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RINGING AND SINGING
By LINDA M. LINONIS
youngstown
Valerie Wilson, who has 35 years of “church music” under her choir robe sash, believes that music enhances worship by inspiring and comforting the congregation.
“It’s uplifting and inspirational,” said the director of music at Mahoning United Methodist Church, 2214 Mahoning Ave. “For me, it’s a must. It’s a force. ... It’s a way to glorify God.”
The Rev. Joyce Lawson, pastor, agreed. “For me personally, music is vital. ... It’s a central component to worship.”
The pastor added, “Music is a spiritual experience. God speaks to me through it, and I’m drawn to it.”
Various forms of music will be featured at the church’s Christmas Eve worship at 5 p.m. next Saturday and Christmas Day service at 10:45 a.m. The bell and chancel choirs and Glory Bound, the praise band, will lend musical talents to the services.
Wilson said the seasonal performances of the bell choir makes its presentations special. The handbell choir numbers 11. “It helps if you’re musically inclined,” Wilson said of the musicians. “But, we can teach you. ... You just have to be mildly coordinated.”
The handbell choir will play “Away in a Manger” and “Come All Ye Faithful” on Christmas Eve.
Performing with the handbell choir is a family venture for Marilynn and George Makar, longtime church members; a daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Bud White; and granddaughter, Olivia Makar.
The elder Makars said they liked being involved and making music. “Some [music lyrics] is taken from Scripture and you learn that side,” Marilynn Makar said. “It’s a way to express your feelings for God,” her husband added.
Fourteen-year-old Olivia said music is an “uplifting” way to worship.
“There’s 16 in the chancel choir, and they sound like 50,” Wilson said. On Christmas Eve, the choir will sing “Song of Bethlehem.”
“We have a wonderful time ... like an extended family,” Wilson said of the participation of all the musicians.
Glory Bound usually plays at the contemporary service on the second Sunday of the month, and the choir sings for the other Sunday services. The nine-member praise team, Wilson said, lends another musical element to worship with the use of drums, piano and tamborines.
Glory Bound will sing “Angels We Have Heard on High” on Christmas Eve and “Joy to the World” on Christmas Day.
The pastor credited Wilson with invigorating the music program at the church. Wilson, a member of Mahoning UMC, took over the music program about three years ago.
Previously, she spent 25 years in the music program at Bethel Lutheran Church in Boardman. A retired music educator, Wilson was band director at John F. Kennedy High School in Warren and choir director at Canfield High School.
The Rev. Mrs. Lawson she believes that for many people, music benefits the worship experience. “The quality and spirit of the music is so positive,” she said.
Mrs. Lawson said music as part of worship is documented in the Bible. “It’s prominent in Psalms as being central to worship,” she said.
Psalm 33:2 reads, “Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.” It is among Bible verses referring to music as a way to praise God.