As the Easter season draws to a close, a prevalent theme has been heard in the Gospel readings throughout May: LOVE. We heard that God loved us, so much that he gave His son to die for us; God IS Love, and finally, God's commandment that WE must LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Appropriate themes for a season containing Mother's day, Father's day, AND to take us into June, the month of weddings and anniversaries. Why doesn't the church "celebrate" Mother's and Father's day? Are these really just "Hallmark Holidays" designed to sell flowers and candy and greeting cards for the Moms and ugly ties for the Dads? I think not. I believe these remembrances are an important part of our Christian lives.

Remember, it was God himself who instituted marriage, and Jesus who reinforced the importance of parents. Remember, "in the beginning", it was God who noticed that Adam was lonely, and in need of a helper:

Thus, we recall that Marriage is an institution "invented" by God so that we need not go through life alone. Surely, that is something to commemorate and celebrate.

Of course, many marriages choose to "be fruitful and multiply", and thus, we have children in our families, and don't forget, WE too were once the children in a previous generation. So, if marriage is ordained by God and thus we beget children, aren't they also part of God's plan? Yes, so whether we are parents or children, or BOTH, God wants us to HONOR OUR parents. Remember the 10 commandments. Immediately after God tells us to honor Him and remember the Sabbath, we are told:

Jesus also showed the importance of this, even as he hung dying on the cross:

So, although neither Father's nor Mother's days are official "Church" holidays, I hope everyone remembers the importance of spending time with those who gave us life. That INCLUDES YOUR SPOUSE, not just your parents. They too are part of God's important layout for our lives. So, in this month of "June Brides", don't forget your God-made "Helper". The following quote is NOT from a "liberal feminist" of the 21st century, but from Martin Luther himself, and his words are just as timely today as they were when he said them in June 1532:

We use home-made bread for communion at the 9:30 service made with a special flour ordered from the "King Arthur" baking catalog. The flour is called "Ezekiel mix", and it contains all the ingredients that God gave to Ezekiel as recorded in Ezekiel Chapter 4:

Spelt is a red wheat common in the Middle East.

Farewell and Thanks. Two of our council-appointed members will leave Worship Committee in June, as their terms have expired. I want to thank Wilma Bruninga and Rollie Krause for their dedication and interest in St. John worship by serving in this capacity. Your contributions were appreciated, and your presence will be missed.

Meet our Members - Don Bauer. This month I feature the last member of Worship committee: me. Music has been the driving force in my life for as long as I can remember. Looking back at my childhood, I realize that God gave me the talent, the will to develop it, and a family to encourage and support those efforts. Grandpa Bauer was a professional musician. Some 60 years ago, he was organist at Christ Lutheran in Peoria, and some of our current members remember taking piano lessons from him as children. I hardly knew him, as he died early in my childhood, but, now I realize that as his body was failing, God chose to pass his abilities on to me. I began playing organ at age 7, studying under Rox Bucklin. By high school, I was organist at my home church, United (Ann Street) Mennonite, on Peoria's South Side, and I was teaching at Ozzie's Music in Peoria. I played hundreds of weddings, receptions, and private parties, hauling my heavy Wurlitzer in my van, and played every Friday and Saturday night at the Richleu Inn, and later, at Willow Knolls country club, as I attended Bradley University. Although my degree is in Computer Science, I studied organ with Bradley's Margaret Sayer, and played piano in the BU Jazz Band. I've never had a piano lesson, but I learned most of my "gospel music" technique by working with Doris Chronister, organist at 2nd Baptist in Norwood, as I accompanied a gospel singing group that she directed for 15 years. In 1977, Pepper and I felt God's call to come to St. John, where I began accompanying the choir. When then-director Chuck Cunningham retired, I assumed the role of choral director, and when we started having contemporary worship in the early 1990's, I also took on that responsibility.

God's music is still the guiding force in my life. Our stereo is the first thing to come on each morning, and the last thing we turn off at night. I enjoy almost every type of music, except for Country-Western, Rap, most opera, and the "top-40" of today. My radio is usually tuned to WBNH Christian radio (88.5) or WCBU Public / classical / Jazz radio (89.9). I especially like Baroque (J.S. Bach, Mozart, Handel, etc), choral, new age (Space Music), and German and Irish folk music.

Regarding my view on the role of music in worship, I would say, "Music is a vitally important element of meaningful worship. Too many people view church music as a way to "entertain the troops", or treat it like the "commercial break" in the service. YES - properly prepared music CAN entertain us, but, it should also INSPIRE us and help accentuate the themes of the service. The hymns and the choir anthem should work together to reinforce the words and emotions of the lessons and sermon. I love it when I can find a choral anthem and hymns that directly quote the scripture of the day! Do you NOTICE when that happens? I hope so! I close with a quote from Martin Luther, who said:

Until Next Month: Remember to "Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing." (Psalm 100: 1-2).

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the Glory)

Donald L. Bauer, Choral & Contemporary Music Director