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Music at First Lutheran

Music is central to our worship at First Lutheran. Martin Luther extended an already rich musical tradition by including the congregation in singing the liturgy. We continue that tradition by enthusiastically singing a variety of liturgies and hymns. First Lutheran has historically been at the forefront of developing new liturgies. John Arthur, a pastor at FLC, wrote some of the liturgical music for the Lutheran Book of Worship. Now we are avidly exploring the new materials being considered for inclusion in the successor to the LBW, including both new texts and new music for the Eucharistic and Baptismal rites.

In May 2002 we installed a new organ from Casavant Frères of Québec. We also have a lovely 3-stop continuo organ built by Bond organ builders of Oregon. Learn more about our organs.

Our choir fulfills a dual role: leading the congregation in the liturgy, and inspiring the congregation through excellent performance of fine sacred music. The choir sings masterworks from all eras in the history of sacred music, from William Byrd and Heinrich Schütz to Hugo Distler and John Tavener.

During Fall 2004 the choir joined in formally installing The Rev. Sandra Dager as our new Pastor, and sang the late evening Office of Compline at Stanford's Memorial Church. In December 2004, joined by an orchestra of strings and woodwinds, the choir sang Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Sleepers, Wake") during a Vespers service. The later Christmas Eve service featured a miniature Lessons & Carols service, including settings of centuries-old carols by the Swedish composer Anders Öhrwall.

The choir's June 2005 concert was The Mysteries of the Rosary. In October 2005 the choir will sing a Reformation Vespers featuring Bach's cantata 80: "Ein feste Burg."

First Lutheran Church has a fine children's choir, the First Kids Choir, conducted by Julia Simon. First Kids Choir performs at least once a month during the Sunday Eucharist, as well as on special occasions such as the annual Santa Lucia Festival.