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struggling breath proclaims the hope "That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glo- rious face" (LSB 708:3). Q: What season of the Church Year holds your favorite music? What makes that season's music so meaningful to you? A: Because it's a kantor's job to plan and prepare ahead of time, I get legitimate opportunities to play Christmas music in July or Easter hymns in the dead of winter. But still, I find that I love most whatever season of the Church Year we're currently in. I'm always unnecessarily surprised that the Holy Spirit sees fit to fill the current spot in the lectionary with the rich gifts of Christ's Word and song that fit my every need. Q: What would you say to a person—young or old—who'd like to get more involved in music ministry at their church? A: Don't be afraid to join the choir or to tell your church musician that you play an instrument. Your kantor may not know that you have a beautiful voice or can play a mean trumpet fanfare, and it's often tricky to discern this information from our spots in the loft. Most of the time, we're thankful for this information and overjoyed at the prospect of more musicians with whom to work. Q: What encouragement would you give to someone who's new to Lutheran hymnody or might get lost singing along during a service? A: The best things in life always take an investment of time and energy, which can feel daunting as you face down seven stanzas or juggle hymnal pages. The literal Good News is that Christ's work has already earned your salvation, and so for the rest of your days, that time and energy isn't spent attempting to win God's favor but instead in digging into the riches He's laid out in His Word and the Church. Many of these riches are found in your hymnal. Can it be tricky to navigate? Sure. Most people are happy to lend a hand, but also consider asking the pastor or kantor if you may borrow a hymnal to take home. Once you're home with the hymnal, page through it to familiarize yourself with the layout. Even the struc- ture of the book helps us orient ourselves, our wor- ship, and our lives in Christ. Notice how the Psalms— the Bible's own hymnbook—are the first numbers in the book. Study the similarities between the Divine Services that remain faithful to the Christian prac- tice of worship for centuries. Check out the orders for your own daily devotional life and practice put- ting the hymnal to the test by using those. See how the hymns are organized around the Church Year and keep us focused on Christ's saving work. Q: You mentioned leading a daylong hymn sing through the entire hymnal. What stands out as you reflect on that day filled with song? A: Singing through every hymn in Lutheran Service Book is an event etched in my memory and, I pray, in the memories of all who participated. The mara- thon was live streamed, and Lutherans around the country recorded hymns for us to insert throughout the day. What started out as a practical way to allow us breaks turned into a gorgeous illustration of "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" (LSB 940), stanza 3: "And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on." When the schoolchildren finished their seven-hour portion of the marathon, they erupted in cheers of joy. Each child was given a wooden organ pipe on which our deaconess had elegantly inscribed his or her name, and as the students made their way into the hallway, the sounds of singing, laughing, and pipe-blowing made for a cacophony of happiness that spilled out into the cold afternoon and encour- aged and enlivened me to take on the remaining two hundred hymns! Q: What encouragement would you give to a congregation in general about being a "singing church"? A: We sing in full voice because we have full for- giveness. The key to being a singing church is to sing because you actually believe the very things you are singing. • From Carl F. Schalk and the Center for Church Music, this booklet helps teach about the important and inspiring vocation of cantors within the Lutheran Church. Find this title and others in this issue at cph.org. THE CANTOR IN THE LUTHERAN TRADITION Lutheran Life 9

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