The Worship, Music and Arts Committee meets each month to plan and evaluate the worship services at Emanuel. We work with the Pastor and the Music Staff and it is our goal to find creative and meaningful ways to enrich the worship experience at Emanuel.

We observe the seasons of the church year and work to explore the depth, meaning and message of each one. Each sunday we listen to and are inspired by God’s word through the sermon and readings. We are nourished with the bread and wine of the Eucharist. The liturgy is celebrated with music and the sanctuary is enhanced visually through artistic images of symbolism and color. The Day of Pentecost is one example, when the message of the Holy Spirit was observed with the altar enhanced with stirring, red fabric and symbols along with uplifting and celebratory music.

Many members of our congregation give their time and talent to the worship life at Emanuel and the opportunities to serve and participate are numerous: Sunday morning Worship Assistants, Deacons, Acolytes, Altar Guild, Adult and Children’s Choirs, Bell Choirs, Readers, Ushers and Communion Bread Bakers.

The committee members are: Pastor Paul Egensteiner; Lynne Beard, Chairperson; Rev. Clifford Somersall; Dr. Jan-Piet Knijff, Music Director; Eiko Cornelius, Bell Choir Director; Deacon Lynne Hansen; Deacon Karen Nurmi; Karen Snowberg, Westchester Recorder Guild and Nancy Schoener, Altar Guild Chairperson.

The worship space at Emanuel is enhanced visually with artistic messages of symbolism and color. Through the use of color , banners and paintings in the sanctuary and Christian symbols and designs on the bulletin covers, based on the rich history of religious art through the centuries, it is hoped that the congregation will understand and appreciate the art traditions of their faith.

The symbolism of the Lamb of God, or Agnus Dei, is of most ancient origin and is based on Scripture verses found in Isaiah, John and Revelation. It is a symbol that tells the story of mankind’s redemption through the sacrifice of the Lamb of Calvary. Depicted carrying the banner of victory and crowned with the nimbus of divinity, it represents Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The symbolism of the lamb is also associated with the aspect of Jesus as the Good Shepherd or with the parable of the lost sheep.

In the ancient world, purple was an extremely expensive dye and was therefore the distinguishing color of royalty. It is also the liturgical color of the penitential season of Lent and is often used in depictions of the Lamb of God symbolism during the season of Lent to illustrate both Christ’s royalty and the sorrow of His crucifixion.

Lynne Beard