"Welcome to Ebenezer’s Matins Service!"

I would love to say the words above to more of you!  Matins is a worship service at the beginning of the day.  We offer Matins each Wednesday at 9am, and it typically is done by 9:30am.  Historically, it was used at sunrise.  As we are now tied more to the clock than the sun, we choose a morning hour accessible to many.  9am worship is good, as it gives our commuting congregation an opportunity to avoid weekday morning rush hour traffic. Well, most of the time....

I remember Matins growing up, but it was not used often.  My childhood churches used the old TLH [The Lutheran Hymnal], typically pages 5 (no Communion) and 15 (Communion) on alternating Sundays.  Matins (page 32) was perhaps used when there were five Sundays in a given month.  But my memory remains uncertain about this.  I do remember how challenging it seemed to me as a child.  That has not changed! But I still love it.  I love it because I love to hear others sing it well!

You see, even when I was young, my voice couldn’t reach the higher notes in the liturgy and many hymns.  I learned to do one of two things: sing an octave lower (I had no idea that was what I was doing) or simply drop out on the note I couldn’t reach, and let others do the right thing.  I couldn’t quite sing it all, but I loved it.  That is still true today.  I missed Matins (and pages 5 and 15!).  I was very happy to find Ebenezer offering Matins every week.

I invite you to come join us on Wednesday mornings at 9am for Matins.  I still need good cover for the notes I can’t sing.