Music at Millwood

Committed to a common purpose

Our main purpose for doing music at Millwood is, " to celebrate and enjoy the gift of music, and through our music help all who attend our church have a meaningful encounter with the presence of God." We bow in awe as we respond with wonder, amazement , and gratitude at the incredible grandeur of all creation. We cherish the earth and all its creatures, the stars in all their glory, and the miracle of our own existence. We humbly recognize and bow before the Mystery.

A large part of the the mission for the Music Department here at Millwood is to make every effort to regain and sustain our sense of awe and wonder as we return to the source of all creativity! It is a miracle just to be! Our desire is to be a church that celebrates the connection between spirituality and art! Consequently, our hope and prayer is that joy and celebration will be re-discovered in our art, our music, and in all of our lives!! And our prayer is that this spiritual energy will overflow into our Sunday morning worship experience. A poem/prayer by Arthur Foote so beautifully exclaims: "Let me be... observant of the perpetual miracle of life and love on this fragment of a star flung across the infinity of space; appreciative of earth’s symphony of color, harmony of shape, and ubiquity of beauty…to every intimation of divinity in the lives around me… Let me be…tuned in to all the varied music of the world: to man-made melodies, and to the songs of wind and water, insect and bird… The Hymn, "Sing Alleluia" states: "When in our music God is glorified, And adoration leaves no room for pride, It is as though the whole creation cried: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!" Music is God's creation. "God is an artist and the universe is God's work of art" - Thomas Aquinas. The Psalmist David shares in a song these incredible words: "The heavens are telling of God and His glory; the sky proclaims his handiwork, Day to day ours forth speech, and night after night declares knowledge!" Psalm 19 In the words of Martin Luther music, "comes from the sphere of miraculous audible things, just like the word of God." In response to the gifts of God, we see nothing but God's love for us and for the world he created and therefore we rejoice and sing. "How oft, in making music, we have found A new dimension in the world of sound, As worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!" Music can communicate and express in ways that are beyond our words and our senses. Music can capture our imaginations and lead us into the mysteries of God and his gracious will. When music is performed with a high level of spiritual energy and artistic excellence, the perfect goodness and wisdom of God are displayed through this marvelous gift. Join with us, as we celebrate and sing to the Lord a new song! Let every instrument be tuned for praise; Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise; And may God give us faith to sing always: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Committed to common vision Our vision is to embrace diversity and a wide variety of musical styles and tastes. So at Millwood you will find music that is contemporary as well as traditional, Hymns and Worship Choruses. Utilizing praise team vocalists and musical instruments is a large part of how we carry out our vision. Millwood Christian Church also holds special "Jazz Sunday's" on a periodic basis. The focus of Jazz Sunday's is to help people to experience worship other than a traditional worship setting. We draw upon the visual arts, music (primarily jazz), drama, dialogs, and multimedia technology to add depth and texture, creating a truly multi-sensory experience of worship. Our Jazz Sunday's are formulated to accommodate “fringe” folks, for those not normally comfortable in a regular church service. The service includes an eclectic mix of corporate prayer, spoken verse, and music with a jazz flavoring. Committed to team-oriented ministry Our outlook is that with God, there are no little people, nor no little places! All those who are "in Christ" are "one body". This new humanity in Christ completely destroys social boundaries and this equality in Christ creates a new social reality! Working together as a team involves treating one another with respect and humility! There is room for people to participate in the music ministry here at Millwood!! Committed to excellence We are definitely committed to using the gifts and talents that God has given us with a emphasis on excellence! That means we strive to do our very best when we play and sing our music to the glory of God!