VERO BEACH – Five hundred years ago, a Franciscan friar named Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 grievances on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. He contended that freedom from God’s punishment for sin could not be purchased with money. This year, the action that sparked the Protestant Reformation is being commemorated worldwide with concerts and special events.
Advent Lutheran Church in Suntree and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Vero Beach will jointly present a Reformation Hymn Festival the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22. Each free event will feature the combined choirs of both churches and allow for audience participation in the singing of favorite hymns dating back hundreds of years.
One such hymn, among the best loved of the Lutheran tradition and among Protestants in general is, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” Martin Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527 and 1529.
The Reformation Hymn Festival will be under the joint direction of Betty Jo Couch and Ryan Hostler; the two will trade off directing the combined choir of 45 singers and accompanying them on their church’s respective organs.
During the music, slides of famous paintings illustrating the song text will be shown. A brass sextet, as well as the praise band, D-13 will also lend their musical talents to the weekend festival.
The first Reformation Hymn Festival will be presented Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. at Advent Lutheran Church, 7550 North Wickham Road, in Melbourne. On Sunday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m., the choirs and musicians will reprise the Reformation Hymn Festival at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1850 6th Ave. in Vero Beach.
Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 321-426-9378 in Suntree or 772-567-2253 in Vero Beach.
Advent Lutheran Church organist and choir director, Betty Jo Couch is ready for the weekend of singing and music-making.
“The hymn festivals in Suntree and Vero Beach are both going to be beautiful events,” said Ms. Couch. “Our choir members and musicians are eager to honor the traditions of our faith by sharing this joyful and uplifting music. And we hope that people who love to sing beautiful hymns will come join us.”
