Three special musical events highlighted the ministry efforts in Taiwan last month. Peace Lutheran Church in Banqiao (April 11) and Eternal Grace Lutheran Church in Tainan (April 18), congregations of the China Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC), hosted Easter Hymn Festivals organized by missionaries of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Church in coordination with CELC leaders. Ms. Becky Bartelt, Deaconess Sandra Rhein, and Rev. Dr. Mike Paul collaborated to produce the events.
The services centered around the hymn “Awake My Heart with Gladness” and each musical section was arranged according to a specific verse from that hymn. Bartelt, Sacred Music Educator, led each choir through a two hour rehearsal prior to each performance which followed a pattern of reading the hymn verse, sharing a related Easter Bible passage, listening to a short meditation led by the congregation’s CELC pastor, and then an arrangement of a hymn that fit with the theme of that section.
Dr. Kenneth Kosche, retired choir director from Concordia University Wisconsin as well as Paul and Bartelt arranged the choir music, Rhein served as accompanist, and other LCMS missionaries (Ms. Hannah Hester, Mrs. Irene Paul, Rev. Steven Mahlburg, and Mrs. Martha Mahlburg) sang and/or played instruments. After the hymn festival service, participants gathered for fellowship and lunch followed by a lecture on Pietism and its effects on hymnody and liturgy by Area Facilitator Rev. Matthew Wood. Paul served as translator. One of the local pastors shared this observation, “Following a midday fellowship, a profound yet accessible teaching was given, dispelling misconceptions about piety and emphasizing the correctness of the Church’s doctrine, baptism, and communion.”
In addition to the hymn festivals, CELC congregation Salvation Lutheran Church in Chiayi hosted an Easter Outreach Concert on April 25 that took place on the first floor of the Luther Building, the regional headquarters of the Asia mission team. This marked the first time this particular space was utilized for specific music ministry. This concert featured mainly non-Christians playing and singing sacred Easter music. Many of the participants were from a Chiayi city government program giving lessons to citizens over 50 so they can learn new instruments and keep their minds sharp. In addition to performing, the words for each piece were projected in Chinese and an introduction was given for each piece in Chinese to introduce the audience to the meaning of the piece and the Gospel message. Over one hundred performers were present to learn about Easter and share their new musical skills.
Both regular congregants and also individuals from the communities of these local congregations attended the musical events where the Gospel was preached and the Easter message was clearly proclaimed. We give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful talents of these LCMS missionaries and their Taiwanese colleagues. Please pray that the Gospel seeds planted would take root and grow by the Holy Spirit’s power.
Opportunities exist for you to share your talents in the overseas mission field. Prayerfully consider how the Lord of the harvest might use you in His service.
