Music at St. Luke's~San Lucas

...doesn't fit neatly into any simple categories like “contemporary,” “traditional” or “blended.” Our music is reverent but not stodgy, and accessible without being dumbed-down. It's sometimes contemplative and sometimes joyful – just like life.

Music is a bit different here than most other churches you can visit. For instance, we vigorously affirm the worth of the best traditional music as a living expression of faith in the 21^st century. Our music is mostly unamplified – we tend toward the joyful noise of real voices and instruments and away from electronic noise. Our 1890 Adams organ is one of the best organs in the metro area, and is played nearly every Sunday at the 10:30 service by Music Director Tim Nickel, a professional organist.

Although most music at St. Luke's is traditional, any excellent, interesting music is “fair game.” On any given Sunday, it wouldn't be surprising to hear:

• an African praise song

• an Israeli folk song or a klezmer tune

• Gregorian chant

• an Afro-American spiritual

• our harpsichord or our Sohmer grand piano

• our Petit and Fritsen handbells

• a simple hymn sung without accompaniment

• a song accompanied by liturgical dance

• a consort of recorders

Music is an important part of the liturgy at the 10:30 service. Our hymns are mostly from the Hymnal 1982 or the supplement Wonder, Love and Praise. Our worship experience is deepened by participation in the musical action, either by singing hymns, or by actively listening to solos, small groups or choir anthems.

A number of musical groups regularly rehearse and are active leading worship.