St. John Lutheran Church is a parish filled with sinners and saints and is located in Seward, Nebraska. For several years we’ve used the tag line Sing Boldly in our music ministry, and this website seeks to equip and encourage bold singing through musical recordings and resources.
Hymn Festival FAQ:
What is a hymn festival? It’s a combination of hymns, anthems, and spoken readings centering around a theme. It’s around the same length as a “regular” weekend service, but there’s no “sermon.” Unless you count the readings and music as the sermon, which you should, because it is.
Are all the hymns unfamiliar and high-falootin-organ stuff? No! It’s a carefully selected blend of old and new. The choir, organ, and congregation all take turns singing the faith together.
Who’s David Cherwien? Don’t we already have a lot of organists around here? He’s an expert on hymn playing and improvisation; Paul plays a lot of his music, and you’ve probably heard a number of his improvisations replicated on our organ. We’re excited for the opportunity to have Dr. Cherwien lead us in song – and provide inspiration to our organists and organ students!
Is there a special cost to attend? No! But regular offerings will be gathered, since that’s part of our life together.
Which choirs are singing for the hymn festival? Concordia’s Cantamus Women’s Choir (55 voices) under the direction of Dr. Blersch and Concordia’s Male Chorus (34 voices) under the direction of Cantor Soulek. The congregation, our largest and most important choir, also has a central role!