St. Paul’s Lutheran Church will be holding its first-ever Advent Hymn Festival, open to all members of the community.
The event, which will be held on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., will feature a variety of religious hymns with both vocal and instrumental music. The idea behind this festival was to bring together all of the different musical talents at the church, according to Sean Willman, associate pastor at St. Paul’s. It is a time, he said, for celebrating and rejoicing in the beginning of a new church year as the Advent season starts.
“We will sing hymns. We will hear scriptures of prophecy,” Willman said. “Part of the joy when you do a hymn festival is that it gives you an opportunity to sing some hymns you might not hear on Sunday. You can be exposed to some new stuff and learn some new music.”
Hillsdale College senior Nathan Grime is spearheading the event, Willman said, and he has organized the songs to be played and sung.
According to Willman, there will be two main benefits from the festival: It’s a chance for community members to take a rest from their daily lives, and attendees can celebrate beautiful music as well.
“We can rejoice in all the gifts we have together here in the community,” he said. “It’s not just Nathan on the organ bench or me preaching. We all get to do this, to use our voices and come together as a community.”
Senior Alyssa Walsh, who is a member of the St. Paul’s handbell choir, will also be playing flute at the event. She said in an email that Advent as a church season tends to be rushed past with the bustle from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
“Observing Advent gives more meaning to Christmas once it does come,” Walsh said. “I hope this hymn festival will help remind us what Advent, and ultimately Christmas, really are about.”
Walsh said people should come for the beautiful music and stay afterward for hot chocolate to be served by the Lutheran Society.
