan Synod of the ELCIC, worked together to produce a musical service that began with hymns by Martin Luther, continued with hymns from the centuries after Luther, and ended with A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. All the hymns were from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006). Christ’s new stained-glass windows glowed with beauty, and Christian hearts soared with the music.

Lutheran organist Sandra Kerr began the program with an organ recital of Lutheran chorales. Some hymns were sung unaccompanied, but Sandra accompanied most hymns on Luther College’s beautiful one-manual portatif organ, supporting the hymn singing with grace and professionalism.

The Luther Bach Choir, directed by Jonathan Achtzehner, led the congregational singing, and provided solos and special music. Christ’s pastor, Rev. Dennis Hendricksen, provided readings, prayers, worship leadership and a jazz piano accompaniment to Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God. Rev. Zsofi Schmiedge, St. John’s, Strasbourg, and Noronna, Bulyea, also shared in the readings.

After the service Christian friends enjoyed sandwiches, coffee and a social time before driving home. Everyone took with them a lovely souvenir program, made possible by a generous donor. The organizers of the Hymn Festival (Dr. Carl Cher- land, Dr. Meredith Cherland and Rev. Hendricksen) encouraged everyone to make use of the program in their home congregations. The Hymn Festival offering went to one of the ELCIC’s Reformation Challenges to provide scholarships for schools in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

The Reformation 500 Hymn Festival reminds us that Martin Luther loved music. He wrote 37 hymns to teach the new faith, and to set an example for later hymn writers to follow. The 22 hymns sung in Regina on June 11 proclaimed Christ and his saving grace. They gave voice to the people’s praise of their God. They set forth the story of Christ, and extol the relationship between Christ and the faithful soul. They did this with beautiful poetry, and with music that stirs the soul. Together these hymns comprise an important part of our Christian heritage. Thanks be to God for the music of the Church!

— Meredith Cherland
For a complete calendar of Luther College Reformation 500 events, see: luthercollege.edu/reformation-500