An Anointed Ministry, Part II

(con't from Part I)
Dr. Albert Schweitzer, among his many accomplishments as a philosopher, theologian, writer, music scholar, physician, and medical missionary to Africa, was personally trained at the pipe organ by Charles-Marie Widor in Paris and was one of the finest organists of his time.
Schweitzer made many recordings of the music of Bach and Franck, some of which have been remastered and are available today on CD.
His words about honor and privilege ring true to this very day.
Whether we organists are salaried professionals or volunteers, part of our job is not only to play music to the best of our ability, it is also to provide a ministry of healing to the people of God through the medium of music.
This is no small task.
An organist serves God's people primarily by leading them in congregational singing and secondarily by bringing the gifts of instrumental (and, at times vocal) music to address their joys and sorrows, and to lift their spirits to God in praise and thanksgiving.
In many instances the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs -- what we today would consider a large part of the music ministry -- has been recorded in the Word of God, all the way back to when the Israelites under the leadership of Moses were delivered from the hands of Pharoah and the Egyptian army (Ex. 15).
The gospel according to Matthew tells us that on the night that Jesus was betrayed, after supper had ended, He and His disciples sang a hymn [this would have been an ancient Hebrew melody most likely associated with the Hallel, or Psalms 113-118] before they made their way to the Mount of Olives.
It expressed from the heart and in a special way something that the words of the Psalms were meant to convey.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer, as a member of the medical profession and a physical healer, undoubtedly sensed the healing power of music in much the same way.
(con't in Part III)